Environmentalists call on EPA to ban herbicide atrazine

Frog enthusiasts gathered in DC today to urge federal policymakers to ban a chemical used frequently in U.S. agriculture. The group, which was extremely small in size, protested in front of the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the third annual “Save The Frogs Day,” which also included dozens of rallies in other U.S. cities and countries around the world.

The objective of the rallies was to pressure governments into considering bans on Atrazine, a pesticide commonly used to prevent soil erosion and boost crop yields. Though the compound is both inexpensive and effective, its widespread use is considered controversial due to the fact that it has contaminated water supplies, according to some studies.

Amphibian advocates who took part in today’s rally at the EPA, say the chemical has also contributed to the disappearance of frog populations worldwide. The group pointed to a 2010 report which found that Atrazine caused sterility in 75% of male frogs that were tested, and reversed the sex in one out of every ten.

"When we save the frogs, when we protect the frogs, we’re protecting all our wildlife, all our ecosystems and all humans,” said Dr. Kerry Kriger, Founder & Executive Director of Save The Frogs.

Kriger told Talk Radio News Service that his organization has collected nearly 10,000 signatures on a petition to ban the pesticide.

"Once more Americans know about Atrazine, there will be overwhelming support for a ban,” Kriger added. “The problem is that only a few percent of Americans have ever heard of Atrazine.”

However, the EPA stated in 2007 that there was insufficient data proving that Atrazine had such impacts on amphibians, citing research by Japanese officials that did not reveal any harmful side effects from the chemical. Still, environmentalists have continued to lobby agressively against its use.

University of California, Berkely biologist Dr. Tyrone Hayes has led the fight to ban Atrazine. He said today that his research shows that the compound has taken its toll on human health.

"Atrazine shows affect on humans as well, we’ve found signs of low fertility in agricultural societies…today is not only about saving the frogs, it’s about protecting everybody on this planet.”

The maker of the pesticide, Swiss agro giant Syngenta, filed an ethics complaint with the university last year over a series of emails Hayes had sent to company employees, which, in some cases contained lewd and threatening language. Hayes has admitted to sending the emails, but has argued that they were made in response to threats issued against him by Syngenta employees.

The EPA is currently reviewing Atrazine, and is expected to make a decison regarding its legality sometime next year. Meanwhile, Syngenta, which markets other seeds and pesticides in addition to Atrazine, took in over $11 billion in revenues in 2010.