27
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 27, 2007) In a call for sweeping reform in Canada, the Ontario Liberal Party, lead by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, has called for the banning ban of all cosmetic use of pesticides across the province as part of their commitment to healthier Ontario families. Twenty five municipalities, covering about 30 per cent of the province, have already introduced local bans or restrictions on the cosmetic use of pesticides, those typically used on lawns and landscapes. Just as the Ontario Liberals replaced a patchwork of local bylaws when they banned smoking provincewide, this new pesticide and herbicide ban would create a single, comprehensive law for all Ontario communities. “There is growing concern about the potential harmful effects of these products on human health,†Mr. McGuinty said. “When there is such widespread concern, why would we take a chance with our health, and our children’s health, just for the sake of a few dandelions, or a bit of crabgrass?â€
The Canadian Cancer Society, the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and the Ontario Public Health Association have all expressed concerns about the cosmetic use of pesticides and the potential to cause harm.
The Premier met with Dr. Trish Van Boekel and Dr. Kristen Blaine in Stratford, Ontario. They started a petition among physicians calling for a ban on pesticides in parks and on lawns and gardens here in Stratford. “I wanted to bring these physicians and Dalton together because they share a concern for families’ health, and especially children’s health,†John Wilkinson, Liberal candidate for Perth-Wellington, said.
â€A provincewide ban is an important step that makes a lot of sense,†Mr. Wilkinson said. “Just as Ontario Liberals successfully banned smoking in public places in Ontario, we’ll also protect Ontario families by banning these chemicals in each and every community.â€
The ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides will focus on towns and cities. Farmers and managed forests will be exempt as they are already governed by strict rules for pesticide use.
“We are committed to public health, protecting our shared environment and protecting the public interest,†Mr. McGuinty said.
“Our campaign is about positive ideas that will help families, and this ban is one of them.â€
See Backgrounder.
For more information: Ontario Liberal Party Media Relations, 416 961-3800 Ext. 386
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, International, Lawns/Landscapes by: Beyond Pesticides
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26
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 26, 2007) In a Federal Register Notice issued on September 21, 2007, the U.S. EPA clarified the distinction between devices and pesticides by stating that ion-generating equipment will now be regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as a pesticide, if the equipment uses electrodes to emit ions (of silver or other substances) for pesticidal purposes. The notice outlines the timeline and process for manufacturers, sellers and other affected parties to come into compliance with the clarified requirements of FIFRA.
In 2005, the EPA was made aware of equipment incorporating substances, such as silver and copper that, through the use of electrodes, release the ions of the substances for the purpose of preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating a pest (e.g., bacteria or algae). Since such devices incorporate substances that accomplish a pesticidal function, the agency has determined that they are to be considered a pesticide for the purposes of FIFRA and must therefore be registered prior to sale or distribution as outlined in the federal notice issued.
Section 2(h) of FIFRA defines a device as “any instrument or contrivance (other than a firearm) which is intended for trapping, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.†Section 2 (u) defines a pesticide as “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.†In a federal notice issued in 1976 (41 FR 51065), the agency first provided a distinction between devices and pesticides to be the means by which they achieve their pesticidal purpose. According to the agency’s statutory interpretation, the key distinction between pesticides and devices is whether the pesticidal activity of the article is due to physical or mechanical actions or due to a substance or mixture of substances. As such, any equipment that generates ions of substances for the killing of bacteria, etc. is to be considered a pesticide.
Potentially affected equipment include, but are not limited to, washing machines that contain electrodes that emit silver, copper or zinc ions and swimming pools that use ion generators to kill algae as an adjunct to chlorination. The silver ion generating washing machine is currently marketed with claims that it will kill bacteria on clothing. The agency is currently requesting information on any other type of equipment that generates ions for pesticidal purposes. However, determinations as to whether a product is a device or pesticide are to be made on a case-by-case basis.
For further information contact: Melba S. Morrow, Antimicrobials,
Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 308-2716; fax number: (703) 308-8481; e-mail address: [email protected].
Source: Federal Register: September 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 183)
Posted in Nanotechnology, Pesticide Regulation by: Beyond Pesticides
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25
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 25, 2007) The Boston Red Sox announced on September 20, 2007 that the club will begin a partnership with the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to make Fenway Park “green†through a series of initiatives to improve the environment, including the introduction of locally-grown organic food by its concessionaire. Over the next several years, fans may find themselves drinking beer out of plastic cups made with corn starch, snacking on organic produce, and participating in a “fifth inning recycling stretch.â€
“Fenway Park is one of America’s most beloved buildings,” said Allen Hershkowitz, senior scientist at the NRDC and coordinator of the organization’s greening initiatives. “The tangible and important ecological steps that the Red Sox and their team sponsors are advancing will have a lasting impact. By committing to the greening of this historic building, the Red Sox organization is showing leadership that reaches far beyond the game of baseball. The Red Sox are demonstrating that every organization can make a difference by joining in our collective efforts to combat global warming, bio-diversity loss, and other ecological ills. “
Giving a second meaning to the “Green Monster†(the ballpark’s well-known left field wall), efforts to make Fenway more environmentally-conscious will include a recycling program, introduction of locally grown organic produce, and the consideration of solar panels to reduce energy consumption. These initiatives, and others, will take place over the next five years, culminating in 2012, when baseball celebrates the 100th anniversary of the nation’s oldest Major League ballpark.
“We are not only committed to preserving the history, beauty, and integrity of Fenway Park, but we are also determined to enhance the park’s environmental attributes so it can serve our team, our fans, and our community in the 21st century as well as it did in the 20th century,†said Larry Lucchino, President/CEO of the Red Sox. “We look forward to beginning this process with the help of some key partners.â€
Aramark, the concessionaire at Fenway Park, will be responsible for making available more environmentally-friendly food products, including locally-grown organic produce, throughout the ballpark’s concession services. Pesticide activists applaud plans to offer organic food, but encourage the franchise and NRDC to take the program a step further by making Fenway Park the country’s first organically managed Major League ball field.
For more information on organic turf management, see Beyond Pesticides Lawns and Landscapes webpage.
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, Lawns/Landscapes, Massachusetts by: Beyond Pesticides
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24
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 24, 2007) Seven representatives wrote to the EPA last Thursday, urging the government agency to act promptly to identify and screen products for dangerous endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The letter asks EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to provide definite deadlines in the testing and control of endocrine disruptors, which are substances that interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system, responsible for hormonal and developmental processes. EPA’s regulation of these substances that mimic or alter natural hormonal processes has been slow and lacks direction to meet set goals promptly, according to the U.S. Representatives. “To date, EPA’s efforts in this area have been characterized by missed deadlines, prolonged delays, and inadequate incorporation of public input,†according to the letter from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-California). Ranking Minority Member on the Committee Tom Davis (R-Virginia); Representatives Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland), and Jim Moran (D-Virginia); and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) also signed the letter to EPA.
