PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS PAGE! unless your health is very important to you.

BENLATE! WHAT'S THAT?

BENLATE 50DF was a Dry Formula agricultural fungicide, made by DUPONT from 1985 to 1991. It was discontinued in 1991 due to suspected plant and health damages from it's use. DUPONT, voluntarily, paid out millions of dollars to farmers for plant damages in 1990-1991 in an effort to keep this situation under control. NO PROOF was ever discovered by Government agencies, that Benlate caused the damages, even though the Florida Department of Agriculture stated "Benlate caused the worst Agricultural disaster in Florida's history". This is the story of WHY NO OTHER PRODUCT WAS EVER INVESTIGATED, INCLUDING FERTILIZER WHICH IS AN UNRESTRICTED PRODUCT, MEANING ANYTHING CAN BE USED IN IT. RADIOACTIVE WASTE, TOXIC CHEMICALS, ETC., YET FERTILIZER WAS NEVER INVESTIGATED. WHY?

NOTE.....Recently some, but not nearly enough, restrictions have been placed on the quantity of toxic waste which can be disposed of via fertilizer, largely through the efforts of THE SEATTLE TIMES. See link COMPANY CAUGHT, UNDER NEW LAW, TRYING TO DISPOSE OF RADIATION IN FERTILIZER.

ILLNESSES AT BENLATE SITES: Do you have any of these GULF WAR illnesses but you were not in the Gulf War... CANCER, FMS (FIBROMYALGIA), CFS (CHRONIC FATIGUE), MCS (hypersensitivity to chemicals) CHRONIC HEADACHES, NOSE BLEEDS, ALLERGIES, RASH, NAIL AND/OR SKIN FUNGUS, CHRONIC ASTHMA, CHRONIC BRONCHITIS, EYE IRRITATION OR INJURY, TUMORS, JOINT PAINS, IMMUNE SYSTEM ABERRATIONS, CHRONIC DIARRHEA/CONSTIPATION or THYROID PROBLEMS. Have you suffered KIDNEY FAILURE or other organ damage? ACCORDING TO MANY EXPERTS: ALL these health problems and many more are caused by exposure to RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS and/or CHEMICALS. These symptoms are present in the victims of the Gulf War (see link), the Stauffer superfund site in Tarpon Springs Florida (see link), golf courses (see link), Quincy Washington (see Seattle Times link), phosphate mines and Benlate sites... THE TOXIC SUBSTANCE MOST COMMON TO ALL THESE SITES IS RADIATION, IN THE FORM OF URANIUM (THE ATOMIC BOMB MATERIAL) AND DAUGHTERS OF URANIUM.

EXPERT: DR. ABRAM PETKAU, a leader in the research of radiation health effects, of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., PROVED in the laboratory that low-level radiation generated highly toxic charged oxygen molecules known as "free radicals" that can destroy cell membranes much more efficiently at low dose rates than at high ones.

EXPERT: DR. ROSELIE BERTELL, (see link "REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION") a radiation expert of long standing, states that non-cancer effects including serious allergies are caused by low levels of radiation.

EXPERT: DR. ASAF DURAKOVIC, (see 1st link) was forced to quit his top ranking post with the VA for refusing to stop his research into uranium health effects. Read the results of his investigation of the Gulf War illness and learn how the uranium family of radioactive nuclides affect us.

NON-CANCER AND CANCER EFFECTS: A long list of experts (not connected with industry or government) agree that radiation causes a multitude of non-cancer effects. Our government would like for us to believe that only cancer can result from radiation exposure.

THE DUPONT/BENLATE DISASTER: In the years 1987-1991, thousands of people became sick (most in 1990) with serious health problems after being exposed to agriculture products at many nurseries and other farm enterprises in Florida and other states and other countries. Plants died by the millions. A Dupont fungicide (BENLATE 50DF) was wholly blamed by Florida officials but no proof was EVER provided. Florida officials claimed Benlate 50DF was contaminated with certain herbicides (which were within EPA's allowable limit) and these herbicides caused the damages but their own tests could not prove this claim. Can you believe, NO OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT WAS EVER INVESTIGATED! Most growers still believe BENLATE caused the damages. Why would Dupont pay out millions if it had not?

