Some Problems in the Use of Newer Economic Poisons G. F. MacLEOD
Downloaded by STONY BROOK UNIV SUNY on June 4, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: January 1, 1950 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1950-0001.ch004
Sunland Industries, Inc., Fresno, Calif.
Some of the economic problems that confront the chemical industry and some practical problems of agriculture and society in general, resulting from the use of newer economic poisons, are discussed. Above all else, more facts are needed upon which to base both present procedures and future studies.
N o adequate discussion of even a single major problem associated with the newer chemicals can be offered without neglecting equally important and related problems. Actually, the titles of the papers presented i n this symposium reflect the complexity of the situation resulting from the rapid development of sharp chemical tools for combating pests. This paper discusses, first, some of the economic problems that confront the chemical industry and, secondly, some practical problems of agriculture and society i n general, which are associated with these newer products. There may be little that is new i n such a procedure, other than to bring well known facts into a relationship that appears to be somewhat vague. There is a recognized need for a clearer understanding between research workers i n public agencies and the men whose task i t is to make available the products that are needed i n a progressive society. The struggle to maintain a working equilibrium becomes more intense as the numbers of products multiply and the speed of development is increased.
Economic Problems The costs of developing and producing new economic poisons are well known to the men of industry. T o the average research worker, particularly i n agriculture, these costs are merely words. They are, however, definite segments of the problem of availability and use. N o social contribution has been made by either institutional research worker or chemical manufacturer until people have found a use for a product and are willing to purchase i t because i t will do something safely, more efficiently, at less cost, or more agreeably than compounds previously used. The newer insecticides and fungicides have these qualifications. Basic manufacturers of chemicals and local formulators have some mutual problems and each group has difficulties peculiar to itself. The costs of screening new products, trying to find one useful compound among thousands that prove to be useless, the expenses of pilot plant operations, conversion to plant production, product control, getting product acceptance, working out details of insurance, and safety precautions as well as general advertising, sales, and administrative costs give the basic manufacturer many a headache. The continuous fluctuation i n prices of raw materials, machinery made obsolete b y new products or processes, new packaging requirements, provisions for meeting the nearly 500 laws under which the industry operates, all contribute to the ultimate cost that a consumer must pay. 13
AGRICULTURAL CONTROL CHEMICALS Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1950.
ADVANCES IN CHEMISTRY SERIES
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The local formulator who purchases concentrated products from the manufacturer has his problems. M o r e frequently than not the advent of a new product catches him with a stock of some older chemical which the new one will replace. Lead and calcium arsenates, rotenone, pyrethrum, sabadilla, and others a l l have lost some usage to the newer economic poisons. Costs such as these cannot be passed on to consumers because of that grand American institution, competition. Concentrates of new chemicals are always expensive, but they frequently change rapidly i n price. Picture the position of a small but locally important mixer of insecticides remote from sources of supply, who suddenly finds himself with a substantial i n ventory of a new chemical purchased at 15 to 2 0 % above a newly announced price. H i s competitive position becomes what is known as "poor." W i t h many of the newer economic poisons manufactured i n the East, west coast formulators find themselves at a disadvantage with respect to both freight rates and supplies. .Everyone realizes the almost impossible task of estimating the amounts of insecticides or fungicides that will be used i n a given year, particularly where new compounds are concerned. There is yet to be discovered a formula by which the annual guesstimate of "how m u c h " can be solved. The end result is that most smaller, local mixers play conservative and sacrifice possible savings i n carload prices, supplies, and sales, by purchasing l.c.l. lots. This is, of course, doubly true where costly compounds are concerned. These factors all enter into the ultimate price to the consumer. The local manufacturer shares with the basic supplier the problems of machinery changes, safety precautions for operating personnel, developing useful local formulations, product control, product acceptance, and the usual administrative, advertising, sales, and delivery cost. Furthermore, these secondary manufacturers, despite ever-increasing help from the more progressive manufacturers, must work out many problems of labels, containers, and compliance with local laws or regulations concerning manufacture and sale of new formulations. A l l this takes manpower, time, and money. If these local institutions are to continue filling the long-established needs which their services have merited, as evidenced b y the demand for the goods they produce, the costs of those services must be reflected i n the price the consumer pays. The increasing demand for personnel adequately trained to cope with the use of new chemicals does not lessen the costs. A l l these facts and many more are well known to any commercial man i n the insecticide or fungicide industry today. When agricultural scientists and advisers talk with growers, they frequently overlook many of these factors. On the other hand, the men of industry frequently forget some of the complex problems associated with the widespread use of potent chemicals. The processes of nature cannot be hurried and most of the knowledge we have is relatively fragmentary. Practically every known agricultural practice is subject to continuous scientific scrutiny, with the result that periodic revisions are almost the rule. If our oldest concepts are so subject to change, how very little we must know about these five-year-old marvels. I t is natural for everyone involved to be concerned with the possible hazards which may be incurred as a result of volume use of newer economic poisons.
Harmful Residues One of the first considerations i n the use of any chemical is possible accumulations of harmful residues i n soils. Evidence proves beyond any doubt that many of the newer compounds remain i n the soil for at least 5 years. H o w much longer they may persist, time alone can determine. We know that both selenium and molybdenum can be picked up from soils by plants, which thus become extremely toxic to animals, even when plants themselves are apparently unharmed. Often a given piece of land may be treated safely as far as one crop is concerned but another crop may be injured. F o r example, potatoes will tolerate large amounts of D D T i n the soil as a means of controlling wireworms which are extremely destructive; melons, on the other hand, are severely injured by excessive D D T i n the soil. There can be no assurance i n many cases as to the ultimate use of any AGRICULTURAL CONTROL CHEMICALS Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1950.
