Losing Our Borate Research?

Losing Our Borate Research?

One of the most promising developments over the past few years has been the introduction of borate-based pesticides for controlling termites and other wood-destroying organisms. The use of these environmentally friendly products has significantly reduced the need for more toxic products such as soil-treatment chemicals and petroleum- and arsenic-based preservatives. Recently the U. S. Department of Agriculture–Forest Service decided to terminate all research on the use of borates for wood protection. This decision was based on their categorizing borate research as “low priority.” At the same time they have elected to continue studying existing soil-treatment chemicals despite numerous complaints that they often do not work.

The USDA–Forest Service’s Southern Forest Experiment Station, located in Gulfport, Mississippi, has researched borate technology for about ten years, and their work has been directly responsible for the availability of the borate-based products currently in use. The individuals involved in this research have now been designated “unfunded, surplus” employees. This development should distress anyone concerned with the impact of toxic chemicals on our environment. It should be our government’s role to encourage the evolution of safer pesticides rather than spending our tax money on the continued use of old, toxic products.

I urge you to contact your legislators regarding this unwise decision.

Vincent R. Palmere

Vice President, Pesticides

Nisus Corporation

Knoxville, Tennessee