Farmworkers, Environmental Groups Reopen Suit against EPA

By Christy Burns

Published on February 21, 2007

In use since the 1950s, azinphos-methyl, also known as “guthion” or “AZM,” has been proven to cause a variety of serious illnesses, including vomiting, seizures, loss of mental function, paralysis, and even death. The lawsuit contends that the Environmental Protection Agency is wrong to allow the use of AZM for the next five years.

Earthjustice, the environmental law firm representing the farmworkers and other environmentalists, has said that although the EPA did rule in favor of significantly limiting the amount of AZM being used, this does not adequately protect workers from the poisonous effects of the pesticide.

EPA representatives claim that the ruling was intended to provide enough time for an effective transition to safer alternatives while still minimizing the harm to the public.

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