Advocates say that EPA’s lack of urgency on endocrine disruptors leaves the American population and future generations at risk for adverse health effects from exposure to these substances through food and drinking water. Dioxins, PCBs, and DDT are notable chemicals known to be endocrine disruptors, but “[m]any other chemicals, particularly those used in pesticides and plastics, are suspected endocrine disruptors based on limited animal studies,†according to the Committee’s letter.
The 1996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) set a 1999 deadline for EPA to develop a battery of assays with which pesticide manufacturers will be required to screen their products as possible endocrine disruptors, similar to tests required to determine whether chemicals cause cancer, birth defects, genetic mutations, or other problems. The manufacturers’ rapid-result tests are the first part of a two-tier testing system, after which chemicals flagged by the “Tier 1†tests will then undergo more intensive “Tier 2†tests to confirm that they are endocrine disruptors, determine how they interfere with the endocrine system, and identify the dose levels that may trigger such effects. Yet the Representatives say that EPA has not completed a single step of this multi-stage process to date.
More than 10 years after being directed to do so by Congress, the EPA announced this June that it will test 73 pesticides for their potential to damage the endocrine system and disrupt the normal functioning of hormones in the body. “This initial list of 73 chemicals is only a small fraction of the universe of 1,700 chemicals that the agency has identified for screening under the FQPA mandate, and a minute percentage of the 75,000 chemicals currently listed on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory. EPA apparently has no internal deadline for identifying subsequent sets of chemicals for testing, and no plan whatsoever for ensuring that all chemicals of potential concern will be tested,†according to the Committee’s September letter. The congress members gave EPA twenty working days to respond to the letter, which includes questions as to when certain steps will be completed. Source: OMB Watch
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Posted in Endocrine Disruption, Pesticide Regulation by: Beyond Pesticides
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21
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 21, 2007) As temperatures drop and the leaves start to fall, it is quickly becoming the perfect season for organic lawn care. Whether you want to transition a chemically-maintained lawn or keep your organic turf looking healthy, the work you do now will pay off next spring. From television networks to national newspapers to lawn care companies, making residential lawns ready for winter is the topic du jour, and for good reason: the healthy soil you promote this fall will better support healthy and weed-resistant grass in the future. As David Miller, owner of Nature’s Way Pest Control in Florida, said, “It’s all about soil health and you shouldn’t treat your soil like dirt. “So what should you do? Read our factsheets for complete summaries of fall lawn care. The most important things you can do are:
- Test your soil. Knowing what balance of nutrients exists will help you plan what to apply, and when, to your lawn.
- Aerate your lawn. Soil compaction fosters weed growth and makes it harder for fertilizers and water to penetrate to your lawn’s roots. Aerators can be rented; once microorganisms return to your soil, they will help aerate it for you.
- Fertilize moderately – and according to what a soil test says you need. Look for slow-release fertilizers that do not overload your soil, altering the pH and running off into nearby waterways. Leaving grass clippings on your lawn after mowing is an easy way to supply 58% of the nitrogen added by fertilizers.
- Add organic matter. Compost and compost tea can be added after aeration, by spreading a quarter-inch layer over your lawn. They suppress pathogens and feed your lawn.
- Overseed your lawn. Choose a native and pest-resistant type of seed (free from pesticides) that will offer the best ability to thrive in your area.
Lawn care trends are starting to move this way. According to the National Gardening Association, the number of people caring for all-organic lawns is expected to double in the next five years, and the sale of organic products is rising 27 percent each year. It is a trend with resources growing steadily, making it easier to convert.
As Murray Goff, a customer of Mr. Miller, said, “I have a daughter and a granddaughter. They can walk out on my lawn. I don’t have to worry about it. None of those things. It’s all organic and it makes so much sense.” Mr. Miller concurred. “We simply can’t keep polluting our earth. What I’m trying to do is a first step in one small way.” Todd Harrington, another business owner, agreed, “With chemicals, you’re not really doing anything beneficial; you’re polluting and you’re taking risks. With organics, you’re creating a sustainable environment.”
If you would like to convert your lawn to organic but are unable to maintain it completely, check our Safety Source for Pest Management for lawn care providers in your area.
Sources: Washington Post, Greenwich Time, First Coast News, The Philadelphia Enquirer, HeraldNet
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, Lawns/Landscapes by: Beyond Pesticides
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20
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 20, 20087) A citizens group sued the county and the state of California September 14, 2007 for not allowing adequate public input before using toxic sprays on the Eel River to eradicate invasive weeds. Eureka-based Californians for Alternatives to Toxics (CATs) sued the Humboldt County Agricultural Commissioner (County) and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for their decision to use herbicides to kill purple loosestrife plants for as many as 10 years without first consulting with the public. The suit, filed in Humboldt County Superior Court, also faults the agencies for failing to consider safer and more effective methods such as biological weed control programs, already used successfully throughout the country.“The decision to spray was made behind closed doors with the many people who care deeply about the Eel River locked out,” said Patty Clary, speaking for CATs. “State law requires that the public be involved in important environmental decisions and that alternatives be seriously considered – these requirements were not met.”
The agencies’ decision to spray the herbicide imazapyr from boats on 200 riverbank sites along 25 miles of the Eel was first sprung on the public on July 10 at an invitation-only meeting with representatives of environmental groups in Eureka.
A second meeting at a rural state park campground in southern Humboldt was announced in the county newspaper only the day before. At both meetings, the public was informed of the decision and asked to support it, but was not given the opportunity to provide information and participate in the decision-making process.
After years of study and experiments, the two agencies filed notices that they were exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act on August 13 and began spraying the very next day. The CATs suit argues that the agencies weren’t exempt from the state law.
Termed the Purple Loosestrife Eradication Project, the eradication plan calls for the use of imazapyr annually for up to 10 years – even though native and/or endangered plant species such as Beach layia (Layia carnosa) could be affected by drift or runoff from spraying. Herbicide spraying has been shown to accelerate the spread of purple loosestrife when used in natural areas.
Imazapyr (trade name Habitat) was only approved for aquatic applications in California a year ago. Imazapyr is a non-selective herbicide and therefore likely to kill many untargeted plant species, which would further impact the ecology of the region. In humans, imazapyr is an irritant and causes rashes, swelling and redness of the skin and eyes. It also breakdowns slowly and is very persistent in soil and water. The U.S. Geological Survey says little is known about how the chemical moves through surface or ground water.
Purple loosestrife is an invasive aquatic plant that can crowd out native vegetation in marshes, wetlands and river communities. It was first discovered in Humboldt County in 1997, and was successfully eradicated using non-toxic measures. Over the past six years, however, a larger population of purple loosestrife has developed in Southern Humboldt County. “CATs supports the alternatives of using biological controls, such as two kinds of leaf eating beetles that are adapted to just consuming loosestrife,” Ms. Clary said.
