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Pesticides News No 31
The Journal of the Pesticides Trust
[now PAN UK]
An international perspective on the health and environmental effects of pesticides
Quarterly/March 1996
Features
New EC initiative-promoting IPM within Africa-Caribbean-Pacific states 3
Development agencies are increasingly concerned that funds for agriculture support pesticide inputs in countries where the hazards of use remain highest. The European Commission through its Directorate for Development (DG VIII) is one of the world's biggest donor agencies, particularly in Africa, and is in the process of adopting new guidelines in partnership with Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) states of the Lomé Convention to influence the way in which development aid is used for pest management in projects. It has asked the Pesticides Trust
[now PAN UK] to propose guidelines that promote Integrated Pest Management and reduce the use of hazardous pesticides in developing countries. By Peter Beaumont.
IPM in developing countries-the Sri Lankan experience 4
The development agency CARE International is helping to develop integrated pest management in a number of developing countries, which includes discouraging some of the most acutely toxic pesticides .In this article, Keith Jones focuses on a project he is involved with in Sri Lanka called 'INTERGRATED' which is training community-based groups through Farmer Field Schools.
Health and environment
The synthetic chemical threat-endocrine disruptors 6
Endocrine disruption is a subtle effect of many synthetic chemicals which can lead to immune, behavioural and reproductive changes with apocalyptic risks for individuals, populations and wildlife species. These agents are widely disseminated, and Barbara Rutherford calls for their urgent identification and control as matters for international concern.
Databases
Finding out about pesticides 8
Gathering and disseminating information about the health and environmental effects of pesticides is a task central to the Pesticides
Trust [now PAN UK]. We therefore make a point of keeping abreast of the latest publications and developments in this area, and obtaining or gaining access to as many of them as possible. Mark Davis reviews some of the more widely available and useful sources of information on pesticides.
Local authorities
Green pest control in Southwark's parks 10
The London Borough of Southwark is in the process of adopting a pest management policy developed in conjunction with the Pesticides Trust
[now PAN UK] Local Authorities Project, to minimise and strictly control the use of pesticides and seek non-chemical alternatives where possible. Mark Davis of the Pesticides Trust spoke to Henry Thompson and Mark Pearson of Southwark Education and Leisure about the implications of implementing the new policy.
Health and safety
OP sheep dips and heart disease-a case history 11
Sheep dip poisoning came to public attention with media reports of farmers suffering serious illhealth following dipping of sheep with organophosphate (OP) pesticides. The products used are not registered as pesticides but are licensed as veterinary medicines by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). Alan Care examines a case history where a heart attack followed OP dip exposure.
Online poster
A guide to pesticide exposure for physicians 12
Cotton
Senegal organic cotton pilot project 14
The initiation of the organic cotton pilot project in Senegal was reported upon in June last year in Pesticides News 28 prior to the planting season which started in mid-July. Having completed the harvest in January, farmers and the support team from ENDA-PRONAT and the Pesticides Trust
[now PAN UK] gathered in Koussenar in early February to review progress and plan for the next season.
Biocontrol
Green Muscle-a body blow to locusts 15
Is there another way to deal with locusts that threaten field crops, besides spraying with great quantities of hazardous pesticides? Researchers are now looking at the use of microbes that infect the insect and gradually kill it. Terry Mabbett explains the work of the Biological Control of Locusts and Grasshoppers project, and the development of 'Green Muscle', a new weapon in the battle against locusts.
Farming issues
Pesticide efficiency revisited 16
This review of recent industry research on crop production and protection by Terry Mabbett questions many of the assumptions on which the research is based.
Defending ICM-NFU response 16
In the last issue of Pesticides News (p.13) Mark Redman gave an organic farming view of integrated crop management (ICM). While he welcomed the potential of ICM to reduce pesticide use, he was critical of the manner of its promotion. Christopher Wise of the National Farmers Union (NFU) and one of the main architects of ICM in the UK, replies.
Setting new standards 17
This integrated crop management (ICM) project, Focus on Farming Practice, is supported by CWS Agriculture, Hydro-Agri and Profarma and is now in the third year of its seven year rotation. In this article, which is part of a series in Pesticides News on integrated farming, Alastair Leake argues that integrated production should become normal farming practice.
Small doses 18
Food residues 19
Fact sheet
Carbaryl re-assessed 20-21
Carbaryl is widely used as an insecticide with acute toxic effects which are well known. Recent data on its carcinogenic potential has indicated the need for further research, and has prompted a revision of safety controls governing its use.
News 21
Book reviews and resources 22-23