Fungicides move into the headlines. And not in a good way. Letter.
Dear Editor, These are dark days for science. A chlorothalonil molecule. Image by Jynto. A month ago, the European Union announced it would ban the widely-used fungicide, chlorothalonil. Why? Because experts in its own Food Safety Agency suspected it was carcinogenic - or cancer-causing. It just so happens, that very same product is also used right here in Canada, and apparently in no small amounts, either! Yet our own Canadian "regulator," the PMRA, re-assessed the chemical less than a year ago. While it imposed some restrictions, it will still allow its main use as a treatment for mold, mildew and blight in food crops, to continue. Fast forward to today. The New York Times is now reporting that a new and deadly fungal infection , Candida aurus, is moving across the globe, with "numerous cases" reported in many countries, including Canada. The fungus is claiming many lives and proving to be well-nigh indestructible. Why? Accordin