GOVERNMENT
Issue of Pesticide Safety For Children Draws Debate EPA, others refute study that shows youngsters may be exposed to dangerous levels of pesticides on fruits and vegetables What is a parent to do? Just when the National Research Council urges Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables, a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council cautions that children may be exposed to dangerous levels of pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables and may be at high risk for cancer and neurological damage. The Environmental Protection Agency and an agricultural chemicals trade group disagree. They contend the U.S. food supply is safe. But NRDC argues that children are being placed at risk because in setting standards, the federal government generally sets levels based on adult diets and adult physiology. Children, particularly preschoolers aged one to five, consume more fruits and vegetables than adults, on average, and are therefore exposed to relatively more pesticides present in the food supply. Young children also may be more susceptible to the ill effects of toxic chemicals such as some pesticides. For these reasons, NRDC undertook a twoyear study, "the first detailed analysis of children's exposure to pesticides in food/' it says, to determine potential risks. For preschoolers, fruit comprises 34% of the diet, compared with 20% of an adult's diet. For example, a typical preschool-aged child consumes nearly 18 times as much apple juice, relative to his or her weight, than the average adult fe-
male. And fruit is likely to be ladened with pesticide residue. FDA found that 50% of all fruit samples collected in a 1987 food monitoring program had detectable levels of pesticides. Not all of the 320 pesticides now used on food crops are hazardous to health. The exact number of harmful chemicals is not known because EPA has partially or fully evaluated only 194. NRDC focuses on 23 agricultural chemicals, 20 of which have been found to cause cancer or disrupt the nervous system in test animals. Along with the pertinent information on these 23 pesticides, NRDC collected data on children's food consumption rates and on pesticide residue levels found on fruits and vegetables. Data came from the Department of Agriculture, the Food & Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. From its study, NRDC concludes
that between 5500 and 6200 current preschool-aged children may contract cancer as a result of their exposure before six years of age to eight pesticides or metabolites commonly found on fruits and vegetables. These figures may actually be too low, it says. Preschoolers may also be exposed to pesticides in the milk and water they drink, and these commodities were not considered in the study. Many of the pesticides studied by NRDC were actually on the market and in agricultural use in the 1950s and 1960s. Enough time has passed for increased cancer rates to have become apparent by now. Yet, "The available data show that the incidence of cancers that could be attributed to overexposure to chemicals in the food supply is not increasing," says John McCarthy, president of the National Agricultural Chemicals Association. But NRDC spokesman Paul Allen
Profile of two pesticides of special concern Daminozide, commonly called Alar A metabolite of daminozide, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazlne (UDMH), is a potent carcinogen and the greatest source of cancer risk pegged by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Daminozide, a growth regulator, was first registered in 1963. It is used primarily on apples and peanuts. Based on consumption and relative weights, NRDC calculates that the average preschooler is exposed to UDMH 12-fold more than adults. According to NRDC, the average preschooler's exposure to UDMH during the first six years of life results in an estimated cancer risk of about one case for every 4200 preschoolers exposed, or 240 times greater than the cancer risk
deemed acceptable by EPA over a lifetime of exposure. More than 1 million children consume UDMH-tainted foods. Captan A fungicide first registered in 1951, captan is considered a probable human carcinogen. It is widely used on apples, peaches, almonds, and seeds. NRDC estimates that preschoolers exposed to captan through age five may bear a lifetime risk of one cancer for every 119,000 to 556,000 children exposed. This is about two to seven times what EPA deems acceptable following lifetime exposure. EPA has canceled several minor uses of captan, but none that affect the findings of NRDC's study. March 13, 1989 C&EN
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Government explains that ' T h e purpose of the study was to make some judgments about what is likely to happen in the future, not to explain how current cancer rates are affected by past exposures." Explaining present cancer rates based on past exposures is possible, Allen says, "if you have meaningful data on what children actually consumed [both in foodstuffs and pesticide levels] 25 years ago. I don't think those data exist." Cancer was not the only endpoint considered. Impaired behavior and altered neurological function were the other health effects studied. And the NRDC study calculates that at least 17% of the preschool population, or about 3 million children, are currently ingesting neurotoxic organophosphate pesticides—along with their raw fruits and vegetables—at levels above those considered safe by EPA. This could lead to neurological damage. The full extent of potential harm to health was not discerned by the study. Many of the 23 pesticides studied are known to adversely affect the kidney, liver, and immune and reproductive systems. These weren't considered in the study.
