Poland's environmental docs.

a corresponding flux from the ocean to the atmosphere. This effect might lessen or negate the benefits to stratospheric ozone from a reduction in anthropogenic emissions of methyl bromide. In terms of costs to society from the ban, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation estimates growers in its state stand to lose $340 million per year in crop damage. Duafala says no single alternative exists that will replicate the range of uses of methyl bromide. He says there are nematicides (1,3-dichloro-propene) and fungicides (methyl isothio-cyanate) that effectively perform some of the functions but that these are not as versatile as methyl bromide. Bill Thomas, methyl bromide program coordinator for the EPA, agrees that there is no single alternative for methyl bromide, but asserts that the ban-phased in over a period of seven years-will allow for the development of alternatives. "The cost of finding alternatives is an issue, but not a monumental barrier," Thomas says.