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Company denies chemical causes frog sex change

Story Added : 09th March 2010

The developer of the herbicide atrazine has dismissed new research which shows it can wreak havoc with the sexual organs of frogs.

Syngenta says nearly 6,000 studies around the world have proven atrazine is environmentally safe when used as directed.

Research by the University of California found atrazine can disrupt development and make frogs develop both male and female features - termed hermaphroditism.

The experiment was the first to show the complete effects of atrazine, which has been known to disrupt hormones and is one of the chief suspects in the decline of amphibians around the world.

But Syngenta Australia's Peter Arkle says the study has flaws and the public should trust the Australian chemical regulator.

"The Australian community can have absolute confidence in the APVMA [Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority]," he said.

"They've just concluded an extensive review of atrazine, only two years ago, that looked at all of these questions.

"The APVMA concluded that when atrazine is used in line with these instructions, it doesn't pose a risk to the environment, to the community or to food safety."

Story Added by ABC.
Date Added : 09th March 2010

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