PAN International Website

Pesticides News No 35
The Journal of the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK]
An international perspective on the health and environmental effects of pesticides
Quarterly/March 1997

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Editorial 2

Organophosphates
Chlorpyrifos linked to birth defects and multiple chemical sensitivity  3
The US Environmental Protection Agency has produced a critical report on the health effects of the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos. Two other US reports have linked this OP-also used by British troops in the Gulf War-to allegations of birth defects and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Should chlorpyrifos be reviewed in the UK? By Peter Beaumont.

Persistent sheep dip lady-an interview with the Countess of Mar  4
Margaret Mar became a campaigner against the excessive use of pesticides after she fell victim to organophosphate sheep dip poisoning. Her position as a hereditary peer in the House of Lords, Britain's upper legislative chamber, provides a privileged platform on which to instigate change. She discussed with David Buffin what policy initiatives are required to improve the health and safety of those using these chemicals.

Action to halt hawk deaths  6
Wildlife organisations in the US, Canada and Argentina and the pesticide company Novartis have taken measures to halt pesticide poisoning of Swainson's hawks that migrate from Canada and the US to South America. Investigations in Argentina revealed many birds died after contact with an organophosphate insecticide, monocrotophos. By David Buffin.

Third world
 A collection of articles that highlight the concern over the health effects of pesticides used in developing countries by Barbara Dinham.

Pesticide facts in Thailand  8
The successful economic development in Thailand over the last decade ensures the country has an influential role over its neighbours. At present, Thailand is one of the biggest users of pesticides in the South Asia region and a German-sponsored project is working with the government in developing and implementing a more effective regulatory framework for pesticide registration and use.

Action against pesticides in Indonesia 9
Villagers living in a buffer zone of the National Park of Leuser Mountain in southern Aceh, Indonesia, have disposed of all their pesticides and opted for organic agriculture. This action was prompted by a concern for both conservation and health.

'Banned' DDT on sale in Tanzania  10
A Tanzanian pesticides company has been found to be formulating and selling DDT dust for agricultural application. DDT is almost universally banned for use in farming because of its long-term persistence in the environment, although it is not uncommon for disease vector control (mainly indoors) in developing countries. Tanzania is among the countries which has banned its use.

Poverty and pesticides dog rural workers  11  
Pesticide poisoning remains a daily occurrence among agricultural workers in developing countries, according to a new report from the International Labour Organisation-Wage workers in agriculture: conditions of  employment and work.  

Local authorities
Measures to reduce chemical use-a global overview of progressive local authorities  12

Amenity herbicide use increases  14
The marketing consultancy Produce Studies has carried out a survey of non-agricultural pesticide use during 1995 in England and Wales for the Department of the Environment (DoE). The main findings are set out below.

Debugging pest control 15
Is any real progress being made in the development of safer and better controls for pests in the built environment? Is anyone trying to understand the ecology of pests in the artificial environments of our homes and cities? Do the control measures applied against pests in our homes really work? The Second International Conference on Insect Pests in the Urban Environment  held in Edinburgh in July 1996 addressed these issues and many others. By Mark Davis.

Food
Washing aid for fruit and vegetables 16
A new product has appeared in UK health food shops that claims to make fruit and vegetables healthier to eat and to improve their storage life. Trevor Nott investigates how effective and useful this product is likely to be.

Food fit for our children? 17
The effect of pesticides in children's food was one focus at the recent Food, Children and Health conference. At the same time a new US book examined in detail children's diet and pesticides to show how, according to the author, "science and law fail to protect us from pesticides." And both in the UK and the US there have been recent changes in law and policy about food residues. Will our food be safer? This article describes the concerns and some of the responses. By Peter Beaumont.

Water
Are water consumers bearing an unfair burden? 18
Customers of the water companies in England and Wales are, on average, paying £4-5 per year in their water bills to ensure their water bills meet the standard for individual pesticides in drinking water. This tight standard is having a major impact on customers' bills. Rowena Tye of the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) argues for a more integrated approach to dealing with pesticides with stricter adherence to the principle of the 'polluter pays'.

OP news   6-7

Third world news

Local authority news 15

News

Fact sheet 20
Benomyl  
This fact sheet summaries the important health and environment effects of the fungicide benomyl. It came to the public's attention in the early 1990s because the exposure of pregnant women to benomyl was linked with subsequent eye defects in the foetus.

Small doses  21

Book reviews and resources  22-23

 
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