[All] Atrazine, Grand River and latest study.

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks
 
I've been working on this issue for many years and finally, the University of Ottawa has proven that Atrazine changes the sex of frogs even at very low levels. This reinforces the work done previously by US scientist Tyrone Hayes and many international scientists. To view the recent news release visit here: 
 
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/091203/canada/canada_ottawa_ottawa_frogs_sex_change_atrazine
 
This is a CRITICAL ISSUE for our area because it is the #1 pesticide being used on top of our aquifers currently in the corn and soy crops. I've been pushing to ban the use of this substance in Canada and have written many correspondences to the government demanding Canadian studies and a ban.  It has already been banned in the UK, Japan and a host of other countries. The studies are in and the data shows the link.
 
The Canadian Pesticide Management Regulation Agency approved Atrazine without regard to international findings, without regard to the warnings by US scientist Tyrone Haynes who blew the whistle on this issue. Because the US EPA approved it Canada simply rubber stamped it. 
 
During the EPA review there were 40 secret meetings with Syngenta, the manufacturer of Atrazine.The studies ignored the findings of frog deformities. This lead to a lawsuit with the Natural Resource Defence Council. (NRDC) which secured monitoring and further studies. 
 
The chemical is linked to breast and prostate cancers, fish deformities and is a known endocrine disruptor.
 
Currently up and down the Grand River, breast and prostate cancers are the top two cancers. The fish deformities are already noted. They have eggs in the testies in the Grand River and frog deformities were found in Laurel Creek. 
 
I'm going to request a ban of this substance in our watershed through the Lake Erie Source Water Protection Committee. 
 
I would appreciate it if GREN members could spread the word on this. Perhaps at our next meeting we can endorse a letter to regional council and the Source Water Protection Committe and public health about this matter. We have the power to prevent cancer. We have the power to prevent the deformities. Let's do it. 
 
Lulu :0)
 
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