Source and more information: Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, 315 P Street
Eureka, CA 95501, 707-445-5100, [email protected], http://www.alternatives2toxics.org/
Posted in California, Chemicals, Imazapyr, Invasive Species, Water by: Beyond Pesticides
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19
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 19, 2007) In Vietnam, attempts continue to be made to protect villages from the ongoing threat of Agent Orange, used by American forces to deforest the jungle canopy in the Vietnam War over 30 years ago, according to the New York Times. Reforestation and fencing are being carried out to prevent local animals and residents from being exposed to soil contaminated with 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD), a potent dioxin contaminant of Agent Orange.
Phung Tuu Boi, forester and director of the Center for Assistance in Nature Conservation and Community Development in Hanoi, is attempting to reforest thousands of hectares in central Vietnam. However, his main concern is the dioxin that taints the soil and the local residents most at risk since they live off the land.
“The local people are poor and uneducated, and they don’t understand. Children come here to play and they collect insects and other things to eat,†said Mr. Boi.
TCDD is the most dangerous form of dioxin and the levels found in soil samples from Central Vietnam are more than 200 times the “acceptable†level set by the US EPA. Efforts to educate the residents about the dangers of dioxin are difficult since most cannot read and many speak local tribal dialects and not Vietnamese. Clean up of dioxin is very costly and would likely run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. According to William H. Farland, a former scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency who is vice president for research at Colorado State University, “It’s very expensive to clean dioxin up to background levels. The main issue is to prevent human exposure, not just to clean up the soils.â€
Mr. Boi is therefore attempting to protect residents by constructing a fence made of thorn-laden trees to keep residents and animals away from dioxin hot spots, hoping to prevent the next generation from being exposed to dioxin contaminated soil. Mr. Boi hopes the green fence will not only discourage local use of the contaminated area, but also provide an economic incentive to leave the barrier intact since the trees produce a fruit that residents can sell to make soaps and medicines.The U.S. sprayed millions of gallons of Agent Orange and other defoliants on Vietnam from 1962 to 1971, which destroyed large areas of forests. Areas that once served as American Special Forces air bases that stored barrels of Agent Orange have now become “hot spots†for dioxin contamination.
Dioxin, which takes decades to break down, accumulates in animal fat resulting in many grazing livestock contaminated with high levels of dioxins. Poor sanitation and a local diet that relies on fowl that peck on tainted soil keep dioxin exposure a constant threat to the locals. So far, 60 of the 240 families in the area surrounding the “hot spot†have health problems, such as limb deformities and deafness that have been blamed on dioxin. Elevated levels of TCDD have also been found in breast milk and blood of the local residents.
The effects of Agent Orange are not only felt in Vietnam. Studies have found that US war veterans exposed to Agent Orange have developed chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkins lymphoma and diabetes. Many children of veterans exposed have been affected by their parents’ exposure to the chemical and show a wide range of symptoms.
Source: New York Times
Posted in 2,4-D, Chemicals, Dow Chemical, International by: Beyond Pesticides
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18
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 18, 2007) On September 16, 2007, researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences presented findings to the European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Stockholm showing that exposure to several commonly used pesticides increases the risk of asthma in farmers. Pesticide exposure is a “potential risk factor for asthma and respiratory symptoms among farmers,†lead author Dr. Jane A. Hoppin told Reuters Health. “Because grains and animals are more common exposures in agricultural settings, pesticides may be overlooked. Better education and training of farmers and pesticide handlers may help to reduce asthma risk.â€The study consisted of 19,704 farmers, 441 of which had asthma. Farmers who have experienced high pesticide exposure were twice as likely to have asthma. Sixteen of the pesticides studied were associated with asthma. Coumaphos, EPTC, lindane, parathion, heptachlor, 2,4,5-TP, DDT, malathion, and phorate had the strongest effect.
“This is the first study with sufficient power to evaluate individual pesticides and adult asthma among individuals who routinely apply pesticides,” Dr. Hoppin said.
Asthma is a serious chronic disorder of the lungs characterized by recurrent attacks of bronchial constriction, which cause breathlessness, wheezing, and coughing. Asthma is a dangerous, and in some cases life-threatening disease. Researchers have found that pesticide exposure can induce a poisoning effect linked to asthma in both adults and children.
In the U.S. alone, around 16 million people suffer from asthma. Since the mid-1980s, asthma rates in the United States have skyrocketed to epidemic levels, particularly in young children. Nearly 1 in 8 school-aged children have asthma and is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness. Every year, asthma accounts for 14 million lost days of school. The rate is rising most rapidly in pre-school aged children.
The number of children dying from asthma increased almost threefold from 1979 to 1996. The estimated cost of treating asthma in those younger than 18 years is $3.2 billion per year. Low-income populations, minorities, and children living in inner-cities experience disproportionately high morbidity and mortality due to asthma.
TAKE ACTION: Beyond Pesticides urges parents and school staff to ask school administrators to adopt non-chemical practices that protect children from pests and pesticides. Download and send a “For My Child’s Health†postcard to your school asking them not to spray pesticides that contribute to childhood asthma. For more information, see Beyond Pesticides’ brochure, “Asthma, Pesticides and Children: What you should know to protect your family.â€
Posted in Asthma, Chemicals, Coumaphos, DDT, Disease/Health Effects, EPTC, Lindane, Malathion, Parathion, Phorate by: Beyond Pesticides
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17
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 17, 2007) Mediterranean fruit flies were discovered last week in Dixon, California, and federal, state, and county agencies rushed to respond with traps, biopesticide treatment, and sterile mates to prevent the insect from infesting local agriculture. A total of eight Medflies have been found so far, and the three-pronged attack started with an effort to monitor the presence of the Medfly. California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) employees have placed 1,700 fruit fly-targeted detection traps in an 81-square-mile grid. Next, residents within 200 meters of the original finding had their yards treated with the organic compound Naturalyte, the active ingredient of which is spinosad, a naturally occurring extract from bacteria. The pesticide, made by Dow, is approved for use on organic crops, yet the vast majority of its ingredients (so-called “inertsâ€) are not disclosed. As another biological control, more than 3 million sterile male flies were released last Friday in a 12-square-mile area around Dixon. The sterile males will be deployed on a weekly basis to mate with wild females, helping to eradicate the Medfly population.