GATOR SLOUGH NURSERY: Dangerous amounts of radioactive RADIUM,RADON and other URANIUM products, which the state of Florida attempted to hide at one nursery where Benlate was used, is present in the water and soil at this one and only Benlate 50DF site ever tested, for RADIOACTIVE material. The former Gator Slough Nursery on Cook Brown Road in Punta Gorda, Florida, is this site. My wife and I live next to this site and became affected with several of the above mentioned maladies shortly after being exposed to Florida fertilizer used at this nursery and the many cattle farms in our vicinity, in the years 1987-1991. Many others in our neighborhood also were affected with similar illnesses in the same time period.

NUCLEAR WASTE: The ONLY agricultural product that is proven to contain radioactive material is fertilizer. Fertilizer producers can legally dispose of any amount of VERY TOXIC substances such as ORGANIC SOLVENTS, HEAVY METALS and RADIOACTIVE WASTE in FERTILIZER. Our government DOES NOT test fertilizer for the level of radioactivity in fertilizer or for ANY ingredient other than the listed nutrients. Read link "SEATTLE TIMES" (an in depth investigation into hazardous waste disposed of in fertilizer) and "TOXIC SLUDGE IS GOOD FOR YOU". Sludge contains many toxic chemicals and radioactive wastes from big city sewers and industry but the majority of the radioactive material in Florida fertilizer comes from Florida uranium/phosphate mining waste in the form of uranium breakdown products such as Radium 226, Radon 222 gas, Bismuth 214, etc. Florida produces 80% of this countries phosphate, used mostly in fertilizer, and a large quantity of Radioactive uranium waste is produced. What to do with this by-product waste is a big problem for Florida.

ENTER DUPONT: Why would DUPONT VOLUNTEER to pay out millions to growers, intimating that their product, BENLATE 50DF caused the damages if it did not? Have you EVER seen a giant corporation cast blame on one of their products and invite a multitude of future claims??? WHY OH WHY?

DUPONT SLUDGE FACTORY: Here's why! DUPONT owns the LARGEST TOXIC WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY in the world, at Deepwater, N.J. (see link "DUPONT SLUDGE FACTORY") Dry sludge is made from waste water and sold to fertilizer companies. This enterprise is worth Billions therefore, it was simply a sound business decision to use BENLATE as the scapegoat. Dupont paid out over 500 million (according to Dupont) but saved much more by protecting fertilizer as one of the nations most profitable means of hazardous waste disposal, not to mention the brownie points they would have made with state and federal governments. Florida became responsible for the disposal of her own radioactive uranium mining waste in 1982 and is pushing the disposal of their waste into fertilizer, road and building materials. Proper storage of these wastes is MUCH more expensive. Dupont charges cities, industry and other waste stream polluters to take their waste streams, containing toxic chemicals AND radioactive waste, and dispose of it. This sewer gold is then turned into dry sludge and sold to fertilizer companies. By implicating BENLATE 50DF, DUPONT DeNEMOURS saved a very profitable method of toxic waste disposal used to benefit DUPONT and other large coroporations, the FERTILIZER COMPANIES and the GOVERNMENT. If you get sick from these toxins, the government will protect these giant enterprises, not you and me. If your child gets sick he/she can go to NEMOURS (DUPONT) childrens hospital. It appears Dupont has the best of both worlds (financially speaking).

FLORIDA EMPLOYEES DENIED COMPENSATION: Several Florida Department of Environmental Protection employees became sick while sampling a Benlate/fertilizer site in l993, three years after BENLATE 50 DF, FERTILIZER or any other agricultural product was last used. Florida's Workmans Comp denied their claim. According to The Tampa Tribune, Florida Department of Health and University of Florida personnel also suffered serious health symptoms while visiting these sites. Many other people all over the WORLD, believe Benlate 50 DF caused them SERIOUS HEALTH INJURIES, primarily because the government and Dupont LED people to believe Benlate 50 DF was the product at fault. The Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, St. Petersburg Times, Sun Sentinel and others, published many articles about the BENLATE 50 DF SUSPECTED cover up, adding to the appearance that Benlate caused the damages sustained at the sites where Benlate and fertilizer were used. If they could focus on Benlate long enough, the evidence needed to sue for damage caused by fertilizer would be hard to find and the statute of limitations would run out and the public would not learn that hazardous waste was being disposed of in fertilizer. If you could locate an attorney foolish enough to represent you in a suit for health damages caused by Benlate, you were not likely to win because Benlate did not contain ENOUGH toxins.


