Chemists say methyl bromide, a neurotoxin that can mutate DNA, has ‘serious potential for accidents,’ but federal officials say safeguards in place are sufficient to protect farm workers

Despite the protests of more than 50 scientists, including five Nobel laureates in chemistry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday approved use of a new, highly toxic fumigant, mainly for strawberry fields.

The new pesticide, methyl iodide, is designed for growers, mainly in California and Florida, who need to replace methyl bromide, which has been banned under an international treaty because it damages the Earth’s ozone layer.

In a letter sent last month to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, 54 scientists, mostly chemists, warned that “pregnant women and the fetus, children, the elderly, farmworkers and other people living near application sites would be at serious risk.”

Methyl iodide is a neurotoxin and carcinogen that has caused thyroid tumors, neurological damage and miscarriages in lab animals.

But EPA officials said Friday that they carefully evaluated the risks and decided to approve its use for one year, imposing restrictions such as buffer zones to protect farmworkers and neighbors…

Full Story:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pesticide6oct06,1,7371216.story