This is the first Medfly case in Solano County, according to county agriculture officials. Agriculture Commissioner Jerry Howard said that is fortunate because of the danger caused by the fly. “No one around here could even remember finding one,†Mr. Howard said. “As far as invasive pests, they are the single biggest risk to agriculture.†The Medfly can infest around 260 different fruits, nuts and vegetables, with the damage being done as the it lays eggs inside a fruit and the larvae begin eating that fruit. The life cycle then repeats, spreading through crops, according to Steve Lyle, director of public affairs for CDFA. Mr. Lyle said the medflies were found in neighborhoods and none have been found near fields or crops in the area. “At this point we don’t have any evidence of that,†Lyle said. “We haven’t found it in any commercial agriculture.â€
Mr. Howard said the county will continue working closely with both CDFA and United States Department of Agriculture to monitor the situation throughout the next few weeks. Luckily for the county, Mr. Howard said, the other agencies have dealt with the Medfly in the past and have squashed the threat before a full infestation could occur. “They have a lot of experience. They’ve got the system down,†he said. “I’m hoping we are in that category.†Mr. Lyle agreed and said CDFA has a perfect record when dealing with the Medfly. The last victory came two years ago in San Jose. “We were able to eradicate our infestation there,†Lyle said. “We have never failed to eradicate an infestation.â€
CDFA had a busy week, as they completed the first round of spraying against the light brown apple moth in Monterey County. The moth threatens 250 species of plant and tree varieties and was first detected near Berkeley in February. Since then 7,744 moths have been found in 11 counties, all but one in Northern California. Checkmate, a pheromone mating disruptor, was aerially applied to a 60-square-mile area from Marina to portions of Pebble Beach over three nights. The compound mimics pheromones released by female moths and is effective for a month, after which CDFA plans to spray the area again.
Despite assurances from CDFA that the synthetic chemical is safe for humans and will not harm the environment, local residents are voicing strong opposition to being the first people ever subject to such a treatment. They are concerned that officials do not have adequate testing data on the compounds to ensure that no damage will occur to human and environmental health. Also, CDFA declared the situation an agricultural emergency, meaning that decisions and notifications were made quickly, leaving little time for the public’s concerns to be heard. The upset bore similarities to the Medfly eradication in the 1980s and early 1990s, when planes sprayed Southern California with the organophosphate pesticide Malathion in an effort to destroy the fly.
In Dixon, state officials are hoping to eradicate the Medfly using directed chemical treatment and sterile mates. “This program is a great example of research and science working to benefit the public and the environment,†said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “It wasn’t very long ago that a Medfly infestation meant spray treatments by helicopter. A lot of Californians probably remember that. Now we have a solution that relies largely on biological control. It’s a great example of progress offered by integrated pest management principles.†A quarantine of local produce, which places strict regulations and restrictions on the shipper and receiver of Dixon agricultural products, is also expected to be put in place soon. Lyle stresses the importance of pest population monitoring to evaluate the need for management of the Medfly. “A quarantine is coming, but could be sometime off,†said Lyle. “It depends on if we keep finding the pests. It’s hard to know how to quarantine them when we don’t know how far out they are.â€
Sources: CDFA, The Reporter (September 13, September 14), Los Angeles Times
Posted in California, Dow Chemical, LBAM, Medfly, spinosad by: Beyond Pesticides
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14
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 14, 2007) Data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) between 2003 and 2006 has found atrazine to exist in Midwest drinking water supplies at high levels. The federal monitoring data, obtained by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), shows increased atrazine levels in 94 of 136 water systems tested in Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Atrazine, which has been linked to cancer in numerous studies, is a common agricultural herbicide that could see increased use as demand for corn rises due to ethanol production. In 2003, EPA called it “the most heavily used herbicide in the United States.”
According to NRDC’s report, EPA’s study found that nearly all 40 monitored watersheds showed levels of atrazine at levels that harm aquatic animals and habitat. Atrazine’s effect on amphibians has been well documented, and similarly serious health effects have been found in larger mammals. Chronically contaminated drinking water puts humans at the risk of exposure to similar long-term health effects.
In agricultural areas of the midwest, the risk is especially high. “Kentucky’s waterways are particularly vulnerable to contamination,” said a Western Kentucky University report. “Networks of sinkholes and underground streams allow water and contaminants to flow directly into water supplies without the filtration that results from slow seepage through soil and rocks.”
Work to reduce atrazine contamination in water needs to begin in earnest, but NRDC was pessimistic of federal encouragement of any reduction. “Atrazine contamination in the Midwest is pervasive, hazardous, and unnecessary,” said Jonathan Kaplan, senior policy specialist with NRDC. “Congress should use the Farm Bill to provide farmers with the tools and incentives they need to maximize pest control alternatives. Pending Farm Bill legislation actually protects the most hazardous pesticides.” The report continues to say, “NRDC research shows that new requirements for farm conservation programs introduced in the up-coming Farm Bill would fail to promote safer alternatives to atrazine. Legislation to reauthorize the Farm Bill, pending in Congress, would prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using these programs to encourage alternatives to harmful pesticides like atrazine.” In addition, only three percent of the $800 million paid to farmers in 2005 was earmarked for pest-control projects, and the percentage was lower in the states most affected by atrazine contamination.
For more information on the 2007 Farm Bill, click here, and to view the National Organic Coalition’s recommendations to it, click here.
Sources: NRDC, Environment News Service, The News-Enterprise
Posted in Atrazine, Water by: Beyond Pesticides
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13
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 13, 2007) As the debate rages on the impacts of growing plants, including food crops, for biofuel, the environmental impacts of growing practices and energy costs are consistently raised with concern. University of Minnesota scientists, in releasing a report, “Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels,” in the July 15 2007 online Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, say that an analysis of the “full life cycles of soybean biodiesel and corn grain ethanol shows that biodiesel has much less of an impact on the environment†and causes less pesticide pollution in its production.
It can be argued that if crops are to be grown for fuel, they should only be grown organically to reduce energy consumption and sequester atmospheric carbon at the highest possible rates (see “The Organic Farming Response to Climate Change“). A September 9, 2007 New York Times article, “Mali’s Farmers Discover A Weed’s Potential Power,†cites a plant found in Mali, called jatropha, that grows under the harshest soil and weather conditions without any pesticides and little fertilization and is an ideal source for biofuel. The author of the Times piece describes the plant with “poisonous black seeds dropping from the seemingly worthless weed that had grown around†family farms for decades. Of course, the plant has never been worthless, as the author herself notes that it has been used by farmers as a fence, with repellent characteristics for grazing animals because of its smell and taste, and as a guard against erosion.
Jatropha can be incorporated into agricultural production and subsistence farming. However, critics are concerned about the social effects of converting land used to produce food to biofuel plants and the environmental impacts of biofuel plantations encroaching on sensitive land areas. It comes as no surprise that big oil companies are already investing in jatropha production. A sobering critique, issued by the United Nations in May 2007 by Alexander Muller, Assistant Director-General for the Sustainable Development Department of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), finds that, “[B]iofuel programmes could result in concentration of ownership that could drive the world’s poorest farmers off their land and into deeper poverty.†The UN report, Sustainable energy: A framework for decision-makers, weighs the positives and negatives and sets a framework for establishing a worldwide code of conduct.
