The Department of Pesticide Regulation's announcement in April that it recommends registration of methyl iodide for use in California strawberries has been recently been gaining traction in the news media.

Yesterday, National Public Radio-affiliate KQED produced a five-minute story about the potential use of methyl iodide as an alternative to methyl bromide fumigation of strawberry fields. (Methyl bromide, an ozone depleter, is being phased out.) The story, by Amy Standen, was part of Quest, a multimedia series exploring northern California science, environment and nature.

Standen visited a strawberry research plot with UC Davis strawberry breeder Doug Shaw, where some beds were treated with methyl iodide and others were not.

"I'm pretty sure I can see a difference, can you see a difference?" Shaw asked the reporter.

She said the bed treated with methyl iodide was thick with clusters of enormous red berries. The bed that wasn't treated had smaller plants, half the berries.

"So, that's why people do it. You get a 100 percent increase in productivity," Shaw said.

Standen also spoke to scientists who were part of an independent review panel that had been asked by DPR to weigh in on the question of registering methyl iodide. They recommended it not be registered and suggested that any exposure to the chemical of more than 0.8 parts per billion is harmful. However, DPR said in its April report that it considers 96 ppb to be a safe exposure level.

A DPR spokesperson interviewed on the program said methyl iodide can be used in a safe manner with the right equipment and buffer zones.

"We'll take a look at some of those (safety) measures next week," Standen said, closing the program.