April 18, 2008
Groups Sue Over Chemicals
Mitch Lies, Capital Press
A group of farmworker advocates and environmentalists filed suit April 4 against the EPA in a San Francisco court to stop use of four organophosphate pesticides.
In the lawsuit filed on behalf of several environmental and labor groups, Earthjustice and Farmworker Justice contend the pesticides put farmworkers and their families at risk.
"It is inexcusable for EPA to allow use of pesticides that they know are harming people, especially children," said Patti Goldman, attorney for Earthjustice.
The groups contend that in addition to harming farmworkers, the pesticides are harming children living near agricultural regions.
The four organophosphates targeted in the suit include oxydemeton-methyl, which is used primarily on vegetables; methidathion, used on fruits, vegetables and nuts; methamidophos, used extensively on potatoes; and ethoprop, also used on potatoes.
Product names for the insecticides include Mocap (ethoprop), Monitor (methamidophos) and Supracide (methidathion).
Terry Witt, executive director of the Salem, Ore.-based farm and forest trade group Oregonians for Food and Shelter, called the suit unjustified.
"This is the latest in a string of unjustified lawsuits targeting pesticides," he said. "I believe it is without basis."
Among farm labor groups included in the suit are the United Farm Workers and the Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United, or PCUN, which is based in Woodburn, Ore.