EPA's acting deputy administrator John A. Moore counters NRDC charges, claiming that "Food containing legal levels of pesticide residues is safe for people of all ages." The agency, he says, has developed a "more accurate method" for estimating such residues on food, and has routinuely used safety factors when evaluating the risks to infants and children. But, Moore adds, EPA is concerned that "infants and children may be more sensitive to certain toxic effects of pesticide residues in their diet than are adults." So the environmental agency has asked the National Academy of Sciences to study the issue and make appropriate recommendations. NAS's study is scheduled to be completed in 1990. The value of children eating more fruits and vegetables goes unquestioned. The issue of pesticide safety for these children remains unresolved. The purpose of the NRDC study was to prod EPA. "We want people to eat more fruits and vegetables with some assurance that the fruits and vegetables are safe," says NRDC's Allen. Lois Ember
Democrats aim tofillholes in Bush budget House Democrats in recent days have initiated what will be a series of colloquies on the floor, after the business of the day has been finished, to outline their reaction to President Bush's first budget proposal, or as they see it, the lack thereof. Among the topics that have been addressed so far are education, energy R&D, the environment, and the related topic of cleaning up the Department of Energy's nuclear facilities. The colloquies are needed, explained lead-off speaker Rep. Charles E. Schumer (D.-N.Y.), a member of the Budget Committee, because "this year, unlike previous years, the budget is basically in the dark. By the Administration's own admission, there is a big blank box that has lots of things whirling around in it . . . the budget the President has submitted is not a budget at all. It is much more like an outline that does not really fill in the blanks, and we 14
March 13, 1989 C&EN
feel it is our job to probe the budget and reveal its dark little corners so that people will know what is in it." One of those dark little corners, according to another Budget Committee member, Rep. Barbara Boxer (D.-Calif.), is education. In line with his declared wish to be the "education President," Bush proposed some $400 million worth of new education programs. These included a national science scholars program that would provide a total of 570 fouryear scholarships of up to $10,000 per year for college students majoring in the sciences, mathematics, or engineering (C&EN, Feb. 20, page 16). However, Boxer pointed out that although Democrats "were very happ y " to see that investment, "yet when we cut through this budget, what we find is an incredible fact His education budget is 1.5% up from last year's budget [1989], but when we add in the 4.5% inflation,
it actually cuts education" spending by $100 million. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D.-Mass.), former chairman of Commerce's Energy & Power Subcommittee and current chairman of the Telecommunications & Finance Subcommittee, is concerned that the Bush Administration is carrying on with the Reagan Administration's de-emphasis of the Department of Energy's nonnuclear energy R&D programs. Markey pointed out that in 1981, 41% of the DOE budget, just under $4 billion, was for atomic energy defense activities, 53% went for civilian energy programs, and the remaining 6% for general science. This year, he said, "the picture is quite different." Atomic defense activities account for 61% of the DOE budget, civilian energy programs 32%, and general science programs 7%. Further, Markey noted, Bush's fiscal 1990 budget continues this trend, with atomic defense making up 62%, or about $9 billion, of the DOE budget. Civilian energy programs make up only 30% of the budget—dropping from $4.9 billion in 1981 to a level of just $4.3 billion. According to an analysis of the Bush budget by the Center on Budget & Policy Analysis, cited by Rep. Barney Frank (D.-Mass.), DOE's en^ ergy supply R&D programs, which would have been cut 3% under the Reagan budget and 8% under a Gramm-Rudman-Hollings sequestra-
Schumer: budget basically in the dark
tion, would be cut 9% under a Bush proposed "freeze" on discretionary domestic spending programs. Markey is also concerned about the Bush budget's provision for only $415 million for environmental restoration at DOE's nuclear production facilities, when, as he pointed out, DOE itself estimates that it needs between $1 billion and $2 billion a year to fund the cleanup. He suggested that all of the $713 million increase requested for DOE's nuclear weapons research, testing, and weapons production program, plus new production reactors, be applied to the environmental cleanup program. He pointed out that freezing funding for those programs
at fiscal 1989 levels would free up cleanup money without increasing DOE's overall appropriation. As for the Environmental Protection Agency, Democrats noted that, despite Bush's commitment to the environment, his budget makes few changes to that submitted by President Reagan. Missing entirely is the $59 million Congress has authorized to clean up Boston Harbor, whose condition was one of the more often mentioned themes of the Bush campaign. Still the Democrats noted that they were heartened by Bush's pledge to send Congress new legislative initiatives on clean air, acid rain, and air toxics. Janice Long
