Chemicals Sprayed In BC By Big Business & Government

A local First Nations published this study a few years ago. To our knowledge, it is the only available report on what is sprayed in the region. This map covers Kamloops Lake, The City of Kamloops, Savona and Skeetchestn First Nation.

Most chemicals in the environment end up in our tap water, and then in us. There are a few to be concerned about. While most of these chemicals are harmless herbicides - no study has ever been done on what happens when they mix together. It is completely unknown what happens in the human body when all of these components are combined. It is also unknown what chemical components they become as they break down and react with organic material in the environment - for example, Malathion breaks down into Malaoxan, which is 40 times more toxic than Malathion.

Glyphosate: Main ingredient in Roundup, made by Monsanto. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – WHO's cancer agency – said this year (2015) that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide made by agriculture company Monsanto, was “classified as probably carcinogenic to humans."

Grazon: Very toxic to aquatic organisms, and it can cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment, Dow-Agro (manufacturer) warns. Can cause serious damage to eyes and lungs.

Malathion: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - WHO's cancer agency - said this year (2015) that Malathion was "classified as probably carcinogenic to humans." Malathion breaks down into Malaoxon in the decaying organism it has killed, and in sunlight. It has been linked to kidney and lung damage, and child leukemia.

Malaoxon: 40x more toxic than Malathion. Symptoms of exposure to this type of

compound include cholinesterase inhibition, miosis, frontal headache, increased bronchial

secretion, nausea, vomiting, sweating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, lacrimation, increased

salivation, bradycardia, cyanosis and muscular twitching of the eyelids, tongue, face and

neck, possibly progressing to convulsions. Other symptoms include hyperemia of the

conjunctiva, dimness of vision, rhinorrhea, bronchoconstriction, cough, fasciculation,

anorexia, incontinence, eye changes, weakness, dyspnea, bronchospasm, hypotension or

hypertension due to asphyxia, restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, drowsiness, tremor, ataxia,

depression, confusion, neuropathy (rare), coma and death from depression of respiratory or

cardiovascular systems. Exposure to this type of compound may result in giddiness,

nervousness, blurred vision, discomfort (tightness) in chest, papilledema, muscular weakness,

loss of reflexes, loss of sphincter control, cardiac arrhythmias, various degrees of heart block

and cardiac arrest. It may also result in spasm of accommodation, aching pain in and about

the eye, nystagmus, delayed distal axonopathy and parethesias and paralysis of limbs. A

decrease in blood pressure may occur. Respiratory failure may also occur.

2,4-D (Dichlorophenols): A suspected cause in the rise of modern food allergies. High urine levels of dichlorophenols are associated with the presence of sensitization to foods. Excessive use of dichlorophenols may contribute to the increasing incidence of food allergies in westernized societies.

Dicamba: Suspected, but inconclusive, of causing lung and colon cancers.