BENLATE HEALTH SUITS: The only health suit, that I am aware of, was fought in Miami. The claimant won the verdict but it was overturned on appeal. The appeal judges opined that it had not been proven that Benlate was hazardous ENOUGH to have caused the health damages.

GATOR SLOUGH NURSERY SUIT: The owner of the Punta Gorda nursery sued for plant damages in 1997 but the jury found Benlate not guilty. After considering all the evidence presented, they felt Benlate did not contain enough hazardous substances to cause the damages.

ONLY ONE BENLATE SITE FULLY TESTED FOR HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS BY EPA: A cluster of cancer was found at a Benlate/fertilizer site in Palm City. The husband of the lady, who discovered the high rate of cancer and lived close to this site, died of brain cancer. Brain tumors (4 in l00,000) are very rare and are known to be caused by Radium 226. Many animals at these sites developed tumors and other biological damages, which can be caused by radiation. The Palm City site was tested in 1998, 8 years after the damage was done, by Florida D.E.P. AND E.P.A. These agencies claim they found nothing hazardous resulting from the use of BENLATE. RADIOACTIVE material was NOT included in the analysis. Dupont REMOVED the Benlate and Fertilizer contaminated media 7 YEARS PRIOR to this investigation at which time, Dupont paid the nursery owner 5.3 MILLION for plant losses at this 11 ACRE NURSERY? NO WONDER these agencies agreed to test THIS site. If they were really interested in finding Benlate/fertilizer hazardous substances.... They should analyze our PUNTA GORDA SITE and include RADIOMATERIAL, like they promised the sick neighbors they would, 3 years ago! The contaminated soil is still stockpiled at this site. UPDATE!...THIS MATERIAL WAS JUST BURIED (9-26-99) ON SITE. The Florida DEP did one of their famous MR. MAGOO investigations. "They could see nothing hazardous" as they DROVE by!

OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON: A letter was sent (10-15-98) to CONGRESSMAN PORTER GOSS and SENATOR BOB GRAHAM pleading for their help to learn why the Punta Gorda site has not been investigated. Congressman Goss' office staff stated " He WILL get to the bottom of this". We'll see and We WILL keep you posted!!! SEE LINK AT THE BOTTOM FOR LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN GOSS.

UPDATE....Congressman Goss DID NOT get to the bottom of this!

RESPONSES TO DATE FROM SENATOR GRAHAM: 10-20-98...Acknowledgment UPDATE! 9-26-99...No further action.

RESPONSES TO DATE FROM CONGRESSMAN GOSS: 10-21-98...Acknowledgment and notification that our concern had been turned over to a subordinate. UPDATE!! as of 9-26-99, no testing has been conducted and the contaminated soil and debris at the Gator Slough site has just been buried ON SITE! to further contaminate the ground water. No further action. The lawmakers' actions are predictable. THEY MADE the laws which permitted these companies to dispose of toxic waste via fertilizer.

