Book reviews - Pesticides News No. 27

Learning from disaster

This collection of articles edited by Sheila Jasanoff departs from earlier studies focusing on the causes of the Bhopal disaster, and critically examines the consequences of the accident.

    Surveying the changes in law and public policy that followed Bhopal, the authors ask what we and our institutions have learned of lasting value from the mistakes of commission and omission that led to the disaster. Are societies any better prepared today than they were in 1984 to manage the risks of hazardous technologies, especially when these risks are transferred across national boundaries? Could an accident like the one at Bhopal happen again in India, in the United States, in Europe? and if the same toxic cloud were to strike Bhopal ounce more, would the consequences be as dire, the agony for the victims as protracted and unremitting?

    The essays in Learning from Disaster examine the impact of Bhopal on both national and international policy making. Several of the authors met at a conference on transnational industrial hazards in 1985, and at a further meeting in 1987, where they became an informal network of ‘Bhopal watchers’. The result is a detailed exploration of the capacity of key social actors to learn from this appalling event. The essays cover, for example, the restructuring of Union Carbide: legal and political repercussions in India: industrial risk management in India since Bhopal, citizen participation in environmental policy making; disaster prevention in Europe; transnational traffic in legal remedies: toxic politics and pollution victims in the Third World; information and disaster prevention; the capacity of international institutions to manage Bhopal-like problems: societal contradictions and industrial crises. 

    The contributors attempt to understand whether events of such destructive ferocity as Bhopal simply overwhelm the human ability to learn or whether they set in motion a constructive process of change. Sadly, most essays conclude that although there have been a great many attempts to act, theme are flaws and shortcomings, and that transnational corporations remain powerful institutions, elusive in meeting their responsibilities. A very useful publication.

Learning from Disaster: Risk Management After Bhopal, Sheila Jasanoff, University of Pennsylvania Press, USA 1995, 29/pp, US$19.95.

After effects of DDT in tropics

DDT was used in the early 1970s to treat outbreaks of tsetse fly in Zimbabwe. This report provides a comprehensive collection of papers that examine the likely impact of the use of DDT, as assessed by field studies carried out in the period 1987-91. It concludes that despite low application rates and rapid dissipation of residues, effects on a landscape scale were found in populations of four bird and one lizard species, and the comparative scarcity of several bird and terrestrial invertebrate species due to DDT. Residue concentrations in at least five bat species posed a significant threat to survival during drought.

    Four humans, it is thought that the use of DDT for domestic malaria control is by far the most important source of exposure. DDT is reported to he a cheap and effective control against the mosquito. which transmits malaria. As a result of DDT use, breast milk residue levels in Zimbabwe are the highest recorded anywhere. The authors say high residues poise no known risk to adults, but DDE levels in breast milk commonly exceed those causing hyporeflexia (diminished reflexes) in infants. A recent report in Pesticides News (Issue 22. December 1993 suggests otherwise with regard to the effect in adults, citing a possible link between DDT residues in humans and breast cancer.

    A study assessing the cost-benefits of mosquito control and breast feeding is requested. It is a pity this book did not address this thorny issue.  

DDT in the Tropics, The Impact on Wildlife in Zimbabwe of Ground Spraying for Tsetse Fly Control, R.J. Douthwaite and C.C.D. Tingle, (Eds), NRI, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, £20, 195pp.

North Sea declaration

As part of preparations for the fourth North Sea Conference in June, the environmental coalition Seas at Risk held a conference in October 1994 to produce a Final Declaration of demands relating to environmental protection. Most major northern European non-governmental organisations have signed the Declaration which includes pesticides issues specifically and agriculture in general.

    The Declaration calls for a strategic approach to eliminate man-made hazardous inputs to the environment. This should be complemented by the adoption of less intensive and organic farming. By the year 2000, the Declaration calls in particular for a phase out of organotin,  organophosphate, organochlorine, triazine, heavy metal, synthetic pyrethroid and methyl bromide compounds in agriculture, domestic use and timber treatment.

    The adverse effects to the marine environment caused by the tin-based TBT antifouling paint, used on the bottom of boats and ships, were noted at the conference. The signatories called for a ban on the use of TBT on all vessels regardless of size by 1 January 1997. Proposed alternatives should be rigorously tested. All discharges of TBT paint residues from ship maintenance and construction should be prevented by enforced collection.  