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, Biofuels, Climate Change by: Beyond Pesticides
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12
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 12, 2007) Tributyltin (TBT), a cheap, but highly toxic barnacle and algae killer once used on nearly all of the world’s 30,000 commercial ships, will soon be banned once a treaty prohibiting its use is signed by the U.S. The ban on TBT, deemed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the most toxic chemical ever deliberately released into the world’s waters, is endorsed by U.S. and European cruise lines, freighter and container fleets, as well as shipyard and marina operators. The U.S. is expected to sign the treaty in the coming months.
The treaty is overseen by the U.N. International Maritime Organization and was completed in October 2001. However, Washington has yet to endorse the treaty. By 2008, neither the ships of ratifying countries nor foreign vessels that enter their waters will be allowed to have TBT on their hulls without a sealant. Ships found in violation will be put on an international blacklist and barred by other ratifying countries. Along with forbidding the use of TBT on the hulls of marine vessels, the treaty also sets up a system for future testing and curbs on other hull biocides worldwide.
Researchers have linked TBT to adverse environmental and health effects. Studies first linked it to disorders in mollusks in the Arcachon Basin in western France, where shellfish beds adjoined a marina. According to Jill Bloom, an EPA chemical-review manager who worked on the treaty, the most worrisome were “profound reproductive effects” coupled with diminished marine-species populations. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) notes that TBT “persist(s) in the water, killing sea life, harming the environment and possibly entering the food chain… [TBT] has been proven to cause deformations in oysters and sex changes in whelks.â€
Opponents of the ban, who point out that TBT has been useful for preventing ships from transporting invasive species such as zebra mussels from one port to another, are concerned that the copper-based alternative barnacle killers will be less effective, due to growing resistance among barnacles.
Since January 2001, major U.S. and European makers have voluntarily stopped producing TBT, even though it continues to be widely used in Asia. In January 2008, whether ratified or not, the European Union would initiate the TBT ban and blacklist system, abetted by hefty fines. According to the Star Telegram, Panama or the Marshall Islands are expected to cast the decisive vote before the U.N. International Maritime Organization.
Source: Star Telegram
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Posted in Chemicals, International, Tributyltin by: Beyond Pesticides
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11
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 11, 2007) In August 2007, Massachusetts State Auditor Joe DeNucci announced that while some progress has been made, 649 (24 percent) of the Commonwealth’s public and private schools and 1,881 (59 percent) of its day care centers are still not in compliance with the Children’s Protection Act of 2000, which requires them to submit a plan on pesticide use at their facilities.
The state notes improvement over its 2003 audit, which found 71 percent of schools and 90 percent of day care centers had not complied with this legislation that is intended to protect children from unnecessary exposure to pesticides. But nearly eight years after the bill was passed, environmentalists and public health advocates expect more.
“The law was passed in 2000 and we ought to be at or near full compliance by now,†Frank Gorke, director of Environment Massachusetts told the Marblehead Reporter. “I’d say we obviously need to step up enforcement and we probably need to increase resources.â€
The law requires schools and child care centers to submit plans detailing the pest problem that exists at their facilities, the pesticides that they plan to apply, and who will apply the pesticides — even if they are not planning to use pesticides at the current time. The law also requires them to notify parents and employees at least two days before any pesticides are applied at these facilities. State Senator Pamela Resor, co-chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture believes that schools haven’t been complying with the pesticide law because they need technical expertise.
The review disclosed that the bureau has implemented a corrective action plan to address the problem, in cooperation with the Department of Education’s Early Education Commission and the Attorney General’s Office. This plan will ensure compliance by day care centers and early education programs by withholding operating license renewals, which are required every two years, unless a current Integrated Pest Management plan has been filed with the bureau.
However, the bureau revealed that this plan does not take effect until September 30, 2008, which is the end of the next licensing cycle. The audit noted that until this plan is fully implemented, there is inadequate assurance that children in childcare settings are being properly protected against pesticides. In addition, the plan does not address the need for compliance by public and private schools, which are not covered by this licensing requirement. “The bureau should continue to improve compliance with the Children’s Protection Act and work with the Department of Education to ensure that all children in public and private schools and day care facilities are adequately protected,†advised Mr. DeNucci.
According to the Marblehead Reporter, the legislature passed the law in 2000, after MassPIRG collected 106,000 signatures in support of a ballot initiative mandating the regulations. Variations of the bill had bounced around the State House for several years, but the specter of a voter-approved law spurred action.
State Representative Douglas Petersen, who authored the 2000 measure, told the newspaper that he expected better implementation of the bill, and wished he’d added language. “It didn’t seem like a necessary piece at the time, but given the history… Usually that’s an administration decision, to implement something, so it didn’t occur to me to put in an implementation plan.â€
For more information on the impact of pesticides on children’s health and strategies for getting pesticides out of your child’s school, visit Beyond Pesticides’ Children and Schools webpage.
Posted in Children/Schools, Massachusetts, State/Local by: Beyond Pesticides
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10
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 10, 2007) After years of failed political maneuverings, residents in East Point, Georgia have taken legal action case against a local utility pole manufacturer. More than 200 residents near the William C. Meredith Co. on Lawrence Street near downtown have signed onto three lawsuits complaining about noxious odors and dangerous chemicals. The latest, filed in mid-August in Fulton County Superior Court, adds another five dozen plaintiffs to the growing list. The first suit was filed in May. Neighbors to the plant are particularly concerned with creosote and pentachlorophenol, which Meredith uses to treat its utility poles. The two oil-based wood preservatives rank with the most deadly chemicals on the market, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified all of the chemicals, as well as their contaminants, as known or probable carcinogens.
Adam Princenthal, the lawyer representing the East Point residents, said the whole dispute is just about homeowners protecting themselves, their children and their homes. “We’d like to have the emissions of toxic chemicals from the site stopped,†Princenthal said.
Creosote and pentachlorophenol are absorbed easily through the skin, and children may ingest either chemical if they put their unwashed hands in their mouths after touching soil or wood contaminated with creosote or pentachlorophenol. While these possible routes of exposure are shared by all people living close to utility poles treated with pentachlorophenol or creosote, East Point residents fear exposure to the chemicals through inhalation.
Gretchen Sweet, who lives less than a mile away from the plant, said she joined the lawsuits because of concerns about air pollution. “The goal isn’t to get Meredith shut down,†she said. “The goal is to get clean air. It makes me feel really unsafe. I can’t go out for a walk or a jog.â€
Officials from Meredith contend that the plant is not fouling the neighborhood with odors or toxins. Dan McGrew, the company’s lawyer, would not comment about the lawsuits’ allegations or what the firm has done to try to appease the neighbors. The company has not violated air pollution regulations, according to the state Environmental Protection Division.
