Norman G. Vinson

2,4-D June 7, 2011

More misinformation on 2,4-D in the news. Today on CBC radio’s The Current, a guest who supports dandelion spraying of municipal and park lawns said there were no chemical effects from 2,4-D a week after application. He didn’t point to any evidence, but since he also claimed that dandelions cause injuries and require sod to be replaced so often that “labour costs go through the roof” I’m inclined to discount his statement on 2,4-D. Unfortunately, the CBC did not call him on it.

Moreover, in a settlement with Dow AgroSciences, the government of Quebec has changed its position on 2,4-D, and is now saying that 2,4-D does not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. Moreover, this Financial Post article calls the claim that 2,4-D is a carcinogen “junk science”.

Well, I’m sick of it.

Here’s the real story from a systematic review undertaken by the Ontario College of Family Physicians. There is scientific evidence that 2,4 D poses a risk for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. It is most definitely not junk science.

“Toronto, ON — April 23, 2004 — The Ontario College of Family Physicians
(OCFP) is strongly recommending that people reduce their exposure to
pesticides wherever possible after releasing a comprehensive review of research
on the effects of pesticides on human health. Released today, the review shows
consistent links to serious illnesses such as cancer, reproductive problems and
neurological diseases, among others. The study also shows that children are
particularly vulnerable to pesticides. “

http://www.ocfp.on.ca/local/files/Communications/Current%20Issues/Pesticides/News%20Release.pdf

Also, from their systematic review (see http://www.ocfp.on.ca/English/OCFP/Communications/CurrentIssues/Pesticides/default.asp?s=1)

“Previous studies have pointed to certain  pesticides, such as 2,4-D, as
possible precipitants of NHL [Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma], and the findings of this review are clearly consistent with this. Out of 27 studies, 23 show associations between pesticide exposure and NHL, many with statistical significance. Exposure misclassification, a perpetual problem with cohort studies, tends to skew
results towards the null, so in fact the associations in these studies may be underestimated. This
review uncovered compelling  evidence of the link between pesticide exposure and the
development of NHL. “