Posts Tagged: Jim Sims

Lawsuit filed to block usage of methyl iodide

Environmental and farmworker groups announced yesterday they have filed a lawsuit challenging the state Department of Pesticide Regulation's decision to register methyl iodide as an agricultural pesticide, according to reports in all of California's major media outlets.

The plaintiffs also appealed to newly inaugurated California Governor Jerry Brown to reverse DPR's decision, calling it "irresponsible and illegal."

Earthjustice and the California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. believe state pesticide regulators improperly cut off public comment on the chemical's approval, didn't listen to their own scientists and failed to use good scientific data in deciding to permit methyl iodide use in California agriculture.

Lea Brooks, the spokeswoman for the Department of Pesticide Regulation, said the chemical has been studied more than any pesticide in the department's history, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

"Methyl iodide can be used safely under its toughest-in-the-nation health-protective measures, including stricter buffer zones, more groundwater protections, reduced application rates and stronger protections for workers," Brooks was quoted in the Chron.

Methyl iodide is a substitute for methyl bromide, an ozone depleter that is being phased out. UC Riverside emeritus chemist Jim Sims first proposed the use of methyl iodide as an alternate soil fumigant. It is registered to Tokyo-based manufacturer Arysta LifeScience Corp.

Some of the other newspapers that covered the story were:

• Los Angeles Times
• San Jose Mercury-News
• Salinas Californian
• San Diego Union-Tribune

Response to methyl iodide op-ed published

The science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network and the executive director of Pesticide Action Network responded in the Ventura County Star to an op-ed piece written by UC Riverside professor emeritus Jim Sims about methyl iodide.

Sims, who authored the patents for methyl iodide's agricultural use, wrote his article to convey his belief that the pesticide could be used safely in California. The writers of the response, Ted Schettler and Kathryn Gilje, questioned the accuracy of Sims' article and said methyl iodide will raise the risk of cancer, miscarriages and brain damage, and will likely contaminate groundwater.

In April, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation proposed registering methyl iodide for use in California. A 60-day public comment period ended June 29 with more than 50,000 responses. DPR is expected to complete its review of the comments in mid-August.

UCR scientist writes op-ed on methyl iodide

UC Riverside emeritus professor of plant pathology Jim Sims recently published an op-ed about methyl iodide in the Ventura County Star. In his article, Sims says, "Much like other potent materials that are part of our everyday lives, methyl iodide can be used safely. This compound is the most-researched and most-tightly controlled fumigant yet registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."

Addressing health concerns, Sims writes: "The chemical is not a human carcinogen. It is a rodent carcinogen. Lois Gold and Bruce Ames, both UC Berkeley researchers, have stated 'high-dose effects in rodent cancer tests ... are not relevant to low-dose human exposures.'

"The studies that claim to show that methyl iodide will cause late-term miscarriages were done using high-dose protocols on rabbits. This effect is not caused by methyl iodide itself, but rather excess iodide that builds up in the body as methyl iodide is broken down."

In April, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation proposed registering methyl iodide for use in California. In June, DPR director Mary Ann Warmerdam testified before a state Senate committee about the proposed registration. A 60-day public comment period ended June 29. 

Sims notes he is an author on the patents and the individual who first proposed the use of methyl iodide as a soil fumigant. The patents are owned by UC Regents, managed by UC Riverside and licensed to Arysta LifeScience Corp. of Tokyo.

UC Riverside scientist supports methyl iodide registration

UC Riverside emeritus professor of plant pathology, Jim Sims, recently gave his opinion on the pending registration of methyl iodide to several California newspapers. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday said Sims believes methyl iodide is "absolutely necessary" to continue agriculture in the state.

"I think methyl iodide can be used safely," Sims was quoted by the newspaper.

In April, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation proposed registering methyl iodide for use in California. A 60-day public comment period ended June 29. The Chron said the 53,419 e-mailed comments and at least 175 letters have not been tallied, but that a DPR spokesperson said those against methyl iodide's registration were in the majority.

An article that quoted Sims appeared in the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian last Friday. Most of the story is only available in the print edition, but online the article noted that methyl iodide is a liquid pesticide that could be used in place of the fumigant methyl bromide, which is being phased out because of its ozone-depleting effects.

Sims researched the use of methyl iodide as a soil fumigant for nearly 20 years, the Register-Pajaronian said. His research led to a patent, owned by UC Regents, managed by UC Riverside and licensed to Arysta LifeScience Corp. of Tokyo.

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