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Pesticides News No 30
The Journal of the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK]
An international perspective on the health and environmental effects of pesticides
Quarterly/December 1995

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Editorial 2

Pollution
Dumped lindane costs dear 3
A serious pollution incident involving lindane occurred in Somerton, south-west England, during demolition of a disused seed mill in a built-up area. An estimated 1,500 litres of obsolete lindane and a lesser quantity of mercury seed dressing were poured down a drain. The toxic contents leaked into the Mill Stream, which flows into the River Cary and then into the unique Somerset Levels. All aquatic life in the affected part of the Mill Stream died. By David Buffin.

Carbaryl curbed 4
Carbaryl, a carbamate insecticide in use for over 40 years as a treatment for head lice on children, in horticulture, public health and the home as well as a worm killer on turf, has been declared a potential human carcinogen by the UK Government Committee on Carcinogenicity. Restrictions have been imposed on its use, and some approvals revoked. By Mark Davis.

Science for the community
Community responses to pesticides 5
A community meeting in Lincolnshire this autumn posed questions on whether perceived high levels of breast cancer locally might be linked with pesticides use. But proving a link can be difficult and new approaches in epidemiology may help concerned communities. The following pages 5 to 9 examine some of the problems faced by individuals and communities in gathering evidence. Lincolnshire County Council is considering the part it can play in relation to the largely agricultural use of pesticide in its region. By Peter Beaumont.

Pesticides and cancer clusters - is there a relationship? 6
Pesticides are used because they are toxic to living systems: it is reasonable, therefore, to be concerned about possible adverse consequences for human health. Such issues may be studied from several perspectives, including biological, toxicological and epidemiological - Dr. Kenneth Muir contributes to the debate on the role that epidemiology may play in identifying the impact on exposed populations.

Lay, worker and community epidemiology - A new approach to documenting community health 8
Public perception of hazards from pesticides is frequently not matched by professional studies which fail to link health to specific chemicals used near communities. In this article, Dr. Andrew Watterson explains a new approach to the science of epidemiology and shows methods being developed to help communities and professionals work together for more accurate assessments of cause and effect.

Third world
Egyptian studies confirm pesticide­related health effects in farm and factory 10
Pesticide use in Egypt doubled every ten years between 1952 and 1986, with up to 60,000 tonnes used annually in agriculture or for public health. Since 1988 quantities have decreased, with roughly 4,000 tonnes used in 1995. About 70% of pesticides are applied in cotton fields, where over 120,000 people work as sprayers every summer (May, July and September). By Barbara Dinham.

Sustainable agriculture
Less is best 12
Greater consciousness of the environmental impact of modern farming is encouraging interest in more sustainable agricultural systems. Integrated Approach to Crops Research (IARC) based at Long Ashton, near Bristol established the Less Intensive Farming and Environment (LIFE) project in 1989. Since 1993, two commercial pilot farms have been converted to Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) and managed under Integrated Production Guidelines, one at Trerule farm in Cornwall, the other near Cirencester in Gloucestershire. By Paul Farmer.

Blueprint or bunkum? 13
UK farmers and growers face a great many challenges as they approach the end of the 20th century. They must continue to fulfil the basic function of food production, whilst adapting to new market situations, satisfy changing consumer demands, and  pursuing and re-establishing their traditional role as environmental custodians. By Mark Redman.

Pesticide minimisation 14
Government Initiatives relating to UK agriculture, health and land use could lay the ground for a new direction for agriculture-but do they go far enough? By Peter Beaumont.

World News 11

Residues in food and water 15

Public interest news 16-17
An agri-environment policy for all Europe?
On top of a confusing plethora of environmental grants and designations, we now have the agri-environment proposals which are part of the Accompanying Measures of the CAP reform package, writes Vicki Hird of the SAFE Alliance.

Small doses 17

Pesticide reduction 18
Lacewing multi-purpose pest control
Alternatives to pesticides for the control of insect pests are keenly sought by farmers, growers and  gardeners. Techniques that utilise biological control (defined here as the natural regulation of pests by beneficial insects) are increasingly seen as viable environmentally friendly alternatives that can be relatively cheap as well as effective. The enhancement of natural enemy populations through conservation is one of the key methods of promoting biological control writes Dr. Peter McEwen of the University of Wales.

International news 19

Fact sheet - cypermethrin 20-21
Cypermethrin - a synthetic pyrethroid
Cypermethrin has become one of the most important insecticides in wide-scale use. It has been said that "no pesticide is perfect, but the pyrethroids come close." Is this assessment accurate?

Book reviews and resources 22-23

 
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