Europe 1992 plan may change face of R&D Americans, their eyes still on the ships, the overarching challenge to technological threat from Japan, are the U.S. involves dealing with esonly beginning to wake up to the sentially two Europes. The EC is an revolutionary economic goal the Eu- organism still in evolution. It is a ropean Community has set for it- government in many senses, with self for Dec. 31, 1992—the complete its own parliament, budget, reguladropping of trade barriers among tory authority, and diplomatic corps. its member countries. It won't hap- A few days ago, for example, it compen with a bang, but the goal is mitted its member countries to tothere. The 12 EC countries are half- tally ban chlorofluorocarbons by the way through changing some 285 in- end of the century. It deals with dividual laws to establish that sin- practically all issues that require a common European position. gle deregulated market. The impact of 1992 on scientific But the EC lacks two essential deand technological relations between noters of nationhood: its own curthe U.S. and Western Europe is still rency and defense forces. The EC is pretty vague. So, to help clarify fore- a fixture in Europe, but so are the sight, the Congressional Research cultures and governments of France, Service has just issued a staff report England, Italy, and the rest of the on what might be expected and what member states. A "United States of Congress should be asking as Eu- Europe" will likely be some hybrid rope integrates more fully. The re- between what Europe is now and port was prepared for the House what the U.S. is today. Science, Space & Technology ComIn any case, technological Europe mittee under a group coordinated probably will get more tied togethby Glenn J. McLoughlin of CRS's er and so the U.S. will have to descience policy research division. cide which R&D arrangements with As the McLoughlin group sees individual countries should be rethings, four areas will be affected duced, and which pan-European inmost: the bilateral and multilateral itiatives should be pursued. Under cooperative arrangements between discussion currently is a broad scithe U.S. and the European coun- ence and technology agreement betries; nontariff barriers relating tween the U.S. and Europe along mainly to technological standards the "symmetrical" lines of the one between countries; changes that are completed last year with Japan and already occurring in Europe's R&D the U.S. funding priorities; and U.S.-EuroFrance's Eureka program illuspean competitiveness. trates the complexities. Eureka's aim For cooperative research relation- is to develop high-technology re-
Federal A l e r t new regulations This C&EN listing highlights regulations published in the Federal Register from Jan. 3 to Feb. 17. Complete information is available on the page numbers cited. PROPOSED Drug Enforcement Administration—Outlines procedures for record keeping and reporting and for controls on imports and exports of 20 chemicals implicated in making illegal drugs; comments by March 27 (Feb. 8, page 6144). Environmental Protection Agency—Adds 232 hazardous chemicals now on emergency right-to-know regulation list (Title III) to hazardous chemicals list under Superfund for reporting purposes; comments by March 24 (Jan. 23, page 3388). Sets standards for pollutants in sewage sludge that is to be marketed as fertilizer or put in landfills; comments by Aug. 7 (Feb. 6, page 5746). FINAL Environmental Protection Agency—Promulgates regulations on sale and advertising of unregistered pesticides and unregistered uses of registered pesticides; effective March 13 (Jan. 11, page 1122). Permits manufacturers allowed to produce certain amounts of chlorofluorocarbons to transfer allowances to other companies; comments by March 15 (Feb. 9, page 6376). Continues to permit residues of growth regulator daminozide (Alar) up to 20 ppm on commercial apples until July 31, 1990; effective Jan. 31 (Feb. 10, page 6392). National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration—Publishes rules on permits for commercial mining of deep seabed minerals; effective Feb. 6 (Jan. 6, page 514). Occupational Safety & Health Administration—Amends permissible exposure standards for 376 air contaminants, adding short-term exposure levels, skin exposure designations, and ceiling exposure limits; effective March 1 (Jan. 19, page 2332). As result of court actions, advises that all provisions of hazard communication rule will be enforced for all industry segments; effective Jan. 30 (Feb. 15, page 6886). NOTICES Occupational Safety & Health Administration—Issues safety and health program guidelines for voluntary use by industry (Jan. 26, page 3904). Office of Management & Budget—Publishes nonregulatory guidance on meeting requirements of drug-free workplace mandated for ail federal contractors and grantees (Jan. 31, page 4946).