Last fall, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry conducted a study in response to the residents’ complaints, and the results will be available later this month, an agency spokeswoman said. Long-term exposure to coal tar creosote may cause skin problems such as blistering and peeling, according to ATSDR. Exposure to pentachlorophenol can induce high fevers. At high levels, it can damage the liver and the immune system.
EPA is currently working through the reregistration process with creosote and pentachlorophenol to evaluate environmental and health concerns. That process began in the mid-1990s and was originally slated for completion in 1998, with the publication of Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) documents. The agency initially pushed the publication date back to 2003 and now claims that the REDs will be available by September 30, 2008.
Beyond Pesticides has focused on the heavy-duty wood preservatives, since the early 1980s. It remains the policy of Beyond Pesticides to work towards a complete ban on the use of these extremely toxic and obsolete chemicals through watchdogging EPA, working with legislators, and providing technical assistance to grassroots.
Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution
Posted in Georgia, State/Local, Wood Preservatives by: Beyond Pesticides
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07
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 7, 2007) The United States Department of Agriculture and Aurora Organic Dairy have reached an agreement stemming from complaints brought by the Cornucopia Institute. While Aurora called USDA’s decision a “dismissal”, the department did find that the dairy did not provide enough pasture for its milking cows and that not all cows could be proven to have been raised organically. As part of its agreement with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Aurora will thin its herd at its Platteville, Colorado dairy from 2,200 to 1,250 and increase its organic pasture from 325 acres to 400. Rather than alter operations at another Colorado facility, Aurora has agreed not to renew its organic certification there. USDA will also monitor the company more closely, and violations during its one-year probationary period could threaten Aurora’s organic certification.
“The organic industry is booming, and the National Organic Program is a high priority for USDA,” said Bruce I. Knight, under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, “and through this consent agreement consumers can be assured that milk labeled as organic in the supermarket is indeed organic.” Cornucopia was particularly critical of the positive spin put on the settlement in USDA’s decision and Aurora’s same-day press release. Specifically in answer to Aurora’s announcement that “the U.S. Department of Agriculture has dismissed the complaints against the company,” Cornucopia maintains that “the complaints were not dismissed.” In fact, Wednesday evening Cornucopia’s Mark Kastel received a call from a high-ranking USDA official to say that the Agency had specifically rushed their official news release on the events out to the public in an effort to dispel the misinformation caused by Aurora’s factually erroneous representations.” Cornucopia’s press release said that the group had hoped for a large fine for Aurora’s violations. Instead, the company has been given a chance to restore faith in their organic operations.
The adjustments required by USDA to Aurora’s Plattesville facility include:
1) providing daily access to pasture during the growing season, acknowledging that lactation is not a reason to deny access to pasture;
2) reducing the number of cows to a level consistent with available pasture with agreed maximum stocking densities;
3) eliminating improperly transitioned cows from its herd and not marketing those cows’ milk as organic; and
4) agreeing to use the more stringent transition process in the NOP regulations for animals added to its dairy herd.
According to USDA, “Aurora’s Platteville, Colo. and Dublin, Texas plants will be closely monitored for compliance with the provisions of the agreement. If AMS finds the terms of the consent agreement are not met, then the agreement will be withdrawn, and AMS could revoke the organic certification for Aurora’s Platteville, Colo., plant.”
Organic integrity is crucial to the success of the organic food movement. To learn more about organics, visit Beyond Pesticides’ page here, or read more about the National Organic Program.
Sources: USDA, New York Times, Denver Business Journal, The Cornucopia Institute, Aurora Organic Dairy
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, Aurora by: Beyond Pesticides
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06
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 6, 2007) As children head back to school, Beyond Pesticides urges parents and school staff to ask school administrators to adopt non-chemical practices that protect children from pests and pesticides. Studies consistently link many pesticides to adverse health effects that affect children’s respiratory system and their ability to learn. See Beyond Pesticides’ website for documentation on adverse effects of pesticides and children’s health. Parents are urged to bring the “For my child’s health please do not spray pesticides in school†postcard to the school nurse with other health information and medicine, such as inhalers. Postcards are available from Beyond Pesticides or on the Beyond Pesticides website. The back-to-school season and talk of pesticide use brings with it debate on appropriate integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Because of a lack of an agreed upon definition, IPM is often promoted with a lack of clarity and an unnecessary reliance on toxic chemicals, according to health and safety advocates.
Beyond Pesticides advocates IPM for school buildings with a clear definition containing eight essential program components: education/training, monitoring, action thresholds, prevention, least-toxic tactics criteria, notification, recordkeeping, and evaluation. Proper IPM is discussed in detail in a Beyond Pesticides report, Ending Toxic Dependency: The State of IPM. At the same time, Beyond Pesticides advocates organic practices on outdoor landscapes and playing fields.While the trend is moving toward the adoption of organic and clearly defined management practices, some in the pest control industry publish positions that suggest that parents must choose between pests and pesticides. The executive director of the New Jersey Pest Management Association (NJPMA), in a September 4, 2007 press release, asks, “Which would you prefer. . .[a] school free of the many insect and rodent pests that can spread disease or one in which fears of pesticides exceed having a safe learning environment?†“It is ironic and unnecessary to pit the pest management industry against health and safety advocates when both can work together to achieve a safe learning environment without hazardous pesticides,†said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides. Data shows that schools can be managed to protect children from pests through maintenance practices and structural repairs and, in some cases, least-toxic pesticides as a last resort.
Despite the NJPMA rhetoric, the state of New Jersey is one of 12 states that require school IPM practices. The state has a model IPM policy and requires preferred “low-impact†pesticides to be used after non-chemical practices are adopted and before more toxic chemicals. The model language states: “Each school shall consider the full range of management options, including no action at all. Non-pesticide pest management methods are to be used whenever possible. The choice of using a pesticide shall be based on a review of all other available options and a determination that these options are not effective or not reasonable. When it is determined that a pesticide must be used, low-impact pesticides and methods are preferred and shall be considered for use first.â€
Low-impact pesticides are defined as: “Certain formulation types: any gel, paste, or bait; antimicrobial agents such as a disinfectant used as a cleaning product; specific active ingredients: boric acid; disodium octoborate tetrahydrate; silica gels and diatomaceous earth; microbe-based insecticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis; botanical insecticides, not including synthetic pyrethroids, without toxic synergists; biological, living control agents; and EPA FIFRA-exempt active ingredients and/or inerts.â€
“While the definition of low-impact needs greater scrutiny because gels, paste or baits may contain volatile chemicals that contaminate indoor ambient air, the New Jersey approach seeks to eliminate where possible hazardous pesticides. However, to ensure effective implementation, this policy requires strict parental and school staff oversight,†said Mr. Feldman.
