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Pesticides News No 47
The Journal of Pesticide Action Network UK
An international perspective on the health and environmental effects of pesticides
Quarterly/March 2000
To Subscribe
Editorial
Name change for the Pesticides Trust
Health and safety
Kenyan workers hit by chemicals 3
Workers at one of Kenya's biggest pineapple plantations claim their health and safety is being put at risk by poor working conditions. The workers, backed by human rights groups and trade unions, are campaigning for improved conditions - including adequate protection from toxic pesticides used in pineapple production. By John Harvey.
Health and Environment
Building resources for sustainable agriculture in West Africa 4
In September 1998, five non-governmental organisations (NGOs) began a collaborative project to establish documentation centres on pesticides and an outreach programme working with farmers, agricultural research and extension, the health services and decision makers to raise awareness of pesticide hazards and promote sustainable alternatives in three West African countries. A workshop held in Benin from 15-21 January 2000 brought the partners together to share experiences and developments. Barbara Dinham reports from Benin.
Developing country hazards
Aerial spraying harms plantation workers in Kerala, India 6
Accidents linked to pesticides are not new to Kerala, the southern-most State of India. But, as S. Usha reports, the hazards associated with aerial spraying are new.
Genetic debate
UK government supports GM technology in developing countries 8
In all the fuss about multinational companies developing terminator seeds to increase their profits from the Third World, it was forgotten that British Government departments are quietly backing similar GM technology. John Madeley reports on what is happening under Clare Short, the International Development Minister.
Organophosphates
PAN UK hosts OP conference 9
Experts went to Sunderland for a conference organised by PAN UK to examine the Committee on Toxicity (COT) report on OPs. As Alison Craig reports, speakers were particularly concerned about the impact of long term, low doses of organophosphates (OPs).
Research shows dangers of chemical mixes 10
In his research, Dr Goran Jamal, a consultant neurologist, has argued that organophosphates (OPs) cause long-term damage to people exposed to the chemicals at work and in their homes. Now he is helping to prepare a court case in the United States which will try to establish whether children suffered from an OP made by the Dow Chemical Company. John Harvey talked to Dr Jamal about new research on OPs which will influence the case.
International regulation
Codex relaxes safety on two pesticides 11
Consumer groups have been lobbying to broaden the scope of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which sets standards for the international trade in pesticides. John Harvey looks at how much they have influenced Codex's pesticide evaluations.
Pesticide deaths
Endosulfan deaths and poisonings in Benin 12
Official sources in Benin state that at least 37 people died over the 1999/2000 season in the northern Borgou province due to endosulfan poisoning, while another 36 people experienced serious ill health. In view of the relative share of the Borgou province in national cotton crop area, Peter Ton, Silvère Tovignan and Simplice Davo Vodouhê report that at least 70 people may in fact have died in Benin over the season from endosulfan poisoning.
UK regulation
New restrictions on wool production 15
For years, the farming industry has been dosing sheep with OP chemicals which can stay in the wool for a long time. John Harvey reports on new attempts to try to reduce the OP pollution in fleeces.
UK News
Pesticides tax scrapped for the time being 16
Ever since the general election, the Labour Government has held out the promise of a tax on pesticides. But now, as John Harvey reports, another key part of the government's environment policy has been postponed.
HSE defends pesticide incident sampling
Delays by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in collecting environmental samples from pesticide incidents can hamper prosecutions.
News
Residues in food
Spanish peppers in import scare 18
Peppers from Spain are still being monitored after Finnish scientists discovered high levels of pesticide residue in some imports. Finland warned the rest of the European Union, and the UK government acted quickly.
Lindane banned on Co-op farms 18
Evaluation document for lindane gives more ammunition for stopping production of the chemical.
Government action
Sheep dip cans are unsafe says Ministry 19
Companies manufacturing sheep dip were given until the end of January to remove unsafe chemical cans from the market. John Harvey reports on the dilemmas facing the company bosses as they try to cope with new demands from the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF).
Fact sheets 20-21
Endosulfan
Endosulfan is an organochlorine insecticide and acaricide, and acts as a contact poison in a wide variety of insects and mites. Endosulfan is effective against a wide range of insects and certain mites on cereals, coffee, cotton, fruit, oilseeds, potato, tea, vegetable and other crops. It can also be used as a wood preservative.
Bed bugs - least toxic control
Bed bugs infesting a house give off a nasty smell from 'stink glands'. In these conditions, writes David Allen, the only solution may be to throw out the old mattress and take practical steps which avoid toxic chemicals
Small doses 22