SAMPLE LETTER
(date)
Dennis F. Howard, Ph.D., Chief
Bureau of Pesticides
Division of Agricultural Environmental Services
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Dear Dr. Howard:
I am writing to you to express my concern over the recent approval
by EPA of the pesticide methyl iodide as a replacement for methyl
bromide. This chemical poses serious risks to the health of agricultural
workers from direct exposure in the fields, to rural communities from drift,
and also to the general public, because of the potential for surface and ground
water contamination. Because of these threats, the Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services should not permit the use of methyl iodide
for use in agriculture in
In a letter to EPA, 54 scientists, including 5 Nobel laureates,
expressed their concerns about the risks of methyl iodide to pregnant women,
the fetus, children, the elderly, farmworkers and
people living in rural, agricultural communities. Methyl iodide exposure puts
people at risk for cancer, thyroid problems, neurotoxicity,
and birth defects, and the high volatility of the gas means that there is the
additional risk of drift off the site of application and into neighboring
communities. Because of
I encourage DACS to avoid potential future problems and
environmental disaster. The potential harm to human health risks from the use
of this pesticide is sufficient to warrant
Thank you for your serious consideration of these concerns.
Sincerely,
(your name, address, and zip code)