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Pesticides News No 41
The Journal of the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK]
An international perspective on the health and environmental effects of pesticides
Quarterly/September 1998

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Editorial 2

Genetic debate
Let nature's harvest continue 3
Genetically modified (GM) foods have aroused fierce opposition. Leading Africans, a majority of the public in Europe, a wide range of non-governmental organisations and even the Prince of Wales-"I personally have no wish to eat anything produced by genetic modification, nor do I knowingly offer this sort of produce to my family or guests"-are united in rejecting GM food. John Madeley reports. Response to Monsanto's advertising campaign

Resistance to glyphosate 5
Glyphosate is already the world's most used herbicide. Its use is anticipated to increase even further with the introduction of genetically engineered, glyphosate resistant crops. Topsy Jewell reports on the environmental implications of introducing this new technology.

Hazardous chemicals
The lindane legacy 6
A meeting took place recently in Bilbao in the Basque country, Spain, where lindane production plants left 33 severely contaminated sites and over 5,000 tonnes of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) to be disposed of. Scientists, engineers and policy makers from 24 countries gathered for the 5th HCH and Pesticides Forum to learn and discuss disposal and management techniques. Mark Davis reports.

European campaign against lindane 7
A meeting in June of the Pesticides Action Network-Europe brought together participants from 18 organisations in order to strengthen the co-ordination of activities among environmentalists in Europe. One outcome since has been the following letter to European Union (EU) Commissioners requesting that they ban the use and production of the organochlorine insecticide lindane in the EU. (David Buffin)

Environmental pollution
A taxing question 8
Whether to tax pesticides or not is a hotly debated issue that the UK government has aired in recent months. Over the summer, the hackles of the normally unflappable pesticides lobby have been raised. With the farming industry in tow, an anti 'Just Say No' stance has been launched. Meanwhile environmentalists have joined forces to support such a tax that would help reduce unwanted pollution caused by these chemicals. John Harvey investigates.

The Minister responds 9
The Environment Minister Michael Meacher has indicated his wish to see green taxes adopted in order to reduce environmental pollution. In an interview with David Buffin he discussed some of the key aspects of one proposal that relates to pesticides. by David Buffin

Third world
Developmental prejudice 10
The intensive pesticide use in Malaysian agriculture has caused serious public health problems and has been heavily criticised for more than two decades. But the government remains committed to their use as part of its economic development. Peter Triantafillou reports.

Problems persist in Central America 11
A recent report from the Danish Agency for International Development (DANIDA) concludes that pesticide related health, environmental and economic problems remain serious in both Nicaragua and Guatemala. Douglas Murray reports.

Environmental quality
The best parks in England - it's official 12
1998 sees the second round of Green Flag Park Awards made by the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK] and the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management. Last year seven parks in England won the award, and the right to fly the Green Flag Park. The first presentation ceremony was held at the popular Birmingham Botanical Gardens and attracted positive media coverage. Several of the winning parks then staged their own special events. Over the last year the award has gained momentum and wider recognition. Croxteth Hall in Liverpool is the venue this September for presenting the Green Flag to the sixteen 1998/99 winners. Liz Greenhalgh and John Newton report on developments since 1997.

Forestry
Search for sustainability 14
Britain uses more pesticides in forestry than many other European countries. Anna Jenkins and Simon Pryor report on research to improve this situation through their work for the Forest Stewardship Council.

Environmental fate
Indicating the impact? 15
Indicators of pesticide impact are being increasingly used as a tool by those working on environmental and social development. A consultation paper of the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) calls for comments, and suggests some indicators for pesticides. Alexis Vaughan investigates progress.

International hazards
'Pesticides are most serious environmental threat' - UN advisor 16
Nicholas Ashford, a leading environmental scientist and health adviser to the United Nations told a recent closed meeting at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that pesticides may pose a far more serious threat to public health than has previously been thought. Jeff Howell reports on an interview with Professor Ashford after the meeting.

News
Genetic debate 3

International hazards 16

Hazards 17

Small doses 17

Fact sheet - Chlorpyrifos 18
Chlorpyrifos was originally marketed in the US in the 1960s and is now one of the word's leading insecticides. More recently concerns about related health effects have led to restrictions on its use.

Fact sheet - Least toxic wasp control 19
Are chemical control methods safe enough to use in the household environment and is treatment necessary at all with the use of safer alternatives? As part of an ongoing series in Pesticides News, this report aims to help reduce hazards in the home environment.

European profiles 20-21
Denmark - action to reduce use
The Danes have one of the most anti-pesticides stances in Europe. Since 1986, they have introduced a range of pesticide reduction measures that may ultimately result in the whole of agriculture going organic by 2010. Jesper Lund-Larsen reports.

Germany - a buoyant market
Some of the world's biggest multinational pesticide manufacturers are based in Germany. They supply the largest market in Europe where sales remain buoyant. Carina Weber and Ulf Jacob report.

Book reviews and resources 22-23

News 23

 
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