The cost of meeting the Tier Two test requirments are unclear, although the 2,4-D Task Force is currently budgeting one million dollars. The report concludes that there is no evidence to suggest that exposure to pesticides contributes significantly to cancer in the general population. The panel concluded that exposure of the general population to pesticide residues is minimal and below the levels deemed safe by government regulatory agencies. The report emphasized that continued efforts are necessary to point out to the general public that tobacco and improper diet are responsible for 30 and 35 percent, respectively, of all human cancers. However, the known heterogeneity of exposures by type of farming, geographic area, time periods, and other factors limits the informativeness of meta-analysis of these studies for assessing potential carcinogenic exposure in agriculture.
Farmers have a lower incidence of cancer than does the general population.
This is usually attributed to the farmers' healthier life style. These dose levels are thousands of times higher than the levels at which humans may be exposed in the enironment. The CPRC concluded that 2,4-D should remain a Group D compound. A Group D classification indicates that evidence of carcinogenicity is inadequate and cannot be interpreted as showing either the presence or absence of carcinogenic effect. Copies of the 240 page report can be made available by contacting the Task Force on the 800 number or viewed on the 2,4-D Publication Review Site .