Dear,
We are very concerned about the large quantities of methyl bromide permitted for so-called “Critical Use Exemptions” in 2005, as reported in the Commission Decision 2005/625/EC (August 2005, Official Journal L 219, 47-53). As an ozone-damaging chemical, methyl bromide has a substantial negative effect on the ozone layer, and thereby has negative effects on human health and the environment. In addition, methyl bromide is a highly toxic pesticide, and pesticide workers who use methyl bromide have an increased incidence of prostate cancer1 . Methyl bromide gas poses a significant health risk to agricultural workers and people in nearby communities when it drifts from fields, or is released in large quantities after treating flour mills or food factories.