March 13, 1989 C&EN
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Government search programs through cooperation among the European countries. The EC participates, but the program remains French. On the other hand, the EC sponsors its Esprit program on the information sciences and has France as a member. Just how the U.S. will simplify what appears to be increasing organizational complexity remains to be worked out. The report says that "The U.S. may find it in its own interests to seek to put its bilateral scientific relationships with individual European countries on a more formal basis, in order to hedge against pressures to shift the partners 7 resources toward more intra-European cooperation. " But such maneuvering would signal U.S. opposition to a unified Europe and in many quarters wouldn't go down well. The only current U.S.-EC science and technology activity relevant to 1992 is the High-Technology Working Group. Established in 1983, the
group meets about twice a year and discusses, in general, problems and interactions between the two governments in high technology. The CRS report says the group last met in December and discussed highdefinition television and contributions of high technology in the services sector. The group also is exploring the possibilities of a U.S.-EC bilateral science agreement. Technological standards issues have always been controversial between countries because the opening and closing of markets hinge on them. Currently, the European countries are working hard to develop uniform standards in the information and telecommunications technologies, which represent multibillion-dollar markets. The U.S., however, is being excluded from participation in the standards-setting process and this raises concerns. "A 'European' standard will be established that essentially denies opportunities for non-European
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March 13, 1989 C&EN
firms," the report states. "Even if market entry were feasible, additional burdens imposed by product certification procedures might make outside firms noncompetitive." Implicitly, the sense emerging repeatedly from the report is that of increasing, accelerating competition between the U.S. and Europe in technology after technology. That includes energy—the U.S. fears that the Europeans will develop advanced nuclear reactors that compete better than U.S. designs on the world market. It includes highdefinition television and the wellpublicized race for multibilliondollar markets among the three industrial powers—U.S., Europe, and Japan. Biotechnology is an obvious area. Advanced materials is another. All three powers have singled out such technologies for development. What gets shared? What doesn't? What, in fact, constitutes "symmetry," that new concept in the global balance of technology? Some of the problems come together in the report's section labeled "competitiveness." What 1992 definitely will do is increase the climate for more and more joint ventures, mergers, and other interactive activities between corporations as well as more interaction between industry and government. In the U.S. the government is much less involved in commercial technological development than are the governments in the EC and Japan. If 1992 expands joint activities, the report asks, Will the U.S. fall behind Europe in innovation? What the 1992 phenomenon underscores at the very least is the accelerating internationalization of science and technology as it is propelled by transborder finance and economics. Whereas in the past the U.S. carried on a paternal pattern of technical exchanges between itself and other countries, the driving force now is intense commercial relationships between countries where boundaries increasingly blur. Economics and thus technology are now driving science. Science and scientists are now commodities to be bought, borrowed, and sold as never before for their technological potential. Wil Lepkowski