For more information on the adoption of school policies that are protective of children in the new school years, see Beyond Pesticides’ website or contact the organization at 202-543-5450.
Posted in Children/Schools, Lawns/Landscapes, State/Local by: Beyond Pesticides
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05
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 5, 2007) The Duval County School Board, along with other school districts in Florida, is preparing to change its schools’ pest control management strategies by making the use of pesticides on school grounds the last resort, rather than routinely spraying, by instituting an integrated pest management (IPM) program. The school board will vote on a $195,000 annual contract with Terminix for the IPM program that may cut the use of pesticides by half. This new measure is in response to calls to reduce pesticide use in schools, especially in light of recent studies that have shown that small children are vulnerable to the chemicals found in pesticides. Children face higher risks than adults from pesticide exposure due to their small size, tendency to place their hands close to their face, engaging in activities on or near the ground, greater intake of air and food relative to body weight, developing organ systems and other unique characteristic. Asthma, and other respiratory illnesses have been closely associated with pesticide exposure.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a program of prevention, monitoring and control. It offers the opportunity to eliminate or drastically reduce pesticide use in schools and to minimize the toxicity of and exposure to any products that are used. IPM mainly focuses on eliminating or reducing sources of food, water and shelter for pests and limiting pest access into and through buildings. When adopted, IPM requires inspection of buildings to categorize problems, such as dirty food areas, openings in walls and windows and any other conditions that attract or serve as a breeding ground for pests. Such problems can be rectified without the use of chemicals by simply sealing cracks in walls and windows and sanitation.
Although there are no federal laws regarding school pesticide use and pest management, IPM in schools is not a new approach to pest management. It is a concept that has been implemented in various communities, schools, and government facilities for decades. Florida is not one of the thirty-three states that require IPM in schools, however, officials with the Clay County and Nassau County school districts said they have used IPM since the late 1990s.
Recently, Beyond Pesticides released a report that evaluates the states’ definition of IPM and essential components that are key to effective programs that trade toxic pesticides for sound public health and environmental practices.
Beyond Pesticides’ Healthy Schools Project aims to minimize and eliminate the risks posed by pesticides through the adoption of school pest management policies and programs at the local, state, and federal level, thereby creating a healthier learning environment. For more information on IPM in schools, please visit https://www.beyondpesticides.org/documents/Definition%20of%20IPM.pdf.
Source: The Florida-Times Union
Posted in Children/Schools, Florida by: Beyond Pesticides
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04
Sep
(Beyond Pesticides, September 4, 2007) Scientists identified an important biochemical piece in the passage of malaria from mosquitoes to humans. If this link in the chain can be broken at its sourceâ€â€the mosquitoâ€â€then the spread of malaria could be stopped without the use of harmful pesticides or costly drugs.
“Mosquito Heparan Sulfate and Its Potential Role in Malaria Infection and Transmission,” published in the August 31 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, contains the findings of the interdisciplinary team led by researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The research group found that humans and the mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite Plasmodium share the same complex carbohydrate, heparan sulfate. In both humans and mosquitoes, heparan sulfate is a receptor for the Plasmodium, binding to the parasite and giving it quick and easy transport through the body.
Robert J. Linhardt, Ph.D., professor of Biocatalysis and Metabolic Engineering at Rensselaer, led the team. “The discovery allows us to think differently about preventing the disease. If we can stop heparan sulfate from binding to the parasite in mosquitoes, we will not just be treating the disease, we will be stopping its spread completely,†Dr. Linhardt said.
Malaria parasites are specific to their host, Dr. Linhardt explained. Birds, rodents, humans, and other primates all can be infected with malaria, but each species is infected by a different species of mosquito â€â€ and each of those mosquitoes is infected by a different parasite. In other words, there needs to be a perfect match at the molecular basis for malaria to spread from one species to another, Dr. Linhardt said. Researchers have long understood this deadly partnership, but the molecular basis for the match had never been determined.
Dr. Linhardt and his collaborators were the first to discover the link between the spread of malaria in humans and heparan sulfate in 2003. Those findings were also published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. In this earlier study, Linhardt compared the receptors in the liver of humans to those of rodents. The liver is the first organ to be infected by the malaria parasite in mammals. The researchers found that heparan sulfate in the human liver was the unwitting transporter of the disease to the human bloodstream. The receptor found in rodents was a different heparan sulfate.
“The discovery marks a paradigm shift in stopping malaria,†Dr. Linhardt said “Now, we can work to develop an environmentally safe, inexpensive way to block infection in mosquitoes and not have to worry about drug side effects in humans.â€
Malaria kills over one million people a year around the world, mostly young children. And the problem is growing, Dr. Linhardt noted. As the global temperatures increase, outbreaks of malaria are being reported higher up the coast of South America and Mexico each year, he said.
“Unfortunately, there is little direct funding on malaria in this country outside of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, because it is not considered a major threat in this country,†Dr. Linhardt said. “We do our research on a shoestring. Malaria research funding needs to move higher up on the scientific priority list.â€
The discovery comes one year after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it supported the indoor use of DDT to control the spread of malaria in developing countries. Governmental agencies in the U.S. and internationally have classified DDT as an agent that can cause cancer and nerve damage, and a host of health effects are well documented. The new research may lead to an effective system of malaria control that is not reliant on harmful chemical compounds.
Source: Environment News Service
Posted in DDT, Insect-Borne Disease by: Beyond Pesticides
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31
Aug
(Beyond Pesticides, August 31, 2007) According the results of a survey by Mambo Sprouts research services released August 20, 2007, consumers are torn between buying local and buying organic food, but in the end want both. The results show that 36.1% of natural product consumers said they would choose local produce over organic items, while another 33.3% indicated the opposite. The remaining respondents said they were unsure which to choose, but overall, consumers reported a preference for food that was both local and organic.
Respondent comments reflected three distinct motivators for purchasing locally grown food: 1) better for the environment and sustainability due to reduced environmental impact of transporting food, 2) a belief that much local produce is fresher and healthier — even if not certified organic, and 3) a general mistrust or confusion regarding organic food labeling.
“This survey revealed that consumers are definitely looking for more clarity and definition in organic product classifications,†says Matthew A. Saline, CEO of Mambo Sprouts Marketing, a multi-faceted direct marketing company that operates exclusively in the health, natural and organic products arena. Regarding the USDA Organic seal, 46.7% of respondents thought it indicated 100% organic contents, 24.8% thought it meant at least 95% organic, 16% thought it was 70%+ organic, 12% felt it meant some organic. Some consumers also expressed concerns that the USDA standards were declining or weaker than they would like.
Currently, the standard behind the USDA Organic seal indicates that a processed product is 95-100% organic. A product that is 100% organic can be labeled as such. Organic produce marked with the seal is 100% organic. Beyond Pesticides believes that a strong organic standard backed by consumer confidence is key to eliminating toxic pesticides from our food production system, and encourages its members to buy both organic and local whenever possible.
