Word: ruckelshauses
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...some cases banning food products shown to contain traces of the chemical. Last week the Environmental Protection Agency responded to the furor by outlawing the use of EDB as a pesticide for grain and by recommending national standards for grain products already tainted by the chemical. EPA Administrator William Ruckelshaus, who during a previous reign at EPA banned DDT in 1972, announced ceilings of 30 parts per billion of EDB for ready-to-eat food, like cold cereal or bread; 150 p.p.b. for flours and baking mixes; and 900 p.p.b. for raw grain in storage...
...same time, Ruckelshaus moved to ease fears...
...generally no longer used to treat grain, and the stored harvest that has been fumigated can be made safe simply by airing it or storing it longer. Most of the cake mix falls below the federally acceptable levels, and cooking will eliminate about 91% of EDB. Ruckelshaus put off any decision on the use of EDB on citrus fruits. Only about 2% of citrus fruits consumed in the U.S. are treated with the chemical. While there are safe alternative pesticides for grain, no entirely safe substitute has been found yet for citrus. Aldicarb, a granular pesticide, is used in Florida...
...despite the headlines, Ruckelshaus' restrictions on EDB use have done relatively little to counter the still more widespread threat which the use and overuse of pesticides in America poses. When he presented the recent order, the EPA administrator reassured the press that the country is not facing a "public health emergency:" yet such a crisis may be just around the corner. EDB is only one of scores of pesticides in use across the country that are suspected of threatening human health, and are showing up in food and water supplies in many states...
...present, the bill's chances are not good unless Ruckelshaus throws his weight behind the measure now before Congress. Ruckelshaus has already compromised his office by avoiding any ruling on the use of EDB on citrus products--largely because of the potential effect on international trade--although residues of the chemical at 25 times the international limit considered safe for humans have been found in the pulp of fruits from Florida. In light of his sworn duties to protect the environment and human life, strong support of the Congressional measures should be foremost on Ruckelshaus' agenda...