Methyl bromide gets new lease on life—and new pest to fight

Abstract

Methyl bromide has been under a death sentence, sooner rather than later in the U.S., because of its strong ozone-depletion potential. But the widely used pesticide may be in for a reprieve. As part of last week's omnibus spending package, Congress extended the phaseout of methyl bromide required under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 from 2001 to 2005. Citing the lack of alternative chemicals and increased international competition for U.S. farmers, congressmen from key farm states successfully pushed to have the date of the U.S. phaseout coincide with that contained in the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. Under that global agreement, developed countries have until 2005 to discontinue their use of methyl bromide, and developing countries have until 2015. Several other chemicals and methods have been tested in the search for replacements for methyl bromide, but most cost more, require longer treatment periods, or are effective ...