New U.S. pesticide food safety law spurs research into new products
Hedley Technologies Inc HED
Shares issued 7,102,838 Sep 28 close $0.75
Thu 1 Oct 98 News Release
Mr. J. Peter Ormesher reports
The new United States Food Quality Protection Act is creating strategic
opportunities for research based companies like Hedley Technologies Inc.
The FQPA is a relatively new, controversial pesticide safety law, now being
implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is currently
reassessing the level of total exposure to humans of certain chemical
pesticides in order to set new pesticide safety limits for humans. New
limits may restrict the use, or eliminate some, of the pesticides currently
being sold in the United States.
A recent Wall Street Journal article (Sept. 28, 1998) reported on some of
the issues relating to the group of chemicals known as organophosphates,
the most widely used class of pesticides. They are first to be reassessed
by the EPA since the FQPA passed this year. Organophosphates work by
interfering with cholinesterase. an enzyme found in the blood that is
essential for the proper working of the nervous system. In both insects and
humans, inhibiting the enzyme can lead to uncontrolled muscle twitching,
convulsions, and in extreme cases, death. They are used in crop protection,
flea control, in public health and applications around the home and garden.
The article questioned the practice of some of the chemical manufacturers
that test their pesticides on human subjects. The practice has raised both
ethical and human safety concerns, both within the EPA and by ethics
groups.
(c) Copyright 1998 Ca |
