Agent
Orange update
This US National Academy of
Sciences (NAS) book updates and evaluates the available scientific
evidence of statistical associations between diseases and exposure to
herbicides, (especially 2,4,5-T and its contaminant dioxin [TCDD]), by US
service personnel during the Vietnam War. Between 1962 and 1971 US
military forces sprayed nearly 19 million gallons (5.2 million litres) of
herbicides over 3.6 million acres of Vietnam.
The
book focuses on new scientific studies published since 1994 (when a
previous NAS report Veterans and Agent Orange was produced [see
PN24 p22]). The 1996 NAS committee has re-assessed a number of possible
adverse health effects suffered by veterans and their offspring in terms
of four health risk categories: sufficient evidence; limited/suggestive;
inadequate/insufficient evidence of an association; and limited/suggestive
evidence of no association.
The 1996 committee found
sufficient evidence of an association with herbicides and/or TCDD for four
diseases: soft-tissue sarcoma; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; Hodgkin’s disease;
and chloracne. This is one less than the number of diseases so classified
in 1994. Porphyria cutanea tarda has been reclassified into the category
‘limited/suggestive evidence’. In addition, there are two other diseases
that have been placed in the ‘limited/suggestive evidence’ category: spina
bifida and acute and sub-acute (transient) peripheral neuropathy.
Respiratory cancers (lung, larynx and trachea), prostate cancer and
multiple myeloma also maintain their status in this category.
The 1996 committee concludes that most of the
numerous health studies on Vietnam veterans have been hampered by
relatively poor knowledge of exposure to herbicides or TCDD, in addition
to other methodological problems. The committee found there was
sufficient evidence for reaching the conclusions about statistical
associations between herbicide exposure and health outcomes. The lack of
adequate data on Vietnam veterans per se complicates the assessment of
increased risk of disease among any one individual.
Effects
of spraying on non-target species
This
Danish report provides a comparison between soil-related Hymenopteran
parasitoids (which attack many agricultural pests by laying eggs within
the pest, which develop and then consume the pest) from non-sprayed and
sprayed areas. Peter Bonde Jensen from the University of Aahus concludes
that the non-sprayed areas support more species and higher densities of
most soil-related Hymenopteran parasitoids.
Peter Bonde Jensen, The
Influence of Non-spraying on Parasitoids, Pesticides Research No. 19,
Ministry of Environment and Energy, Denmark, Miliøbutikken, Tel. +45
33379292, Fax +45 33927690 90 DKK, 1996, 81pp.
Taxing
toxics
A ‘mill’ tax is a sales tax at the
rate of hundredths of a cent per dollar used in California to raise
revenue. This report looks at how such a tax could be used to reduce
pesticide use—a sales tax calculated on the weight of active ingredient is
one way. A risk-based tax on the differential risks posed by different
chemicals might be another, more complicated way. A targeted tax based on
point-of-use at particular sites would be a third and even more
administratively complicated way.
The benefits of
such an approach would be to fund regulatory activity, to fund IPM
research. It could also provide the incentive to reduce use by increasing
pesticide cost and stimulating other non-chemical forms of pest
control.
The options are clearly set out and have
generally been recognised for some time. The report does assume a small
and fairly constant price elasticity of pesticides over a wide range of
price increases. It also assumes that the pesticide element in the
production costs is small—which it seems to be in California unlike other
sectors or other countries. The report does not consider some of the
impacts of changing crop production patterns in response to changing
pesticide use.
California, the world’s fifth largest
agricultural economy, is always striving to reduce the impact of
pesticides on health and environment. Let us hope that this work is
successful in promoting a ‘mill’ tax on pesticides in order to stimulate
the development of IPM initiatives.
William S. Pease, James C.
Robinson and Daniel Tuden, Taxing Pesticides To Fund Environmental
Protection and Integrated Pest Management, An Environmental Health Policy
Program Report, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health,
University of California, Berkeley CA, 1996, 36pp.