FLORIDA D.O.H. INVESTIGATION: In 1996, We asked the Florida Department of Health to investigate the Punta Gorda site for radioactive material as we felt the health and plant damages were indicative of radiation damage. In Febuary 1997 they collected water and soil samples and analyzed them two days later.The Florida D.O.H. report showed they found elevated levels of BISMUTH 214 (Bi214) in the ponds but the D.O.H. informed us that "no other radioactive material was discovered in the ponds". Experts informed us that Bi214 can not live more than 3 hrs. without its longer lived parent, Ra226. Radium 226 would have to be present at a higher level due to the fact that Radon, which comes from Radium 226 and is the parent of Bismuth 214, is a gas and much of this radioactive gas escapes from the water, releasing a large percentage of the Bismuth into the air thus there would be less Bismuth 214 in the water samples than Radium 226. Before much of the Bismuth is released to the atmosphere, the Bismuth 214 and Radium 226 were in equlibrium (the same activity). Many animals,large and small, suffered death and mutations at this and other Benlate/fertilizer sites. Cows were born without eyes and other parts. Dogs sprouted skin tumors, up to 6 inches long, which hung all over their bodies. Many fish and other wildlife were mutated. IONIZING RADIATION KILLS AND MUTATES. These same effects occured at other Benlate/fertilizer sites.

ALVA FLORIDA: The Alva Middle School (about 15 miles from me) could not drink their well water from 1988 to 1998 because of Radium 226 contamination. Alva being a farming and cattle raisng community used a lot of fertilizer. The state furnished Alva school with bottled water for 10 years. A $140,000 water treatment plant was built just for the school. The Alva Fire Station and the fire station in our area are not permitted ,by the state, to drink their well water. Florida warned the school and fire department but refused to offer the same consideration to the residents.

WARNING TO FLORIDA FARMING SITE RESIDENTS: You should have your well water tested for Radium 226 and you must send your sample OUT OF FLORIDA for obvious reasons. If you will write to me I will recommend a lab. If Radium 226 is in your groundwater the Radium breaks down to Radon 222 (Rn222) which is a gas. As you use your water in baths, dish washing, etc., the Radon is released into the air to breathe. It will cause lung cancer and other respiratory problems. Radon breaks down to other radioactive products including lead which causes memory loss and other health effects. To remove the Ra226 and Rn222 from your water you will have to install a good water softener and aerator. There will still be uranium present and a reverse osmosis is needed to remove most of the uranium. All of us are exposed to some naturally occurring radiation, the harmful effects occur when we are exposed to more than the natural level which our body is accustomed to. SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER IS A TOXIC PRODUCT SO SWITCH TO A NATURAL ORGANIC FERTILIZER!

EPA LIMIT FOR RA226 IN DRINKING WATER: The Maximum Concentration Limit (MCL) for Radium 226 AND Radium 228 (another Radium nuclide from Uranium) COMBINED is 5.0 Picocuries Per Liter (pCi/L) in drinking water. The 1976 NPDWS MCL for Radium 226 is 3.0 pCi/L. Our well water contains 3.3 and the other wells in our neighborhood now contain like amounts.

EPA LIMIT FOR RA226 IN FERTILIZER: Fertilizer produced before the EPA limitation of Ra226 instituted in June 1992, contained very high levels of Ra226. We had a 1999 and a 1992 bag of Florida fertilizer measured for gamma radiation. The 1992 fertilzer was 250% higher. We also had the 1992 fertilizer analyzed for Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium and Ra226. It was very high in all these ingredients.

KEY DATES AND OCCURRENCES:

1981- Our well water tested for Ra226, NONE found.

1982- By law, Florida becomes responsible for the disposal of Ra226 resulting from phosphate/uranium mining.

1984- Our well tested again, again NO Ra226 found.

1986- Benlate 50DF approved for use in Florida.

1990-1991- Nursery owners, and many other nearby residents become affected.

1991- Nursery closes.

1991- The Department of Agriculture announces "Benlate caused the worst agricultural disaster in Florida history".

1991- Benlate taken off the market resulting in a stop of the EPA investigation of it, even though EPA was aware of the health effects, thought to be, from Benlate.

1992- In June, EPA limits the amount of Ra226 that can be disposed of in fertilizer, two years after farmers started complaining of health and property damage. No limit before 1992. Mere coincidence
?

1997- The Department of Health tests the Punta Gorda nursery for radioactive material. High levels of Radium 226 is present according to several experts including the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research.

1998- Benlate tested for radiation by Florida, none found.

1998- Our well water tested once again. THIS TIME a hazardous amount of Ra226 is found. Another coincidence?

1998- EPA suggests that our 1981 and 1984 well water analysis may be incorrect. The labs which analyzed the water samples did follow EPA proceedures.

