Editorial

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Urban pesticide exposure 
Urban pesticide exposure disables workers in Catalunya 3
More than 30 serious pesticide exposure incidents have taken place due to urban pest control operations in workplace buildings in Catalunya, Spain. At least 50 people have been so seriously affected they have been classified as unable to work. The Barcelona Centre for Health and Safety Conditions at Work has played a leading role in identifying pesticide exposure as the cause of their initially mysterious illnesses. Francisca López Crespí, José Brosa Luengo, and Jordi Obiols Quinto now report their findings.

Urban exposure - one woman's story 5
In 1999 fourteen employees of a major international hotel in Barcelona were exposed to pesticides as a result of a fumigation. They were left with differing degrees of long-term debilitation; the health of four is still being studied. Here one woman describes her experiences.

23 workers poisoned in California 5 

Exposure to pesticides increases risk of Parkinson's 7

Wildlife threat
Beekeepers stung by pesticide sponsorship 6
The main UK beekeepers' association has accepted sponsorship from agrochemical companies in exchange for endorsing products as 'bee-friendly', when some of the active ingredients are highly toxic to bees. The myth of the bee-friendly insecticide is being promoted by the organisation which should be protecting honey bees from pesticide poisoning, and demanding notification of spraying. Alison Craig reports. 

Water contamination
Dutch pesticides atlas for surface water 8
A new on-line pesticides atlas (www.pesticidesatlas.nl) allows users to see at a glance what pesticides are present in Dutch surface waters and where standards are exceeded. It provides insight into whether monitoring sites are appropriately located and whether there is any correlation between surface water pesticide concentrations and certain kinds of land use. 

Market analysis
Agrochemical markets soar - pest pressures or corporate design? 9
Six multinational companies dominate the agricultural input market. They are critical actors in promoting, or preventing, the development of technologies that shape the future of food and farming. Their strategies can influence policies and practices that affect farmers worldwide. Barbara Dinham looks at new figures that show a rapid upturn in pesticide sales in 2004, and the company strategies driving these developments. 

The rise and rise of non-crop pesticides 12
Demand from home owners, gardeners, foresters, pest control operators, greenkeepers and other 'non-croppers' - until recently minor outlets for pesticides - has expanded swiftly in the past decade. Rod Parker explains and asks what the future holds for the non-crop market.

Sustainable production
Bananas - the slippery road to sustainability 14
Banana multinationals and their practices on large-scale plantations have been criticised by environmental and human rights organisations and trade unions for many years. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation first investigated conditions in Costa Rican plantations in 1996. Thomas Lustig assesses whether campaigns and recently introduced certification schemes have improved the situation.

Company news + Erratum
ProFume brings precision to fumigation 16
Keeping flour mills and food factories pest free requires the safe and effective use of fumigation technology. Now, the introduction of a new method of working - Precision FumigationTM, alongside a new fumigant, ProFume* - is taking fumigation to a new level in terms of quality, efficacy and safety. Anne Thompson of Dow AgroSciences explains.

Developing country initiative
The Global Pesticide Project - reducing risk in tropical agriculture 17
The Global Pesticide Project was launched in 1998 in response to the scale of poisonings and worker ill-health related to pesticide use in the tropics. George Ekström and Sven-Erik Pettersson report on its activities and successes.

Factsheet
Bendiocarb 20
Bendiocarb is an acutely toxic carbamate insecticide. It has uses in public health and in agriculture. Many bendiocarb-containing products are licensed for amateur use despite its acute toxicity. All bendiocarb-containing products in the United States recently had their registrations cancelled due to concerns over exposure of those applying the products. 

Book reviews 22
Practical guide to using on-farm biodiversity
Biocontrol market rise
State of the World 2005
Survival and the environment
UK Pesticide Guide 2005

News 23
Bt cotton problems documented
Sulfuryl fluoride kills bystander
New clinic for Bhopa