Green
farming
“UK agriculture continues to have
serious and unacceptable environmental impacts. At the heart of this
complex problem is our attitude to food and, in particular, whether the
prices we pay reflect the full environmental costs of production,” said
the television journalist Jonathan Dimbleby launching Growing
Greener, the new report on the environmental sustainability of UK
agriculture.
The report looks at the
impact of agriculture on air, water, soil, biodiversity, landscape,
energy, farming and the rural community, and food. In particular it calls
for new policies for the control of pests, including developing and
promoting lower input and integrated crop management techniques, and
better technical and financial support for lower input systems including
organic farming.
David Baldock (IEEP), Kevin Bishop (University of
Cardiff), Karen Mitchell (IEEP) and Adrian Phillips (University of
Cardiff), Growing Greener. Sustainable Agriculture in the UK, written for
the Council for the Protection of Rural England/World Wide Fund for
Nature, 1996, 143pp.
New WHO
guidelines for pesticides in water
The
first volume of this pair presented summary evidence in support of
Guideline Values to a number of contaminants in water. Most of the 36
pesticides evaluated are herbicides, which are in general more water
soluble. Those listed include aldicarb, atrazine, bentazone, carbofuran,
2,4-D, isoproturon, lindane, MCPA, pendimethalin, permethrin, simazine and
trifluralin.
Guideline Values are based
on toxicological criteria and are said to represent ‘safe’ concentrations
for an individual to consume every day for a lifetime. Although the
information presented is useful, there are limitations to the guideline
approach. The data is presented for only a few of the 1,000 active
ingredients. The values do not take account of ecotoxic effects which can
occur at levels considerably below the guideline values. Nor do they
consider mixtures of pesticides or breakdown products.
In compiling the data, WHO acknowledges sight
of data from manufacturers which is not in the public domain. Disclosure
of data relating to the effects of pesticides on human health is
essential: there should be no reason why this cannot be placed in the
public domain.
Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality,
Volume 2: Health Criteria and Other Supporting Information. Second
Edition, World Health Organisation, Geneva, 1996, 973 pp.
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GMO
overview
This book, written by US
academics, provides a global summary of environmental applications of
genetically engineered organisms. It categorises and describes the
environmental releases and their effects.
Public attitudes towards biotechnology
are assessed and suggested to be complex and to contain many
contradictions. One poll cited revealed that only 19% of the respondents
had knowledge of the potential risk posed by products of
biotechnology.
Morris Levin and Eitan Israeli (Eds.),
Engineered organisms in environmental settings: Biotechnological and
agricultural applications, Times Mirror International Publishers Ltd.,
Unit 1, Sheldon Way, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 6SF, Tel. +44 (0)171 391 6464,
Fax +44 (0)171 391 6598, 1996, 201pp.
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Genetic engineering risks
The authors from the US Union of
Concerned Scientists identify the environmental risks of commercial uses
of transgenic crops. These include the potential of transgenic crops to
become weeds or to produce weeds with transgenic properties such as
herbicide resistance, that may require costly control programmes.
Looking at the global seed trade,
the authors discuss the relationship between commercial approval and
environmental risks in the US and overseas. Of particular concern is the
flow of novel genes into the centres of crop biodiversity, primarily in
the developing world, that could threaten the genetic base of the world's
future food supply.
Jane Rissler and Margaret Mellon, The Ecological Risks of Engineered Crops, MIT Press, Fitzroy House, 11 Chenies Street, London WC1E 7ET, June 1996, 168pp. Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.
NAFTA
pesticide market
Crop Protection in
NAFTA provides market data on the pesticide business in the US, Canada
and Mexico. By far the largest market is the US, with 87% of NAFTA sales,
although 'growth potential' is limited. For this reason, Mexico is seen as
an attractive alternative as many companies are looking for productive new
markets. Despite this, the Mexican agrochemical sales decreased by 20% in
1995, from US$445 million in 1994, to US$335 million. In the US
sales for 1995 were US$7,869 million, up 7.2% from 1994. Over the same
period the Canadian market expanded by 10% to US$846
million.
Katie Shaw, Crop Protection in NAFTA, Agrow, 18/20 Hill
Rise, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6UA, UK, Tel., +44 (0)181 948 3262, Fax +44
(0)181 948 6866.
