Damien O'Connor, New Zealands Minister of Tourism
In reply to us 4 Dec 2007
1080 Farmers protest sign
What is 1080?
1080 Poison sometimes called Compound 1080 is a synthetic copy of a naturally occurring chemical found in some plants. That is sodium fluoroacetate. The synthetic copy used in New Zealand in poison operations is Sodium Monofluoroacetate. Technically, the warning signs used by authorities are incorrect. Those signs warn of the natural occurring chemical not the synthetic one. 1080 is one the most toxic substances known to man.
Where does 1080 come from?
All of the worlds known production comes from one small plant in Oxford, Alabama called the Tull Chemical Co. operated by one Charles Wigley. The "factory" which is more akin to a shed is located in a suburban street and has been the subject of many investigations over the years by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Local residents have complained.
Currently a US congressman is trying to get the factory closed. Manufacturing.net reports that senator Pete DeFazio (D-Oregon) ''He's circulating a bill now and trying to get co-sponsors,'' Penny Dodge, DeFazio's chief of staff, said Thursday. The FBI has listed Compound 1080 as a potential tool for terrorists, and the Air Force says it is a likely biological agent, according to a letter DeFazio sent to colleagues seeking support of a ban.
1080 was banned in the USA in 1972.
Authorities often suggest you drink it in your tea.
This is intended to reassure you. Don't be. The same authorities often refer to animals who eat plant materials containing natural 1080 especially in Western Australia. They forget to mention the 50million odd years of evolution that permits these animal to browse foliage containing the chemical. There are recorded many cases of animals that did not evolve in the same area devouring that same foliage and dying!
Little is known about the effects of very small doses of 1080 on the human body. Small doses could be more damaging to the human body than larger doses. (endocrine disruption)
1080 found in Iraq
If you read the US "weapons of mass destruction" report you will find information about 1080 that was found there. That confirms that 1080 is considered as a terrorist weapon.

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