Pesticides
News No 56
The Journal of Pesticide Action Network UK
An international perspective on the health and
environmental effects of pesticides
Quarterly/June 2002
Developing country hazards
Unsuitable
for use – Profile of paraquat 3
New research has found that the herbicide paraquat causes unacceptable injuries,
especially under the poor conditions of use in developing countries. John
Madeley reports on a phase-out call to the manufacturers Syngenta by public
interest groups.
Death
in small doses – Cambodia's pesticide peril 6
Having emerged from decades of war and internal strife
as one of the world’s poorest countries, Cambodia faces a new and less obvious
threat: the poisoning of its people, food, water and wildlife by chemical
pesticides. Cambodia is becoming a dumping ground for pesticides deemed by the
World Health Organisation to be ‘highly or extremely hazardous to human
health’. Mike Shanahan and Steve Trent of the Environmental
Justice Foundation report on the problem and recommend measures to address the
situation.
Residues in food
Repealing
peeling advice 8
The UK government is considering changing its advice
for consumers to peel fresh fruit and vegetables in order to reduce exposure to
pesticide residues. Sandra Bell explains why public interest groups are
not convinced by the arguments from scientific agencies that help formulate
official policy.
European regulation
PAN
calls for pesticide use reduction in Europe 10
Pesticides Action Network (PAN) Europe has produced
the text for a suggested EU Directive to bring about a reduction in the use of
pesticides throughout Europe. The text has been signed by 35 NGOs from 16
European countries. Catherine Wattiez and Gretta Goldenman report.
Developing country hazards
Andhra
Pradesh farmers indict pesticides and intensive farming 12
The Prajateerpu – a citizens’ jury workshop held in Andhra Pradesh (AP)
– severely criticized the new policy for agriculture and rural futures
developed as part of the government of AP’s Vision 2020. Farmers were
extremely critical of the promotion of pesticides and agro-chemicals, and their
consequences, and also rejected GM technology. Michel Pimbert and Tom
Wakeford report.
The
plight of 'Widows from AIDS' in the Zambezi Valley 15
In the midst of the political and economic crisis in
Zimbabwe, women cotton farmers are suffering under the impact of AIDS, project
funding freezes, debt and poverty. Last year before the crisis began, Rexson
Hodzi, AfFOResT’s Field Officer, conducted interviews with two women farmers
in the Zambezi Valley. Sam Page reports.
Pesticide monitoring
Pesticide
use reporting – an essential tool 16
Some US states have implemented detailed reporting systems which closely
track the usage of each single commercial application. Lars Neumeister
presents the results of a PAN Germany study on the implications in California.
Chemical news 18
Aventis
mounts legal bid to keep toxic secrets
The High Court in London heard a legal bid on Wednesday 15 May from the
biotech industry to stop the government releasing pesticide safety data to
Friends of the Earth.
Dichlorvos
banned in the UK
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has suspended
the sale of a range of products containing the insecticide dichlorvos because of
carcinogenicity concerns.
Genetic debate 19
Costs
deter organic cotton farmers
Organic cotton producers in developing countries deserve a better deal. The
markets are largely in the North, and farmers are forced to pay international
rates for certification.
India
joins the GM club
In a significant but controversial decision on 26 March the Indian
government allowed commercial cultivation of Bt cotton. This is the first
genetically modified crop to be made available to Indian farmers. Devinder
Sharma reports.
Fact sheet 20-21
Atrazine
The herbicide atrazine is used throughout the world for a varied range of uses.
It is an environmental contaminant regularly found in rain, surface, marine, and
ground water. Recent research has suggested a link between atrazine exposure and
serious effects on the sexual development of frogs.
Book reviews and resources 22-23
Methyl bromide phase-out options