Daminozide

'Daminozide (also known as Alar, Kylar, B-NINE, DMASA, SADH, or B 995) is a plant growth regulator, a chemical sprayed on fruit to regulate growth, make harvest easier, and keep apples from falling off the trees before they are ripe. This allows the apples to be red and ripe-looking in the supermarket all year long.

History

Daminozide was first approved for use in 1963. It was primarily used on apples until 1989, when the manufacturer voluntarily cancelled its registration for use on food crops. The primary manufacturer in the U.S. was the Uniroyal Chemical Company.

Health Concerns

In 1989, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of daminozide on U.S. food crops, citing potential health risks to consumers. The EPA's decision was based on studies that showed an increased risk of cancer in animals exposed to the chemical. However, the EPA's decision was controversial, with some scientists arguing that the risk to humans was minimal.

Current Use

Despite the ban in the U.S., daminozide is still used in some countries. It is also used on ornamental plants and turf, where it is not a health risk because it is not ingested.

See Also

• Pesticide
• Food Safety
• Environmental Health

References

Daminozide Resources
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