Take Action Against Dow Chemical and Monsanto ‘Agent Orange’ GMO Crops

By: Cassandra Anderson

You can help to hold the USDA and Dow Chemical accountable simply by posting your comments on the official public record of Dow Chemical’s petition with the USDA to approve their 2,4-D herbicide resistant GMO crops (remember that 2,4-D herbicide is half of the recipe for Agent Orange). Take action today to halt another destructive creation.

The USDA is required to respond to all UNIQUE comments publicly.  Therefore, it is essential that you write your own message in addition to using any of the issues listed below. It’s also important to note that comments close April 27th, so make sure to get them in today. It’s simple to do, and you can view the list of issues and links below. Simply go to the USDA website to leave your comments and take action!

Here is a list of issues concerning the new dangerous 2,4-D herbicide resistant crops and source links that we encourage you to use, along with your own message, in your comments to the USDA:

Effects on human health:

• I am demanding a full Environmental Impact Statement on these crops because they can affect human health.
• What are the cumulative effects for these crops and the increase in 2,4-D herbicide usage?
• EPA documents show that 2,4-D herbicide is the seventh largest source of dioxin in the US.
• Link: https://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/24d_red.pdf

 Pollution of the environment:

• EPA documents reveal that 2,4-D agricultural runoff has polluted groundwater across the US.  Dioxin has a half-life of more than 100 years when leached into soil and embedded in water systems.  Additionally, when contaminated fish are used as a food source, humans absorb dioxin.
• Links: https://www.epa.gov/teach/chem_summ/24D_summary.pdf
• https://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/agent-orange/history

Ramped up 2,4-D herbicide in crops:

• The commercialization of GMO 2,4-D herbicide resistant crops will dramatically increase the usage of 2,4-D herbicide that is linked to dioxin to be used on food crops.
• Link: https://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMcropsIncreasedHerbicide.php

Dioxin in diet and food sources:

• The FDA admits that 95% of human dioxin absorption is from diet, especially animal fats.  Corn and other crops are used for animal feed and dioxin levels are likely to rise in animals if they are fed 2,4-D herbicide resistant GMO crops, due to increased herbicide use.
• Link: https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/ChemicalContaminants/DioxinsPCBs/ucm292321.htm

Connection to cancer and birth defects:

• The EPA says that dioxin increases risk of cancer and current dioxin levels are already “uncomfortably” close to dangerous levels that can cause other health damage.
• Link: https://www.epa.gov/pbt/pubs/dioxins.htm
• EPA admits that dioxin in 2,4-D causes blood, liver and kidney toxicity in addition to birth defects in lab-tested animals.
• Link: https://www.epa.gov/teach/chem_summ/24D_summary.pdf
• The Veteran’s Administration recognizes these diseases that have resulted from Agent Orange exposure (2,4-D is half of the recipe of Agent Orange): Amyloidosis, chronic B-cell leukemias, chloracne, diabetes mellitus type 2, Hodgkin’s Disease, ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Parkinson’s Disease, peripheral neuropathy, liver dysfunction, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers (including lung), soft tissue sarcomas and birth defects in subsequent generations.
• Link: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/diseases.asp
• The USDA has failed to require tests of how 2,4-D herbicide and Monsanto’s glyphosate herbicide interact synergistically in the environment and in humans, which may present a real danger.

Take action on the USDA comments website:

https://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=APHIS-2010-0103-0001

Please note that your comments should contain an original message by you (instead of a form letter) so that it is counted as a unique message requiring a response from the USDA. It’s also important to be aware that only your name, city and country are required information, the rest of your personal information like your home address and e-mail are voluntary.

Personal stories of individuals affected by agent orange:

Vietnam Veteran suffers from cancer and heart disease.  His daughter is afflicted with birth defects.  He explains how Vietnam Veterans were exposed to Agent Orange.

Vietnam Veteran suffers from ischemic heart disease and is receiving aid from the Veterans Administration that now recognizes this disease is linked to dioxin exposure from Agent Orange.

Vietnamese family struggles with 2 children that have severe birth defects from Agent Orange.  Currently, many children are still being born with serious Agent Orange birth defects in Vietnam.

Daughter of Vietnam Veteran who died from a heart attack at age 56 describes her injuries resulting from Agent Orange in the second generation.

Please do your part to stop the USDA from approving these dangerous crops!  Here’s the USDA link again:

 Take action now!