Proceedings of the October Seas at Risk Conference will be published in April by John Wiley & Sons. For more information: John Maggs, Seas at Risk, Keizersgracht 384, 1016 GB, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tek: +31 20 623 1597, FaxL +31 20 623 1509.

*    A total of 35 environmental organisations have so far signed the Declaration including Greenpeace  International, Friends of the Earth International, the European Environmental Bureau and the Marine Conservation Society.

Pesticide policies in developing countries

This useful World Bank Discussion paper attempts to analyse the causes of excessive use of pesticides in developing countries and how these hinder the adoption of benign or less harmful pest control methods, such as IPM. It is part of a wider initiative involving the FAO, UNDP and the World Bank, seeking to promote environmentally sound pest management approaches.  

Pesticide Policies in Developing Countries: Do they encourage excessive use? Jumanah Farah, World Bank Discussion Paper 238, USA, 1994, 42pp., from World Bank Washington, Fax: +1 202 477 6391.

GATT- after the Uruguay  
WWF International has published a Discussion Paper looking at the impact of GATT (or World Trade Organisation as it is now  known on agriculture. It asks whether subsidy’ cuts and import liberalisation will halt over production and export dumping. It concludes that improving food security and environmental sustainability including natural resource management is likely to become more difficult in some developing countries. It argues for greater democratisation of the GATT process, and the provision of a broad food security exemption for developing countries, and calls for more studies to identify the economic, social and environmental effects of food dumping.  

Agriculture in the Uruguay Round: Implications for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries. A WWF International Discussion Paper, WWF, Gland, Switzerland, Tel: +41 223 649 111, Fax: +41 223 645 829, 36pp.

Towards sustainable agricultural production

This report looks at the major environmental impacts of conventional agricultural practices. those environmentally friendly technologies and practices that address the problems raised by conventional practices, and the obstacles to the greater diffusion of cleaner production technologies. It concludes with a discussion of the actions OECD country governments can take, or are taking, to further necessary institutional and policy reform and to encourage continued technological innovation to move the agricultural sector towards sustainability.

Towards Sustainable Agricultural Production: Cleaner Technologies, OECD, Paris, 1994, pp99.

Pesticide campaigning in New Zealand

Menial Watts, a researcher for the Soil and Health Association of New Zealand has produce a comprehensive volume which chronicles the health and environmental effects of pesticides. She traces the origins of pesticide use in New Zealand organochlorines were extensively used from the 1950s. The book addresses health in terms of pesticides and cancer. It questions whether there is a link between chemical exposure and ME. A section on food residues looks at the recent history of residue analysis in New Zealand. In terms of pesticides and the environment, Merial Watts puts the case for restricting the uses of atrazine and simazine because of concerns over groundwater contamination. There is a section on non-chemical pest control which looks at the Waipuna hot water vegetation control system which was developed in New Zealand.

The Poisoning of New Zealand, Merial Watts, Auckland Institute of Technology Press, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1020, 224pp.

Measuring sustainability  

The value of indicators lies in providing an agreed way to describe and monitor the environment. These measures can represent and communicate trends, and provide key tools in assessing progress towards sustainability. This clearly presented report provides discusssion of possible indicators, and a number of indicators which could be applied. They highlight some serious concerns about environmental trends in the UK. Of particular interest to PN readers will be those provided on biodiversity, footprints abroad, land, freshwater and agriculture.  

Environmental Measures: Indicators for the UK environment, Researched by Alex MacGillivray and Roger Kayes, for the Environment Challenge group (Friends of the Earth, IIED, New Economics Foundation, Royal Society for Nature Conservation, RSPB, WWF, Wildlife and Countryside Link), pp108.

Environmental agricultural schemes

The SAFE Alliance has produced a series of fact sheets which summarises the profusion of environmentally sensitive agricultural support schemes available to farmers in the UK. Schemes included are environmentally sensitive areas, moorland scheme, habitat scheme, nitrate sensitive areas, organic aid scheme, new countryside access and hedgerow restoration scheme.

Fact Sheets on scheme and grants for environmentally friendly farming and land management, Safe (Sustainable Agriculture Food and Environment) Alliance, 38 Ebury St., London, SW1W 0LU, February 1995, 11pp.

NGO campaigning on trade issues 

This reprint was commissioned by Christian Aid and CIIR to evaluate whether NGOs campaigning has had an impact on the debate and the outcome. It is based on a series of interviews with MPs and civil servants and provides useful information on what strategies have proved most successful.

