2,4-D Factsheet

• 2,4-D is toxic to fish, even at minute concentrations.
• 2,4-D has been shown to cause genetic damage in human and animal cells.
• 2,4-D has been shown to affect hormones in exposed people and to reduce the effectiveness of the immune system.
• New studies have shown that 2,4-D reduces fertility and is associated with low sperm counts.
• A US Geological Survey showed that 2,4-D is frequently found in rivers, streams, and air samples.
• Center for Disease Control studies have shown 2,4-D shows up in the bodies of 25% of the US population.
• 2,4-D shows up in 60% of a compilation of air samples in the US.

Dicamba Factsheet

• Dicamba has polluted groundwater in 17 US states.
• An estimated 2.3 million Americans are polluted with Dicamba.
• Increased toxicity to fish with dicamba-containing herbicides when used with other herbicides, for example 2,4-D. In 1992, forty fish were killed in Douglas County, Oregon, by the adjuvant added to Weedmaster, an herbicide containing dicamba and 2,4-D.
• In humans, exposure to dicamba is associated with the inhibition of the nervous system enzyme acetylcholinesterase and an increased frequency of a cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• Dicamba is persistent in soil.

Transline, with EPA registration number 62719-259, with active ingredient clopyralid;

Clopyralid Factsheet

• Clopyralid is “persistent” in soil, according to an EPA review.
• In laboratory tests, clopyralid caused “substantial” reproductive problems.
• “Inert” ingredients in clopyralid products include cyclohexanone (produces tearing and burning of the eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness), triethylamine (a severe eye irritant and cause of chemical pneumonia), and polyethoxylated tallow amines (cause eye burns, nausea, and are acutely toxic to fish).
• EPA described clopyralid as “very soluble” in water and “very mobile” in soil and concluded that it “has the potential to leach to ground water and/or contaminate surface water.”

AquaMaster, with EPA registration number 524-343, with active ingredient glyphosate.

Glyphosate Factsheet

• Symptoms of exposure to glyphosate include eye irritation, burning eyes, blurred vision, skin rashes, burning or itchy skin, nausea, sore throat, asthma and difficulty breathing, headache, lethargy, nose bleeds, and dizziness.
• Glyphosate and glyphosate-containing herbicides caused genetic damage in laboratory tests with human cells, as well as in tests with laboratory animals.
• Studies of farmers and other people exposed to glyphosate herbicides have shown that this exposure is linked with increased risks of the cancer non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, miscarriages, and attention deficit disorder. For each of the hazards identified in these studies there are also laboratory studies with results that are consistent with the studies of exposed people.
• There is also laboratory evidence that glyphosate herbicides can reduce production of sex hormones.
• Studies of glyphosate contamination of water are limited, but new results indicate that it can commonly contaminate streams in both agricultural and urban areas.
• Problems with drift of glyphosate herbicides occur frequently. Only one other herbicide causes more drift incidents.
• Glyphosate herbicides caused genetic damage and damage to the immune system in fish. In frogs, glyphosate herbicides caused genetic damage and abnormal development.
• Application of glyphosate herbicides increases the severity of a variety of plant diseases.

Alaska Community Action on Toxics has commented on proposed Glyphosate use by the Alaskan Rail Road for the past 15 years.

Anchorage Road Way Pesticide Spraying

Deadline to Comment Sat. July 21 at 4 pm

Public Notice

The Alaska Division of Agriculture has applied to ADEC for a permit to apply herbicides to control invasive weeds in various right-of-way locations in and around Anchorage, including;

Site 1 – Glenn Highway near Muldoon Road off ramp,

Site 2 – Glenn Highway near Turpin Road off ramp,

Site 3 – Glenn Highway east of Airport Heights Drive,

Site 4 – Seward Highway median between 74th and 76th streets,

Site 5 – Seward Highway south of Dimond Boulevard, and

Site 6 – Seward Highway north of Huffman Road.

Email your comments to [email protected]

Exercise your Rights!

• The right to know
• The right to comment on pesticide uses on public lands
• the right to know when and where pesticides were used
• the right to public participation in decisions which could impact our health

Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation’s mission is: Conserving, improving and protecting Alaska’s natural resources and environment to enhance the health, safety, economic and social well-being of Alaskans.

“We are deeply concerned that the governor would weaken our democracy by eliminating public participation in decisions that affect our water quality, fish habitat, and public health,” said Pamela Miller, Biologist and Executive Director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics.

Proposed pesticide regulation changes would:

• Eliminate permit requirements for the spraying of pesticides on state public lands with no safeguards for the protection of sensitive waterways, drinking water sources, fish and wildlife habitat, or public health;
• Block public participation in decisions about pesticide spraying on public lands—with no public hearings, opportunity for written public comments, or way to appeal bad decisions. This would deprive Alaskans of our right to speak out about potential harm to our drinking water, fishing streams, subsistence uses, dangers to our children and public health;
• Promote the application of potentially harmful pesticides and herbicides without consideration of toxicity and effects to health and the environment;
• Weaken public right-to-know requirements to notify the public about places where the pesticides will be sprayed.