1999- Two other residents test their wells, a high level of Ra226 is discovered. Another coincidenc
e?

1999- The fertilizer, produced in March 1992 and used predominately in our vicinity is analyzed for Ra226, ARSENIC, LEAD and CADMIUM and found to contain very high levels of each. A complete analysis has not yet been conducted.

KEY QUESTIONS: Did Florida make a mistake and dispose of TOO MUCH Radium 226 in fertilizer in the years that Benlate was blamed? Did EPA limit the amount of Ra226 disposal in fertilizer because of damages blamed on Benlate?.. Did The Ra226 which showed up in our wells come from fertilizer?.. Did The Florida D.O.H. lie when they stated "No other nuclide was present in the ponds except Bismuth 214"?.. Were the health damages caused by fertilizer?.. Did the Government conspire with Dupont in blaming Benlate to hide toxic waste disposal via fertilizer?

AGENCY TESTS: Our group has investigated the Benlate/Fertilizer situation long enough to learn some important METHODS that these agencies use to cover up toxic waste damages. A few of these are... When testing the radiation level, the detector is held high instead of close to the ground resulting in a lower reading....If they suspect a certain substance, they test for different toxins.....If they are forced to test for a suspected toxin and find it, the amount will be underestimated.....If all else fails and the suspected toxin is discovered at levels exceeding the EPA hazardous clean up levels, the EPA and/or state will simply decide to allow the higher levels found as they have done at the Stauffer Superfund Site in Tarpon Springs Florida (see Stauffer Site).

OUR GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO WARN THE PUBLIC OF THE DANGER INVOLVED IN THE USE OF FERTILIZER AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS KNOWING FULL WELL THAT INJURIES WILL OCCUR. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING NOW, NOT KNOWING FROM WHERE THEIR PROBLEMS CAME. ANOTHER SAD FACT IS..... CHILDREN ARE THE MOST AFFECTED. CHILDREN UNDER 13 ARE 30 TO 40 TIMES MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RADIATION AND CHEMICAL DAMAGE THAN ADULTS. EVER SINCE THE GOVERNMENT'S COVER-UP OF HEALTH EFFECTS FROM ATOMIC BOMB TESTING IN NEVADA, THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN KEPT UNINFORMED OF THEIR DAMAGING NUCLEAR PRACTICES. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE OUR GOVERNMENT HAS CAUSED GREAT HARM TO HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND HID THEIR INVOLVMENT IN RADIATION EXPERIMENTS AND DISPOSAL (SEE JON RAPPOPORT LINK) THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE!! THESE HOT SPOTS CAN OCCUR ANYPLACE. YOU AND I ARE THE GUINEA PIGS! IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE OUR GOVERNMENT WILL LIE ABOUT THESE THINGS, TO PROTECT THESE MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR HEALTH, READ THE LINKS ON THIS PAGE.

To STOP these companies AND the GOVERNMENT from dumping hazardous waste on us we have to COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN AND COMPLAIN and refuse to invest in these companies. Call your REPRESENTATIVE: ASK WHY FERTILIZER IS NOT TESTED FOR THE SUBSTANCES WHICH WILL CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH INJURIES, SUCH AS ORGANIC SOLVENTS AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE.

REMEMBER!! THE TOXIC WASTE CONTAINED IN FERTILIZER AND THE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS CONTAINED IN OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS GO THROUGH OUR FOOD CHAIN AND END UP ON OUR DINNER TABLE,CONTAMINATE OUR DRINKING WATER AND ARE INHALED WHEN APPLIED AND MUTATE MICROORGANISMS CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE.

WE, THE PEOPLE, ARE CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT. OUR GOVERNMENT IS CONTROLLED BY CORPORATE AMERICA. CORPORATE AMERICA IS CONTROLLED BY WALL STREET. WE CONTROL WALL STREET. PLEASE READ OUR JON RAPPOPORT LINK AND ADJUST YOUR PORTFOLIO ACCORDINGLY.

11-1-99 Roger and Linda King, all rights reserved

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