NGO Campaigning on Trade Issues: Perspectives from Europe, by Development Initiatives for Christian Aid and CIIR, January 1995, 56pp. From Christian Aid, PO Box 100, London SW1 7RT, UK.

Participatory learning and action (PLA)

Formerly known as Rapid Rural Appraisal notes, this extremely’ illuminating and prolific series has been renamed PEA Notes and feeds the ever increasing popularity of the creative and innovative participatory approach to training for sustainable agriculture. Among the 18 articles covered n the latest edition, are articles entitled ‘Women Prefer Lunchtime’, ‘PRA and Raised Expectations: Potentials and Pitfalls’ and ‘Handle with Care! Rapid Studies amid the Poor’.

PLA Notes, No. 22, International Institute for Environment and Development Sustainable Agriculture Programme, February 1995, pp88. £15 a year subscription in the North (free to libraries). 

Pesticides et agriculture tropicale

Originally published in German, a French edition (unfortunately no English yet) is now-available of this important series of papers published by PAN Germany’ and CTA (which conducts agricultural research for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries under the Lomé Convention). Subtitled ‘dangers and alternatives’, the book draw’s particular attention to the environmental and health risks in Africa in the form of obsolete stocks. It includes practical information on a wide range of possible alternatives to chemical pesticides, and has practical advice on treating poisoning.

Pesticides et Agriculture Tropicale: Dangers et alternatives, Eds. PAN and CTA, original edition (German) 1993, pp291.

Lures for fruit pests

Pheromones formulated as lures for deployment in traps or as sprayable formulations are now used throughout the world in a variety of crops. Pheromones used to kill or trap pests are beneficial environmentally because they only tend to affect the pest species. Their use has especially expanded in the fruit farming sector. Agrisense Ltd manufacturer both pheromones and trapping systems for over 100 important fruit pests and have listed them in a recent booklet they have produced. Crops included are pome fruit, stone fruit, soft fruit, citrus, olives, grapevines and tropical fruit.  

Insect monitoring and lures in fruit crops, Agrisense-BCS Ltd, Treeforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd, CF37 5SU, Tel: +44 (0)1443 841155, Fax: +44 (0)1443 841152, free of charge, 10pp.

Who’s who in UK crop protection

This Directory brings together the names and address of the many organisations and individuals involved in pesticides and pest control in the UK. There are 16 sections which deal with a range of topical issues. Some of the sections listed are safe handling. non-chemical methods (IPM), biotechnology, education and training, research and development, the environment and market research.  

The Crop Protection Directory 1995-96 UK Edition, Elaine Warrell Associates, 105 Lee Road, London SE3 9DZ, Tel: +44 (0)181 852 6158, Fax: +44(0)181 297 0789.

Water pollution prevention

The National Rivers Authority (NRA) has produced a succinct video intended to show industrial concerns how to avoid polluting ground and surface water and rivers . The NRA point out that spillages occur everyday killing thousands of fish. They also say that the level of fines are increasing (up to £20,000) which indicates the serious nature of this subject.  

Pollution prevention pays, video by the National Rivers Authority, NRA Head Office, 0454 62400, 15 mins. duration.

US reviews

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a regular update of its pesticides review programme. Since 1991, 81 Reregistration Eligibility Documents (REDs) have been completed representing 120 active ingredients, 3.521 products and 500 food tolerances. In the last quarter of 1994, 20 REDs were produced on active ingredients including bentazon, difenzoquat, hexazinone, and mevinphos.  

Pesticide Registration Progress Report, US EPA, Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Washington DC, 20460, US, October 1994, 35pp.

US EPA analysis of ecological effects

A rejection rate analysis has been set up by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify those factors that most frequently cause rejection of ecological effects studies required for registration. The decision to analyse these factors was made after it was realised that rejected studies posed the most significant potential for delays in the production of Reregistration Eligibility Documents (REDs).

Pesticide Reregistration Rejection Rate Analysis: Ecological Effects, US EPA, Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Washington DC, 20460, US, December 1994, 188pp.

Central African pesticide directory

The French Ministry of Co-operation has produced a manual which hopes to protect west and central African pesticide users, consumers and environment from the variety of hazards pesticides pose. A list of pesticides used on local crops has been produced. Brief summaries are provided for all pesticides used in the region.  

Food crop protection in west and central Africa, Jean-Gilbert Theissen and Roland Pierrot, Ministère de la Coopération, 20 rue Monsieur, 75007 Paris, France, 523pp.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No.27, March 1995, pages 22-23]