Californian activists protest use of pesticide methyl iodide

Date:06-03-2011

Community groups and environmental activists are renewing calls for California regulators to ban a controversial pesticide after its first use in the fields.

Two dozen protesters gathered Thursday in front of the Fresno County agricultural commissioner's office to demand that future use of methyl iodide be banned because of dangers to human health.

The chemical kills bugs, weeds and plant diseases before planting.

Fresno County last month approved the state's first permit for the chemical after state regulators in December approved its use. About 1.3 acres of a future pepper field were fumigated with methyl iodide in mid-May.

Some scientists claim the chemical can cause cancer, and environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to stop use of the chemical.

Regulators insist precautions make the use of the fumigant safe.