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Fw: BT

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This seems not to have gone to the list...
-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Teuton <fteuton@total.net>
To: sqft@listbot.com <sqft@listbot.com>; Janet Wintermute
<jwintermute@erols.com>
Date: Friday, July 02, 1999 10:03 AM
Subject: Re: BT


>Hi Janet,
>
>Here's the lead in from the PESTIS article on Bt:
>
>Swadener. Journal of Pesticide Reform,
>Volume 14, Number 3, Fall 1994.
>Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides,
>Eugene, OR.
>
>Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.)
>by Carrie Swadener
>
>Introduction
>
>Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) is a live microorganism that
>kills certain insects and is used to kill unwanted insects in
>forests, agriculture, and urban areas.
>In a purified form, some of the proteins produced by B.t. are
>acutely toxic to mammals. However, in their natural form,
>acute toxicity of commonly-used  B.t. varieties is limited to
>caterpillars, mosquito larvae, and beetle larvae. B.t. is
>closely related to B. cereus, a bacteria that causes food
>poisoning and to B. anthracis, the agent of the disease
>anthrax. Few studies have been conducted on the chronic
>health effects, carcinogenicity, or mutagenicity of B.t.
>People exposed to B.t. have complained of respiratory, eye,
>and skin irritation, and one corneal ulcer has occurred after
>direct contact with a B.t. formulation. People also suffer
>from allergies to the "inert" (secret) ingredients. People
>with compromised immune systems may be particularly susceptible to B.t.
>Viable B.t. spores are known to exist for up to one year
>following application. Insect resistance to B.t. has been
>well documented. Genetic engineering may greatly expand use
>of B.t., speeding up the development of more resistance.
>Large-scale applications of B.t. can have far-reaching
>ecological impacts. B.t. can reduce dramatically the number
>and variety of moth and butterfly species, which in turn
>impacts birds and mammals that feed on caterpillars. In
>addition, a number of beneficial insects are adversely impacted by B.t.
>B.t. is less toxic to mammals and shows fewer environmental
>effects than many synthetic insecticides. However, this is no
>reason to use it indiscriminately. Its environmental and
>health effects as well as those of all other alternatives
>must be thoroughly considered before use. B.t. should be used
>only when necessary, and in the smallest quantities possible.
>It should always be used as part of a sustainable management program.
>
>********************************************************
>
>This article is found at :
>gopher://gopher.igc.apc.org:2998/0PESTIS/r.930923910.16028.25
>
>And can be reached thru the PANUPS website, http://www.panna.org
>
>The full article is extensively footnoted.
>
>FYI,
>
>Frank---who uses Bt carefully in some of his brassiculture...
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Janet Wintermute <jwintermute@erols.com>
>To: sqft@listbot.com <sqft@listbot.com>
>Date: Thursday, July 01, 1999 2:39 PM
>Subject: Re: BT
>
>
>>Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>>
>>Bonnie Christensen, posting from Utah, is concerned about the safety of
>>Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt):
>>>I just purchased some BT for the first time and I'm afraid to use it.
The
>>>lable says that it is very dangerous to use.  Can anyone please tell me
>how
>>>they use it safely and is it as dangerous as the company that makes it
>seems
>>>to think it is?
>>
>>I am astonished to hear that any producer of Bt would make a label
>statement
>>that it is "very dangerous."  It is NOT very dangerous, or even plain
>>"dangerous" to use!  Recent posts concerning possible dangers of inhaling
>Bt
>>constitute the first mention I have ever seen that it has ANY effect on
>>mammals at all.  (And those sounded quite anecdotal....)
>>
>>I can assure you that if it were dangerous to apply, the U.S.
Environmental
>>Protection Agency would not have labeled it for over-the-counter sale and
>>application by ordinary folks.  Pesticide products that are "dangerous"
for
>>people to handle must be applied by certified pesticide
>>applicators--individuals who have passed tests on safe handling practices
>so
>>they do not unnecessarily risk their own health.
>>
>>Remember, Bt is a naturally occurring bacterium--not a
>petrochemical-derived
>>poison.
>>
>>Bonnie, please tell me what brand of Bt you have and please post the exact
>>wording from the label.  I just can't believe a company would shoot its
own
>>product in the foot in the way you describe!
>>
>>Perhaps you are reacting to the canned boilerplate language that says,
>>roughly, "It is against Federal law to use this product in ways that are
>not
>>specifically approved on this label."
>>
>>*That* language is part of a prepared statement from EPA on all pesticide
>>containers, not just Bt.  It's a warning against (1) applying XYZ to pests
>>or crops for which it has not been proven safe and effective, and (2)
>mixing
>>up batches in any old proportion you feel OK about, regardless of what the
>>label told you to do in terms of amount of active ingredients.
>>
>>One of my favorite USDA business pals is Homer Collins, fire ant scientist
>>at our Gulfport, MS, lab.  Homer was around in the 1950's, when, he tells
>>me, everybody was spraying DDT on fields for fire-ant and other pest
>control
>>at rates of POUNDS (plural) per acre.  EPA came into existence and put a
>>stop to all that.  Currently, for most pesticides, the labeled levels of
>>active ingredient are under 1 oz/acre, and sometimes *way* under (a
>>testimonial to how powerful some of these chemicals are, for sure).
>>
>>--Janet
>>
>>
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>


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