Great Lakes study cut-back
A recent
study by the International Joint Commission (of the US and Canada) has
revealed that funding for Great Lakes science programmes peaked in 1994
and has declined significantly since then. A survey of 31 major Great
Lakes research organisations show that between 1994 and 1997 they expect
reductions in funding of 26 to 50% (from US $88.9 million to US$44.2-56.7
million). Fish stocks in the Great Lakes provide US$2-4 billion annually
to the region, which should alone provide ample evidence of the need to
continue vital Great Lakes research. Some work which may be affected
includes ecotoxicology, contaminants in fish, and air
emissions.
Eighth biennial report of Great Lakes Water Quality,
Great Lakes Regional Office, 100 Ouellettee Ave, eighth floor, Windsor, ON
N9A 6T3, 1996, 48pp, +1 519 257 6734, Fax +1 519 257 6740.
Application of biologicals
This new
report by Micron Sprayers offers workers in the field a referenced summary
of what has been achieved so far. Categorised in four sections—CDA
spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis, entomopathogenic
(insect-killing) fungi, viruses and mycoherbicides—the review covers the
whole spectrum of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
A review
of work carried out relevant to the use of CDA for application biological
products, PN readers can receive a free copy of the review from: Duncan
Rhind, Micron Sprayers, Three Mills, Bromyard, Herts, HR7 4HU, UK, Tel.,
+44 (0)1885 482397, Fax +44 (0)1885 483043.
Ecological pest control
In Ecologically Based Pest Management a North American
academic committee advocates the adoption of this research, known as
EBPM, as a means of promoting both agricultural productivity and a
balanced ecosystem. The committee stresses the need for information,
identifies research priorities in the biological as well as the
socioeconomic realm, and suggests institutional structures for a
multi-disciplined research effort.
Ecologically Based Pest
Management, National Research Council, National Academy Press, 12 Hid's
Copse Road, Oxford, OX2 9JJ, UK, Tel. (0)1865 865 466, Fax (0)1865 862
763, June 1996, 144pp.
Comparative poisoning in the European Union
This report is the result of an effort by the European Commission
to collate and compare data from poison centres or national competent
authorities in the European Union for the calendar year
1993.
The report pulls together details about
national poisons centres and the calls on their services, together with
details of the victims and the agents causing their illness. Nearly every
country employs a different way of recording and reporting
incidents—including incidents involving pesticides—and the main conclusion
of the report is to aim at standardisation so that figures can be compared
and variables isolated. The frequency of pesticides as a poisoning agent
varies widely between countries and between years. In 1993 it varied from
about 3% in UK to about 20% in Denmark. If poisonings that result from
pharmaceuticals are excluded, about 11% of poisonings in the EU in 1993
resulted from pesticides.
Poison Centres: Collection of
the annual reports 1993: Analysis and synthesis, Produced for the European
Commission (DGV-Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs,
Health and Safety), (Agreement no. SOC 94 201554 05F01) by Europlus S.A.,
Brussels, August 1995, 160pp.
Home
chemicals guide
Pesticides figure
prominently in this consumers guide to the chemicals found in the
Australian home environment. It is produced by the Total Environment
Centre and the Australian Consumers’ Association. Many of the products
include pesticides that are used internationally. The book provides brief
information on how these products work and their effects on health and the
environment Wherever possible, less hazardous alternatives are
suggested.
The degree of health and ecological risk
is rated according to five categories ranging from ‘do not use at all’ to
a ‘very low risk’ least hazardous option. The insecticide group of natural
pyrethrins (extracted from tropical chrysanthemums) is one of the few
groups of pesticides in the lowest risk category. Many of the
organochlorines are in the ‘do not use at all’ status. This seems facile
as many of them are banned for use anyway. The herbicide paraquat is a
notable exception. It is given the worst category status whilst still
being widely available on the Australian market.
A-Z of
chemicals in the home, Choice books, Total Environment Centre, Shop 1,
Gloucester Walk, 88 Cumberland Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia, Fax,
+61 2 247 7118, 1996, 160pp.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 33, September 1996,
pages 30-31]