Monday July 13, 2009, 4:20 pm
“Methyl iodide is even more toxic than what it is supposed to be replacing. More to the point, it is entirely unnecessary, as sustainable and organic farming systems are available now,”

Methyl iodide reacts rapidly with DNA to cause mutations. Since methyl iodide is very soluble in water, there is a real danger of leaching to ground water.

“Methyl iodide is so toxic that scientists working with it in the laboratory take extreme precautions when handling it, using a ventilation hood, gloves, and special equipment for transferring it so it does not escape to the air.” notes Dr. Susan Kegley, a chemist and consulting scientist for Pesticide Action Network. “This degree of protection is not possible in an agricultural setting where the pesticide would be applied at rates of 175 pounds per acre in the open air. Buffer zones of 400 feet (a distance most growers would say is unworkable) for a 40-acre fumigation would still result in a dose of methyl iodide to neighbors that is 375 times higher than DPR believes is acceptable. For workers, the numbers are much worse, with exposures estimated at 3,000 times higher than DPR’s acceptable dose for some tasks.”

Methyl iodide would primarily be used on strawberries in California. California produces eighty percent of the nation’s strawberries. It is virtually impossible to remove pesticide residue from strawberries by washing them. That means everyone who eats these berries will be eating the pesticide too. Which means this is not just a California issue.

Please write to or call Gov. Schwarzenegger and object to any approval of this nasty new poison:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160

Tuesday July 14, 2009, 4:52 pm
Thank you Tia for all this additional information. This is very important and you are right, it doesn't just effect California residents!!