Chemicals

Pesticide Carbofuran Banned for Food Crops

"The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule Monday banning the use of the pesticide carbofuran on food crops, saying it poses an unacceptable health risk, especially to children."

Chemicals

Public

National (U.S.)

Source: AP, 05/12/2009

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"In Punjab, Crowding Onto The Cancer Train"

Every night Train No. 339 pulls out of the shabby station in the Punjabi farm town of Bathinda. It has a chilling nickname -- "the cancer train" carries some 60 patients each night to the regional cancer hospital.

Chemicals

Public

International

Source: All Things Considered/NPR, 05/12/2009

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UN Adds 9 New Chemicals to Global Ban

Nine dangerous chemicals used in farming and industry will be added to a list of banned substances whose presence in the environment causes serious health risks, more than 160 government agreed on Saturday."

Chemicals

Public

International

Source: Reuters, 05/10/2009

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Bayer Knew MIC Monitors Were Broken

"INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- Bayer CropScience managers knew methyl isocyanate monitors were broken last August when they restarted a pesticide unit where up to 37,000 pounds of the deadly chemical are stored, company officials have confirmed."

Chemicals

Public

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV)

Source: Charleston Gazette, 05/10/2009

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Bhopal Victims Lobby Congress

"Victims of the 1984 gas leak that killed thousands of people in Bhopal, India took their battle Thursday to the US Congress, seeking pressure on Dow Chemicals."

Chemicals

Public

International

Source: AFP, 05/08/2009

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RTK NET Relaunches Chemical Risk Data Site

RTK NET's powerful tools make it easy to see which cities face the worst chemical risks, and what chemicals are involved.

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Congress Chiefs Want Probe into Secret Bayer Poison Gas

House Energy Chair Waxman and Senate Commerce Chair Rockefeller call for investigation of whether Bayer could use safer chemicals at its Institute WV plant.

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Toolbox: EPA's Pesticide Emergency Exemptions Database

There could be a story breeding behind the emergency pesticide exemptions — which could number in the hundreds — in your state.

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After Secrecy Claims, Bayer's Own Lapses Revealed as Biggest Threat

A U.S. Chemical Safety Board public hearing, delayed for a month due to Bayer's pleas for secrecy, finds lack of safety to be contributing factors to the 'accident' that killed two at an Institute, WV, plant in August 2008.

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"Trade Secrets" — Largely Untested Grounds for Toxic Secrecy

Witnesses at a House Energy Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection hearing in February said excessive and unjustified claims of "confidential business information" dampen EPA's efforts to regulate commonly used chemicals.

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