The Green Files > Plant pathologists evaluate eco-friendly alternatives to methyl bromide

[Biology News Net - Current events, News and Articles in Biology] In 1987, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol called for the phase-out of methyl bromide, a soil fumigant used to control soilborne fungi, nematodes, and weeds of more than 100 crops worldwide. The phase out was based on methyl bromide's ability to deplete ozone and disrupt the UV protective ozone layer. The EPA determined that, under the Clean Air Act, this fumigant must be phased-out by 2001, but in compliance with the Protocol, the complete phase-out was scheduled for 2005.

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Some slightly related from Technorati and Google.

[Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Info] [epa-air] Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Extension of Global: of the Global Laboratory and Analytical Use Exemption to MethylBromide III. Statutory and Executive Order.... Applicability of the Global Laboratory and Analytical Use Exemption to MethylBromide As of January 1, 2005, production and import of methylbromide no longer will be allowed in the United States, except

[Resource Insights] Poke a hole in the ozone: PRAGUE, Czech Republic, November 29, 2004 (ENS) - An international conference on safeguarding the ozone layer ended here Saturday with a green light for the United States and other industrialized countries to continue using methyl bromide as a pesticide and soil fumigant. The chemical destroys the Earth's protective ozone layer, and it was supposed to be phased out in 2005, but the requesting countries say there is no effective substitute.

[Howling At A Waning Moon] U.S. Gets Another Reprieve on Use of Pesticide by Farms: Exemption Granted From Ban Set For '05 Under Pact on Ozone Layer By Juliet Eilperin Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, November 27, 2004; Page A10 International negotiators ruled yesterday that the United States can continue using methyl bromide, a pesticide set to be banned next year because it contributes to the destruction of the Earth's ozone layer. The pesticide, which has also been linked to prostate cancer and neurological damage, is used widely by American tomato and strawberry farmers and was slated to be eliminated worldwide in 2005 under the Montreal Protocol, the 1987 treaty to restrict the use of ozone-destroying chemicals.

[Scienceblog.com] Science Blog -- UC Scientists Search For Alternatives For Methyl ...: Solarization of Strawberries Surprisingly Successful Alternative to Methyl Bromide Soil solarization worked as well as methyl bromide in the first San Joaquin Valley field trials comparing the two treatments in strawberries. UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Richard Molinar and UC Integrated Pest Management plant pathologist Jim Stapleton found that both methyl bromide and soil solarization increased yields more than 30% over untreated plots. Because solarization is much cheaper than methyl bromide treatment, farmers stand to profit $800 to $1,000 more per acre by tapping the sun's energy instead of fumigating with the soon-to-be-banned chemical.

[Environmentalchemistry.com] Chemical Database: Methyl bromide (EnvironmentalChemistry.com): WARNING: These pages are for general reference and educational purposes only and MUST NOT be used to determine regulatory compliance or relied upon where matters of life and health are concerned. This site and the author do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or the sufficiency of the information provided and do not assume any responsibility for its use.

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