O.C. Leads State in Freeway Herbicide Use

More liquid herbicides are being used per mile on Orange County’s freeways than in any other county in the state, according to a study released Thursday by an environmental group opposed to the use of hazardous chemicals.

The figures, compiled from state Department of Transportation records, show Caltrans road crews in Orange County used 14.5 gallons of liquid herbicides and 9.9 pounds of dry herbicides per mile in 1997 to control brush. Los Angeles County, however, reported higher overall herbicide use, counting both freeways and local roads.

Although the study did not link the herbicides to a greater incidence of health problems in Orange County, chemicals in use include several possible human carcinogens and one known to cause birth defects.

The figures are in stark contrast to other regions, in particular several heavily vegetated counties in Northern California where chemical herbicides were banned after complaints from residents.

“Why is it they can get by with less chemicals in other counties and no chemicals at all in some counties with major vegetation and yet they need nearly 15 gallons per mile of liquid herbicide in Orange County?” asked Josh Strange, a board member of the Arcata-based Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, which conducted the study.

“This is a public agency using the public’s money to essentially poison the public,” he said. “Anyone who uses California roads has the potential to be exposed to these toxic chemicals and we should be most concerned about our children.”

Caltrans officials in Orange County say the comparison is unfair.

“We’re densely populated and the number of miles of freeway that we have to maintain and operate presents a whole different picture,” said Rose Orem, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Caltrans officials said the chemicals are needed to keep roadways clear and to reduce accidents and fire risks, although they conceded aesthetics can also be a factor.

The study’s authors question the methods still being used, citing a 7-year-old promise by the state agency to reduce chemical herbicide use by 50% from 1992 to 2000. Orem said Orange County is on the path to reducing herbicide applications in landscaped areas by 50% by 2002 and 80% by 2012. Herbicide use in unlandscaped areas is scheduled to be phased out by 2001, she said.

Even with those reductions, the use of liquid herbicides in Orange County would still be greater than levels currently in use in 46 of the 58 counties, the report indicates.

Alternatives to chemicals listed in the report include steam to kill weeds, using native plants and replacing grass and flowers with rocks. The use of pesticides fluctuates from county to county, in part because individual directors can exercise their own discretion in policy for their area, Strange said.

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Chemical Bath

Orange County uses more liquid herbicide per freeway mile than any county in the state. Following are figures for the counties with highest amounts, along with other Southern California counties:

Amount of pesticide used per mile in 1997:

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Liquid Dry County (gallons) (pounds) Orange 14.5 9.9 Los Angeles 11.1 13.2 Contra Costa 9.6 9.7 San Joaquin 8.0 6.5 Riverside 6.0 6.4

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Other Southern California counties

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Liquid Dry County (gallons) (pounds) San Diego 4.0 6.2 San Bernardino 2.3 0.4 Ventura 7.8 1.9

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Here are the most heavily used chemicals in Orange County (liquid or dry):

Glyphosate: May effect adrenalin levels, kidney, liver and thymus

Oryzalin: Can worsen preexisting conditions. Blood, blood-forming tissue, thyroid, kidney and liver can be damaged; possible carcinogen.

Isoxaben: May affect liver enzyme levels and liver size, irritate eyes, skin and lungs; possible carcinogen.

Diuron: Suspected blood poison; may irritate skin, eyes, nose and throat, cause liver enlargement and cause spleen and thyroid effects; suspected carcinogen

Norflurazon: Can affect blood-cell counts, liver and thyroid weight, enzyme activity and cholesterol levels

Source: Californians for Alternatives to Toxics