20
May
Take Action: As EPA Fails to Act, States Take Up the Responsibility to Protect Health and the Environment
(Beyond Pesticides, May 20, 2019) The bans of chlorpyrifos in three important agricultural states show the support for a ban of the chemical nationwide. Hawai’i banned chlorpyrifos a year ago with a unanimous vote of the legislature. New York and California banned it this month. States have been pursuing bans since the Environmental Protection Agency rescinded its proposed ban in 2017.
Like other organophosphate pesticides, chlorpyrifos has been linked to damaging and often irreversible health outcomes in workers, pregnant women, and children. A widely used pesticide, agriculture companies annually spray six million pounds on crops like citrus, apples, and cherries.  In the same family as Sarin gas, the substance was initially developed prior to World War II as a chemical weapon. It can overstimulate the nervous system to cause nausea, dizziness, and confusion. With very high exposures (accidents or spills), it can cause respiratory paralysis and even death. When applying the chemical to fields, workers must wear protective garments such as respirators. Workers are then blocked from entering the fields from 24 hours up to 5 days after application due to the chemical exposure risk.
A group of leading toxics experts, who published a paper in the journal PLOS Medicine on their research on organophosphate exposure during pregnancy and impacts on child development, are calling for a ban on organophosphate pesticides. The study evaluates current science on the risks of this class of compounds, produced by Corteva Agriscience (formerly Dow AgroSciences). Its conclusions warn of the multitude of dangers of organophosphates for children, and makes recommendations for addressing these risks. The experts conclude that: (1) widespread use of organophosphate (OP) pesticides to control insects has resulted in ubiquitous human exposures; (2) acute exposures to OPs is responsible for poisonings and deaths, particularly in developing countries; and (3) evidence demonstrates that prenatal exposures, even at low levels, put children at risk for cognitive and behavioral deficits, and for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Organic production is now a $45.2 billion enterprise and provides a viable alternative to the use of toxic pesticides. In addition to banning organophosphates, states should promote organic agriculture by providing assistance for transitioning farmers and requiring organic management on all state-owned land.
Letter to Governor
The bans of chlorpyrifos in three important agricultural states show the support for a ban of the chemical nationwide. Hawai’i banned chlorpyrifos a year ago with a unanimous vote of the legislature. New York and California banned it this month. Statewide bans are necessary because the Environmental Protection Agency rescinded its proposed ban in 2017.
Like chlorpyrifos, other organophosphate pesticides have been linked to damaging and often irreversible health outcomes in workers, pregnant women, and children. A widely used pesticide, agriculture companies annually spray 6 million pounds on crops like citrus, apples, and cherries. In the same family as Sarin gas, the substance was initially developed prior to World War II as a chemical weapon. It can overstimulate the nervous system to cause nausea, dizziness, and confusion. With very high exposures (accidents or spills), it can cause respiratory paralysis and even death. When applying the chemical to fields, workers must wear protective garments such as respirators. Workers are then blocked from entering the fields from 24 hours up to 5 days after application due to the chemical exposure risk.
A group of leading toxics experts, who published a paper in the journal PLOS Medicine on their research on organophosphate exposure during pregnancy and impacts on child development, are calling for a ban on organophosphate pesticides. The study evaluates current science on the risks of this class of compounds, produced by Corteva Agriscience (formerly Dow AgroSciences). Its conclusions warn of the multitude of dangers of organophosphates for children, and makes recommendations for addressing these risks. The experts conclude that: (1) widespread use of organophosphate (OP) pesticides to control insects has resulted in ubiquitous human exposures; (2) acute exposures to OPs is responsible for poisonings and deaths, particularly in developing countries; and (3) evidence demonstrates that prenatal exposures, even at low levels, put children at risk for cognitive and behavioral deficits, and for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Organic production is now a $45.2 billion enterprise and provides a viable alternative to the use of toxic pesticides. In addition to banning organophosphates, the state should promote organic agriculture by providing assistance for transitioning farmers and requiring organic management on all state-owned land.
Please ban all uses of chlorpyrifos and other organophosphate insecticides in the state. Please promote organic agriculture by providing assistance for transitioning farmers and requiring organic management on all state-owned land
This crap that kills everything will make our country a barren waste land. We need bugs of all types to pollinate our crops, ect. We cannot just kill everything!!! We will not survive without better planning now!!! May god help us all.
November 29th, 2019 at 11:52 amThe EPA is failing all of us. It is up to each state to decide whether it is better to save the people or the profits of the industry that produces the poisons.
November 29th, 2019 at 12:22 pmPlease ban all uses of chlorpyrofos in NYS.
November 29th, 2019 at 3:55 pmDear Gov. Cuomo: It is time to step up to the plate and sign the legislation to ban organophosates. These pesticides are dangerous to human health and all other species. I cannot imagine why you would not sign this bill. Either it is ignorance or lack of caring. If it is ignorance this website is informing you, and so there is no excuse. I know you care about your constituents and for that reason you will sign the bill. If a Republican did not sign this legislation, I would not be surprised, but I am amazed that a Democrat has not signed it.
November 29th, 2019 at 9:31 pmWe need to protect our children and grandchildren and keep them healthy. WE need you to use common sense and help get these pesticides banned.
Thank you very much!
November 30th, 2019 at 12:24 amPlease ban Neurotoxic Pesticides and support Organic.
November 30th, 2019 at 12:59 pm