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Methyl iodide is a toxic chemical used in lab settings to grow cancer cells. The substance also reportedly causes late-term miscarriages and groundwater contamination. Yet despite these known risks and opposition from reputable scientists including six Nobel Laureates, California's Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) recently registered methyl iodide as a pesticide "safe" for use on the state's strawberry fields.
A coalition of farmworkers and environmental health organizations announced that they were filing a lawsuit challenging the state's approval of methyl iodide.
Sources: Change.org
In February 2010, a scientific committee for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) concluded a review for methyl iodide. The committee determined that methyl iodide is "highly toxic," and that "any anticipated scenario for the agricultural or structural fumigation use of this agent would result in exposures to a large number of the public and thus would have a significant adverse impact on the public health." It also concluded that adequate control of the chemical in these circumstances would be "difficult, if not impossible."
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