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C, ~EW PERSPECTIVES ON AN ESSENTIAL PRODUCE: 2,4D By LE. Hmnnaondr INTRODUCTION For the past 45 years, the herbicide 2,4-0ichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has bceu widely used for broadleaf weed control in farming, forestry, power line maintenance, roadside brush couvol, aquatics, on home lawns, and for other end uses (l5). During this time, the com- pound haz been shown to be both rela- tively inexpeosiveand extremely effective. The compound haz also been thoroughly evaluated is terms of health and safety, with over fora decades of laboratory test- ing and extensive user experience docu- menting its requirements for safe use and environmental protection. Because research iu support of prod- uct safety ri an ongoing commitment, many new studies are currently underway on 2,4-D [o update previous work. Much of this research has bern sponsored by In- dustry Task Force II on 2,4-D Research Dater, which was formed to address a 1988 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reregisuation data call-in requir- ingover 200 new studies W support con- tinued registration Today, few products oo the market have been az thoroughly researched and evaluated az 2,4-D. Task Force II expects to spend abou[ $25 million in mceting cur- rent reregistration expectatitxis. An addi- tional $5 million is expected [o be spent by individual companies to address re- seareh needs of proprietary forms of the compound. A previous task force has spent ye[ another $4 million pursuing re- search requirements under an earlier data call-in. These new 2,4-D research studies re- quhed by the most recent EPA guidelines have incorporated both state-of-the-art and previously unavailable technologies. These methods of analysis are signifi- candymore sophisticated than earlier test- ing techniques, and [hus permit development of an improved tmderstand- ing of the fate of 2,4-D and its breakdown :;~ zmaetticCodisci -ircs~t$e:6t:ne5ts of~t~s [ong-used j The text of this article was arigiually published in Down to Euth VoL So, Na. 2 'RegrsttnNw Maoagv, Dow~attm, inA:~,a.,.J;. ludieos- rTask Fats Q toetttbetsh~ includes DowFJaoco, Rhi)oe-Poulenc, NttFatta anti AGRO-GOR 2,4-Dichlarophenoryaceric acid (2,4-D) is widely used to control broadleaf weeds an pastures and rangeland.