Hoechst
Philippines case thrown out
The long legal struggle between Dr. Romeo Quijano,
of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, and Hoechst Far East
Marketing—reported in PN 24, p. 11—has been dismissed by Judge Roberto
Diokno of the Makati Regional Trial Court. Dr. Quijano had discussed the health
impact of Hoechst’s product, endosulfan. The Philippine News and Features (PNF),
and its editor and reporter, had also been named by Hoechst in the action, for
publishing Dr. Quijano’s views. The law suit had angered many groups in the
Philippines, where endosulfan use has been a matter of intense concern, and they
believe it important to discuss the health implications of the pesticide without
fear of prosecution by a powerful corporate body.
The court dismissed the P22 million (US$814,000) civil suit,
ruling that there was no libellous imputation, and said the news item “is
clearly a matter of high public concern and interest, and therefore comes under
the protective mantle of press freedom.” He cleared the defendants of
malice, pointing out that Hoechst was not even identified in the article.
Hoechst has 15 days in which to appeal. While the suit was
pending, the Fertiliser and Pesticide Authority banned the use of most
endosulfan formulations and several other pesticides from 1 June.
PNF, 29/8/94.
Weedkillers
may promote pests
A new report from Denmark suggests that the use of
certain herbicides promotes mildew and greenfly, thereby encouraging the use of
other agents against fungi and insects. The investigation covered the herbicide
isoproturon and the growth regulator ethephon. In winter wheat, the use of
isoproturon seemed to encourage mildew, and the situation deteriorated as dosage
increased. Both isoproturon and ethephon had a profound effect on the
reproductive capacity of greenfly, particularly in barley fields. The Danish
researchers say that it is, however, difficult to make generalisations. For
example, isoproturon has no apparent effect on winter barley.
According to the Danish EPA, the approval of pesticides
generally does not require documentation on the side effects on pests other than
the immediate target organism.
Niels Møller Madsen, Danish
Environment, Copenhagen, 1994.
Toxic
leak at UK airport
In June, 45 people were taken to hospital
following a leak of the pesticide chloropicrin from 22 20-litre drums a mile
from Gatwick airport, London, passenger terminals. In an incident within the
next 24 hours, 250 people were evacuated from the airport after a second
insecticide leak.
The Independent 25/6/94.
Mink
coated with organochlorines
Research from Spain on European mink has shown
them to be affected by PCBs and DDT. While only four mink were analysed
this is the first such data to be collected. Average levels of PCBs found were
at 118 micrograms per gram in muscle and 112 in liver fat. These results have
raised concern because tests on captive American mink exposed to these
organochlorines have indicated reproductive failure at 50 micrograms per gram of
fat. Levels of DDT fluctuated making it difficult to draw firm conclusions.
Ambio, 23/4-5, July 1994, 294-295pp.
Bird
populations—ups and downs
A two year study by the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds (RSPB) in the UK shows that set-aside fields held more than
four times more skylarks, greenfinches, linnets, yellowhammers and goldfinches
than any other type of field in winter. Set-aside is a winter life-line for a
number of farmland birds, say the RSPB. Meanwhile, the British Trust for
Ornithology (BTO) surveys show a loss of three-quarters of the corn bunting
population since 1973. Increased pesticide use is cited as a possible cause.
RSPB, 25/8/94 and BTO News May/June
1994.
Kenya’s
pyrethrum market challenged
Pyrethrum, a natural insecticide extracted from a
rare species of chrysanthemum, is grown as a cash crop by 40,000 small-scale
farmers in Kenya. Traditionally, they have produced 60-70% of the world market
of about 20,000 tonnes a year. Their market may face a challenge from
large-scale farmers in Tasmania. In collaboration with Commonwealth Industrial
Gasses (a subsidiary of British Oxygen Group), 15 trials are being conducted on
the viability of intensive production, using high quality clones.
Financial Times, 2/6/94.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 25, September 1994, page 15]