EPA Denies Ban On 2,4-D

The EPA just denied the petition by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for the ban of 2,4-D. This herbicide is most well known as one of the ingredients in Agent Orange, and is one of the most widely used weed killers in the world today. In its petition the NRDC cited studies that had shown that 2,4-D could cause cancer, hormone disruption, genetic mutations and neurotoxicity, however the conclusions of scientific studies were largely contradictory. Additionally, it is difficult to tell if health problems (for example non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) plaguing the farmers who use 2,4-D actually originate from that herbicide, or from any number of other chemicals with which they come into contact.
As it stands the registration of 2,4-D is still valid, and manufacturers of the herbicide are working on genetically engineering corn seeds that are resistant to 2,4-D. It will be interesting to see if any more conclusive evidence concerning the effects of 2,4-D are released in the next few years.