INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO ATRAZINE SAP ANNOUNCEMENT
News Date October 20, 2009
Following an announcement last week that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will convene a Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) to examine the cancer and non-cancer human health impacts of atrazine, industry supporters of the herbicide responded, citing years of scientific data on atrazine’s record of safe use. According to, Syngenta, the manufacturer of the herbicide, atrazine is one of the most extensively researched herbicides used today and has been categorized as “not likely” to cause cancer by the EPA. Atrazine, which is commonly used in conservation tillage or no-till systems, is responsible for reducing soil erosion by up to 90 percent. It has been used in the U.S. for over 50 years and was most recently re-registered with the EPA in 2006. The EPA is conducting the review in response to findings by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that the herbicide may be more harmful to humans than previously thought. EPA will hold the first meeting on November 3, and will accept written comments until October 23. (By: Ethan Mathews, Policy Contact: Nathan Bowen)