Use of 2,4,5-T

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 16

Use of 2,4,5-T

Sir, — I would be happy to show members of Friends of the Earth over my farm and explain to them what a ban on 2,4,5-T would mean to me. I will even let them explain to me how I can clear and control gorse without using 2,4,5-T. The debate about the effects of 2,4,5-T has become far too emotional with too many people over-reacting to fear of the unknown. To be consistent these same people should not drive cars and should stay off roads because they are far more dangerous and will result in far more deaths than 2,4,5-T will ever cause. — Yours, etc., D. E. KENNEDY, Le Bons Bay.

April 19, 1980. Sir, — The booklet “2,4,5T and 2,4-D: The Case Against Phenoxy Herbicides,” (“The Press,” April 19) is well produced but makes broad assumptions which would be difficult to substantiate. The relationship of birth defects in Vietnamese after spraying is difficult to assess as no accu=> rate records exist before spraying. Mice are poor models to extrapolate the chemical effects on the human embryo as many of the strains are highly susceptible to spontaneous birth defects. The Oregon study has not been substantiated by independent investigators. The test and control areas were not matched for the necessary reproductive information; there was no consistent recording or examination of abortuses; and no account was taken of the peak influx into Oregon of tourists during the study period. At the sixth European Teratology Society Conference a report indicated that no increase of birth defects or spontaneous abortions were recorded post Seveso incident. The statement in the booklet of a significant potential risk when referring to 2,4,5-T or 2,4-D could also apply to most agricultural chemicals when used incorrectly. — Yours, etc., M. LEGGE. . April 20, 1980. Sir, — The article “HalfTruths on 2,4,5-T denied” (“The Press,” April 19) contains a half-truth itself. Note the last paragraph. The Forest Research Institute figures show that vee-blading after burning does not control gorse and follow-up sprays of 2,4,5-T are still essential. Comparative costs of growing a cubic metre of timber is around $l9 where the vee-blading technique is used and $ll where an alternative approach developed by FRI is used. Furthermore vee-blading is an undesirable technique as it has many inherent problems. A survey of South Island forestry practices has shown that in any one spray-application of 2,4,5-T the maximum amount

of TCDD released into the environment is 0.00004 grams per hectare. A total of 0.536 grams of TCDD was released into the environment during the 1979-80 spraying season as a result of forestry operations. —

.Yours, etc., JOHN M. BALNEAVES, Rangiora. April 20, 1980.