The Yearly 2,4-D Report
Expert scientific reviews by the European Commission (2001), United States Environmental Protection Agency (1988, 1997, 2004 & 2005) and the World Health Organization (1996, 1997, 1998 & 2003), and Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (2005) reinforce the large body of scientific assessments that conclude the herbicide 2,4-D does not present a health risk to homeowners, farmers, and pesticide applicators when product directions are followed.
In its registration eligibility decision (RED) released in June 2005 the U.S. EPA concluded that acute and short-term margins of exposure for homeowner applications of 2,4-D to lawns were “not of concern.” EPA's most recent assessment included a review of animal and human data, the latter in the form of epidemiology studies (the study of the incidence of disease in populations). The EPA concluded: "The Agency has twice recently reviewed epidemiological studies linking cancer to 2,4-D. In the first review, completed January 14, 2004, EPA concluded there is no additional evidence that would implicate 2,4-D as a cause of cancer (EPA, 2004). The second review of available epidemiological studies occurred in response to comments received during the Phase 3 Public Comment Period for the 2,4-D RED. EPA's report, dated December 8, 2004 and authored by EPA Scientist Jerry Blondell, Ph.D., found that none of the more recent epidemiological studies definitively linked human cancer cases to 2,4-D."
“The EPA's assessment of the human and environmental scientific data reinforces a growing number of regulatory decisions and expert reviews that conclude the use of 2,4-D according to product instructions does not present an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment”, stated Jack Dutra, executive director of the Industry Task Force II on 2,4-D Research Data. “When expert panels and regulatory authorities around the world examine all the relevant scientific evidence, they consistently reach the same conclusion that 2,4-D does not present health risks of concern.”
Historically, the original patent on 2,4-D was issued in 1945 to Dr. Franklin D. Jones, a plant physiologist. Dr. Jones was working with the naturally occurring plant auxin, indole acetic acid (IAA). IAA is present in all plant matter and humans consume it daily whenever fruit, vegetables and cereals are consumed. In an effort to work with a more chemically stable, auxin-like compound, Dr. Jones included 2,4-D, an analog of IAA, in his experiments. In 2004, The Henry Ford organization in Dearborn, Michigan identified 2,4-D as one of the 75 most important innovations in the previous 75 years. Few scientific innovations have done as much to increase food production throughout the world. (ITF Press Release, 4/25/06).