Downloaded by STONY BROOK UNIV SUNY on June 4, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: January 1, 1950 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1950-0001.ch004
MacLEOD—SOME PROBLEMS IN THE USE OF NEWER ECONOMIC POISONS
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piece of land, so the implications are clear. A similar situation exists i n the case of sweet potatoes, which may be treated with benzene hexachloride (hexachlorocyclohexane) soil applications, whereas white potatoes are very susceptible to taste changes from even small amounts of the chemical i n the soil. The long-time effects of chemicals i n soils on microorganisms are of sufficiently serious import to slow down the most enthusiastic sales manager. The widespread use of economic poisons has a definite impact on the animal complex on the face of the earth which provides our sustenance. Already we have seen the use of D D T for codling moth control on apples result i n a relatively minor pest becoming a serious threat. The same material used as a wonder spray for fly control now fails, after a couple years of common usage, with the appearance of new, resistant strains of flies. Bees and other pollinating insects as well as helpful predators or parasites may be decimated and their important aid be lost by untimely or improper use of most of the newer insecticides. The danger to domestic animals, including pets, is an important hazard i n the use of all newer economic poisons. Drift dusts or sprays from carelessly applied materials may set back the useful development of many valuable chemicals. Only recently have authorities finally decided that we should slow down on the use of D D T on cows until we know more about the occurrence of the chemical i n milk, butter, and steaks. Our sportsmen and, incidentally, a major economic factor i n our pleasant way of life—the fish, game, and wildlife activities—are part and parcel of the problem of chemical usage i n forests and streams. We need continued and expanded investigations of the effects of the newer pesticides on wild life. There is a tremendous financial investment i n our agriculture. T h e place which this country occupies i n world leadership today is due i n part to our food-producing capacity. T o maintain that position at a time when portentous predictions are rife regarding an overpopulated world, we need ever-improved chemical aids, but we must, at the same time, impair neither the quantity nor quality of our orchards and vineyards. Frequently i t takes 10 to 20 years or even more before we see the ultimate effects of continued usage of chemicals on plants. The financial and social losses which can result from improper or unduly hasty use of chemicals should temper profits with caution.
Effect on Man Finally, new and little-known chemicals present hazards to man himself, no less complex than the biological enigmas of agriculture. Plant workers, commercial pest control operators, dealers and feed store employees, growers, farm hands, food industry workers, and consumers all have the mutual problem of both acute and chronic toxicity. W i t h i n the past two years we have seen marked strides i n the fields of study which concern themselves with the toxicity to man of all the newer economic poisons. I t is self-evident that a compound designed to k i l l one living organism will affect other living things. W h a t we most need to know is the margin of safety between those organisms which we would k i l l and those which we would keep unharmed. M o s t of the newer economic poisons are actually less toxic than those which we have used i n volume for years. Cyanide, arsenic, strychnine, and nicotine have a much more fatal ring to the average person than D D T , benzene hexachloride, chlordan, or parathion. I t is what we do not know rather than what we know which concerns us most about the newer compounds.
Investigation, Education, Regulation Obviously, some definite responsibilities must be met. They can best be met b y i n vestigation, education, and regulation i n that order. Investigation is a job for both i n dustry and government. I t is the cornerstone upon which education and regulation must be laid. Agricultural workers i n soil sciences, pathology, and entomology are well i n the forefront from the standpoint of investigation of the newer chemicals. They are aware of the values of such farm aids and the need for them. T h e plant physiologists have not kept abreast of the effects of these same compounds on plants. The establishment of both AGRICULTURAL CONTROL CHEMICALS Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1950.
Downloaded by STONY BROOK UNIV SUNY on June 4, 2018 | https://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: January 1, 1950 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1950-0001.ch004
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ADVANCES IN CHEMISTRY SERIES
laboratories of their own and fellowships at institutions proves the sincere interest of i n dustry i n helping to solve the many problems involved. There is a great need for more work on the pharmacology and toxicology of the new economic poisons with respect to both man and animals. The problem of educating the users of these new tools is a joint one, facing both i n dustry and the public instructional agencies. If and when clear-cut answers to the many questions that arise are forthcoming from investigators, the educational aspects of the problems at hand will be solved with great rapidity. Y o u cannot inform others until you yourself know the answers. It is impossible to legislate safety. The death rate from automobile accidents should prove that. Furthermore, no one can regulate or legislate wisely with insufficient facts at hand. Specific legislation regarding individual compounds is unnecessary and i l l advised; such rules and regulations will create more problems than they will solve. There is a defi nite need for some control over unscrupulous or misinformed persons who, perhaps u n wittingly, would expose themselves and the public to needless waste or hazards. A l l reputable industrial groups recognize this and would be the first to demand such protec tion for themselves. There now are adequate laws for this purpose; they need unification and simplification, not multiplication. The problems of proper usage of our newer, sharper chemical tools require closer i n tegration of efforts and a clearer understanding among the many groups involved. Above all else we need more facts upon which to base both present procedures and future studies. Continued and increasing contact and exchange of ideas together with intelligent plan ning of effort can speed our knowledge and our progress. There is more opportunity and more satisfaction i n our personal share of any task if we try to understand how our work meshes with that of other groups.
AGRICULTURAL CONTROL CHEMICALS Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1950.
