CRICKET - Cancer linked spray is banned

by Andr? Hueber
A pesticide linked to cancer and sprayed on Whangarei sports fields has been officially banned in New Zealand after the Northern Advocate broke the story.
Also going under the name thiodan, endosulfan had been used in Whangarei to control earthworms on Kamo soccer field and Cobham Oval.
Meriel Watts of the Pesticide Action Network said endosulfan was linked to birth defects and remained in the soil for up to six years. It disrupted the food chain and had been found in fish, dairy and meat.
Auckland City Council used iron or ammonium sulphate instead, which was nowhere near as toxic and worked by acidifying the soil, Dr Watts said.
Whangarei District Council parks technical officer Aubrey Gifford said in September alternatives to endosulfan were not cost effective and the chemical was used only on "rare occasions" to stop earthworms digging soil up on to the sand cover of sports fields.
Northland's medical officer of health, Jonathan Jarman, said at the time he was uncomfortable about the use of endosulfan so close to the harbour. Studies showed it could get into ground water and be spread by spray drift, he said.
After the Advocate article was published in September, the Green Party conducted a survey to discover how many councils still used endosulfan. It found 18 of the 85 councils contacted did.
The publicity appeared to make Whangarei District Council reconsider its stance in October. Council parks manager Paul McDonald said that, given the medical officer of health's comments and concerns raised by Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) - the government agency that regulates hazardous substances - it was unlikely endosulfan would be used again.
Mr McDonald said at the time the council planned to wait for Erma to complete its review of endosulfan.
"Our practice has been to use this chemical as a last resort. As a result it has only been used twice in the past 15 years. We are currently investigating other options ... but in the past we have been unable to find a more cost effective and reliable treatment."
This week, Erma announced it would revoke approvals for the use of endosulfan in New Zealand, because of its toxicity to humans and waterways.
Mr McDonald said the council had not yet found an alternative to endosulfan, but would be looking at alternatives suggested by the Erma review.
The ban comes into force on January 16.