Just Label It News Roundup 9-7

Newly released government email communications show a persistent effort by multiple officials within the EPA to slow a separate federal agency’s safety review of Monsanto’s top-selling herbicide. Bayer said the number of outstanding cases had risen from 5,200 to 8,000. A government proposal this year, called Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science, could stop them from being used to justify regulating pesticides, lead and pollutants like soot, and undermine foundational research behind national air-quality rules. The E.P.A., which has funded these kinds of studies, is now labeling many of them “secret science.” Also in the news, a pediatrician finds a high amount of birth defects in Indiana. Pesticide damage to DNA has been found to be ‘programmed’ into future generations. A suburban Chicago official says hundreds of fish died in the community’s lake when oxygen levels plummeted after an herbicide was applied to combat aquatic plants. Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry has stated that they will re-visit legal channels in an attempt to receive damages for over one million people, from a group of chemical companies including Monsanto and Dow Chemical, which produced the deadly herbicide Agent Orange for the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Two large-scale algae outbreaks in Florida are killing fish and threatening public health. Along the southwest coast, one of the longest-lasting red tide outbreaks in the state’s history is affecting more than 100 miles of beaches.
Meanwhile, discharges of polluted fresh water from Lake Okeechobee and contaminated local runoff water from the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee watersheds have caused blooms of blue-green algae in downstream estuaries on both coasts. Meanwhile, the Monsanto sign at headquarters has been replaced with one that says Bayer: Crop Science Division. The Trump administration has stopped a partial phase-out of the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and genetically modified crops on national wildlife refuges where farming is permitted, threatening pollinators like bees and butterflies along with a suite of other wildlife species that depend on healthy, natural refuge habitats.

Collusion Or Coincidence? Records Show EPA Efforts To Slow Herbicide Review Came In Coordination With Monsanto

Newly released government email communications show a persistent effort by multiple officials within the EPA to slow a separate federal agency’s safety review of Monsanto’s top-selling herbicide. Notably, the records demonstrate that the EPA efforts came at the behest of Monsanto and that EPA officials were helpful enough to keep the chemical giant updated on their progress.

Pesticide Studies Won E.P.A.’s Trust, Until Trump’s Team Scorned ‘Secret Science’

The Trump administration wants to restrict how human studies like Chamacos are used in rule-making. A government proposal this year, called Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science, could stop them from being used to justify regulating pesticides, lead and pollutants like soot, and undermine foundational research behind national air-quality rules. The E.P.A., which has funded these kinds of studies, is now labeling many of them “secret science.”

Environmentally-Caused Disease Crisis? Pesticide Damage to DNA Found ‘Programmed’ Into Future Generations

When Dr. Paul Winchester, a pediatrician, moved to Indiana from Colorado in 2002, he noticed something disturbing—a high number of birth defects. 

Suburban Chicago Lake’s Fish Kill Sparked by Weed Control

A suburban Chicago official says hundreds of fish died in the community’s lake when oxygen levels plummeted after an herbicide was applied to combat aquatic plants.

About 400 fish, including largemouth bass, died last week in Libertyville’s Butler Lake soon after a company applied a chemical that’s designed to control invasive weeds, including the lake’s excessive growth of water lilies.

Vietnam Set to Increase Legal Pressure on Monsanto for Millions of Agent Orange Victims

Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry has stated that they will re-visit legal channels in an attempt to receive damages for over one million people, from a group of chemical companies including Monsanto and Dow Chemical, which produced the deadly herbicide Agent Orange for the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.

What Is Causing Florida’s Algae Crisis? 5 Questions Answered

Two large-scale algae outbreaks in Florida are killing fish and threatening public health. Along the southwest coast, one of the longest-lasting red tide outbreaks in the state’s history is affecting more than 100 miles of beaches. Meanwhile, discharges of polluted fresh water from Lake Okeechobee and polluted local runoff water from the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee watersheds have caused blooms of blue-green algae in downstream estuaries on both coasts. Karl Havens, a professor at the University of Florida and director of the Florida Sea Grant Program, explains what’s driving this two-pronged disaster.

Bayer replaces Monsanto signs during ‘Day One’ transition

You may notice a new sign if you’re driving on Lindbergh in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The Monsanto sign has been replaced with one that says Bayer: Crop Science Division. They’re calling the Monsanto integration, “Day One.”

It’s been an emotional day for employees at a company that’s been a part of the St. Louis business scene since 1901.

EPA Quietly Delays Reviews for Bee-Harming Pesticides

The EPA is pushing its deadline for reviewing a set of insecticides linked to declining bee populations to next year.

Trump Administration Reverses Partial Phase Out of GMOs and Neonics in US Wildlife Refuges

The Trump administration has stopped a partial phase-out of the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and genetically modified crops on national wildlife refuges where farming is permitted, threatening pollinators like bees and butterflies along with a suite of other wildlife species that depend on healthy, natural refuge habitats.

Monsanto faces a surge in lawsuits following cancer ruling

Bayer said the number of outstanding cases had risen from 5,200 to 8,000. The German firm’s shares have lost 11% of their value since it lost the case in a California court to groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson, who claimed Monsanto herbicides containing glyphosate, had caused his non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Bayer shares fell another 1.7% on Thursday.