ALERT: EPA ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD

[Guest guest]

ALERT: EPA ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD

A coalition of health and environmental groups have filed a petition

with the EPA, indicating the agency has violated federal laws for

establishing allowable levels of fluoride pesticide residues in foods.

The petition comes on the heels of over 7,000 EPA employees calling

for stronger limitations of fluoride in food and water, as well as a

recent report from the National Academy of Sciences indicating the

average American diet has unsafe levels of fluoride. Specifically, the

petitioners (including Fluoride Action Network, Beyond Pesticides and

Environmental Working Group) are asking the EPA to prohibit the use of

sulfuryl fluoride in food production. Elevated levels of fluoride are

associated with bone fractures, thyroid function losses, IQ deficits,

bone cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. The EPA has posted a public

comment period on the issue ending August 4, 2006.