Sunday, May 20, 2012
The Ontario Independent Fact-Finding Panel on 2,4,5-T was created in March 2011. The Government of Ontario named Dr. Leonard Ritter to lead a panel of experts to look into the past use in Ontario of the herbicide 2,4,5-T and to assess whether exposure resulting from this use may have potential impacts on human health.
2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) herbicide was widely used in Ontario in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and possibly the 1980s. 2,4,5-T is no longer registered for use in Canada.
Our mandate is to examine where, when and how much 2,4,5-T, alone or in combination with other chemicals, was used in the province by Ontario government ministries and agencies. We will also examine whether exposure to 2,4,5-T resulting from this use may have potential impacts on health. Based on the information available, we will document how 2,4,5-T was applied by the Province, how it was prepared and stored, and the health and safety laws and workplace practices in place at the time.
We will submit our findings to the Minister of Natural Resources. The findings will be made available to the public.
For more information, read The Independent Fact-Finding Panel On Herbicide 2,4,5-T Terms Of Reference.
April 30, 2012
I am pleased to provide you with an update on the activities of the Ontario Independent Fact-Finding Panel on 2,4,5-T. The Province of Ontario has done a search of the records relating to the use of 2,4,5-T by Ontario government ministries and agencies. The final set of records was delivered to the Panel from the Province in early April 2012. The Province continues to search for any available records, but the Panel expects that virtually all available records have now been delivered. In total, the Province has provided the Panel with over 4600 records dating back as far as the mid 1940's. Read more ...