18
Jun
New Website Links Food Pesticide Residue to Toxicology
(Beyond Pesticides, June 18, 2009) Do you ever wonder about pesticides on your food or in your drinking water, and in particular, which of those pesticides are most hazardous? On June 17, 2009, Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) launched its What’s On My Food database, which makes the results of government tests for pesticide residues in food available online in a searchable, easy-to-use format. The database shows what pesticides are found on each food, in what amount, and — for the first time — links those residues to the health effects associated with exposure to each of the chemicals.
“This kind of public visibility around pesticides is particularly needed in the U.S., since regulators base their decisions on toxicology studies that are almost all done by industry,” explains Brian Hill, PhD, senior PANNA scientist and the primary developer of the database. “Nearly 900 million pounds of pesticides [excluding wood preservatives, chlorine and specialty biocide pesticides] are used in the U.S. every year, yet regulations depend on studies that are not peer-reviewed and are kept hidden behind the veil of ”˜confidential business information.’” Dr. Hill notes that the 900 million figure is long overdue for updating, as the most recent pesticide use figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are for 2001.
In addition to highlighting the potential direct health effects of pesticide residues, What’s on My Food points to the many problems associated with pesticide use before food reaches the kitchen table. Widespread use of agricultural chemicals threatens the health of workers and those in nearby communities and schools, as well as harming wildlife and contaminating ecosystems, according to the site.
In the “Take Action” section of the site, Pesticide Action Network calls on consumers not only to vote with their dollars by choosing organic foods whenever possible, but also to become involved as “food citizens” and sign a petition that asks the Obama Administration to support conversion to organic agriculture; ensure environmental justice for farmworkers communities; protect future generations from persistent pollutants; and, reduce overall exposure to pesticides.
Visit the What’s On My Food database and take action on the new website. For more information on the pesticides on food, visit Beyond Pesticides’ Pesticide Gateway and learn more about organic agriculture on the Organic Food webpage.
Thanks for the nice summary of our new site! Here are some stats from the website that will give people with a technical bent an idea of what can be dug up there:
* On kale, USDA has found 50 different pesticide residues, 24 of these are suspected hormone disruptors, 5 are known or probable carcinogens, 10 are neurotoxins, and 5 are developmental or reproductive toxicants.
* One of these, diazinon, is found on 4.7% of the samples, is a neurotoxin, a developmental or reproductive toxicant, and a suspected endocrine disruptor.
* In one of the 327 samples USDA tested, diazinon was found at levels such that eating a modest portion would readily exceed the acute level of concern for an adult or a child.
This information comesfrom the pages: http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/food.jsp?food=GK, and http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/level.jsp?food=GK&pesticide=024.
~Brian
June 19th, 2009 at 1:44 pm