When asked what label information would most influence organic food purchasing, seven in 10 cited “All Organic†while just 25% selected “USDA Organicâ€. More than half said they would be more confident about buying organics if stores had their own organic food standards in addition to the USDA seal.
To facilitate shopping, consumers asked for more information. Seven in 10 respondents asked for better in-store signage while 45% thought flyers and information pamphlets would be beneficial.
Based on the findings, Mambo Spouts — an organic, health and natural foods marketing service, had the following advice for retailers marketing and advertising organic products: feature organics and local products since the consumer ideal is local and organic; improve signage signifying organic and local food products; educate with colorful eye-catching placards at the point of purchase; label products as “All Organic†when possible; and, complement in-store strategies with other marketing and educational campaigns about organic products (i.e., mailings, newsletters).
Survey results courtesy of Mambo Sprouts’ online survey taken between July 26 and July 30, 2007â€â€850 natural and organic product consumers responding.
For more information, see Beyond Pesticides Organic Food program page.
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, State/Local by: Beyond Pesticides
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30
Aug
(Beyond Pesticides, August 30, 2007) Vetiver grass, a species native to India, may provide protection against two plagues facing recovery in New Orleans: termite infestations and floods, according to Dr. Gregg Henderson, Ph.D. Already known for its effectiveness in erosion and sediment control, vetiver is both a repellent and toxicant to termites, which cause an estimated $5 billion in structural damage per year in the U.S. The plant is highly tolerant to extreme soil conditions, which, along with its deep roots, make it ideal for rehabilitation of contaminated lands and holding soil together on hillsides and contours. However, Dr. Henderson, an urban entomologist with Louisiana State University’s AgCenter, is interested in what is inside vetiver’s roots, namely the chemical responsible for turning away termites, as well as cockroaches, ants, ticks, weevils, nematodes, mole crickets, and other insects.
His research team isolated several compounds from vetiver oils and determined that a chemical called nootkatone, is a repellent for Formosan subterranean termites. Dr. Henderson has been studying Formosan termites for years and is a strong advocate for taking advantage of the chemicals in vetiver grass to control the termites in many locations.
Throughout the world, termites have caused problems on levees by tunneling in the soil and weakening the integrity of the structures, Dr. Henderson said, including those that broke in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “It’s almost certain termites contributed to the levees’ failure,†he said, noting that 70 percent of the seams of flood walls on the London Avenue canal, the site of breaches, showed signs of insect infestations.
Years before Katrina struck, Dr. Henderson cautioned that Formosan termites were undermining the protective system by eating the sugar-cane-based seam-filling material in the concrete dike walls and infesting mature trees along the levees. Experts suspect falling trees that pulled their roots out of the ground contributed to the weakening and eventual breaches of levees in New Orleans during Katrina. Planting vetiver grass, Dr. Henderson says, could not only provide erosion control and a breakwater barrier, but it could help prevent future damage by warding off termite infestations.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, charged with fortifying the city’s levees, though is skeptical that the grass can really live up to all its touted potential. The Corps regards termite infestations as only “a minor contributing factor†to levee failures, and officials remain concerned that vetiver could prove to have downsides that outweigh it benefits.
Vetiver is native to India, and the Corps is concerned that the plant might prove to be an invasive species. Government officials are still wincing from the aftermath of importing virulent kudzuâ€â€known as “the vine that ate the Southâ€â€â€for erosion control in the 1930s, and Corps planners are concerned about vetiver’s tendency to develop roots at its leaf joints. The plant could root elsewhere if pieces broke off and washed away during a flood.
Vetiver advocates point to hundreds of years of cultivation abroad to prove that the grass is not an aggressive plant. The grass has been a part of the New Orleans landscape for two centuries without becoming invasive, say local residents. “I grew up knowing about vetiver,†said Jean Fahr, president of the civic gardening group Parkway Partners. “My grandmother hung it in her closet to repel moths.â€
The Corps still thought enough of vetiver to include it in a short list of 10 plants they are considering for vegetation along the New Orleans levees. “It has some characteristics worth exploring,†concedes Col. Murray Starkel, in charge of operations at the Corps’ New Orleans district office.
Vetiver grass may prove to be an integral piece to revitalizing the region and find its use as a non-toxic structural control against termites in private homes nationwide as well.
Sources: LSU Agricultural Center, Wall Street Journal
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, Louisiana, termites by: Beyond Pesticides
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29
Aug
(Beyond Pesticides, August 29, 2007) Entomologists have recently begun studying whether increasing temperatures will attract more insects to the New England region, as scientists have begun reporting the appearance of new and more numerous unwanted insects. The colder winters of the New England region have historically limited insect populations, but in recent years as temperatures have warmed, the amount and variety of pests have increased. According to the government’s U.S. Global Change Research Program, in its New England Regional Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change, “A warming New England region (especially warming winters) will support the introduction and expansion of exotic pests into the region.”
Although scientists cannot definitively say that there is a relationship between increasing temperatures in the region and an increase in the number of insects, Vermont entomologist Jon Turmel, points out that ticks carrying lyme disease, as well as mosquitoes with West Nile virus (WNv) and encephalitis have been reported in the state. The Aedes japonicus, an Asian mosquito species, was first reported in Vermont five years ago. These mosquitoes can spread Japanese and St. Louis encephalitis, which are viral brain infections that can result in death, along with WNv.
Reported cases of lyme disease contracted in Vermont rose almost tenfold from seven in 1999 to 62 this past year; the 2007 figure so far is 49, the state Health Department says. However, experts cannot scientifically identify the cause of the spread of ticks to any one specific cause. “Could be milder winters and the warming weather, could be we have good deer populations, could be a number of things,” Mr. Turmel said.
Other problem insects, like tree-eating insects, should be of equal concern. The emerald ash borer, an Asian beetle discovered five years ago in the US, has decimated millions of ash trees and is making its way toward to Northeast. As for the hemlock woolly adelgid, many felt it could not survive the northeastern cold, however, it has made its appearance in the state this past summer.
“Temperature is a definite factor in keeping the hemlock woolly adelgid from spreading throughout the state,” Mr. Turmel said. “We think they’re at the northern end of their range, but with warm winters, they could continue to migrate up. Global warming would definitely have an effect on that one.” Researchers have found that rising temperatures were affecting species distribution where warm-water species of midges were replacing colder-water ones. Such scenarios have caused the Union of Concerned Scientists to be troubled over the effects of increasing temperatures.
“Global warming may also spur the earlier arrival of migratory insects and allow some species to produce more generations within a single season,” the union said in a recent report. “Plant-feeding pests may also eat more and cause greater crop damage as rising CO2 lowers the nutritional value of plant tissues.” The report adds, “It is reasonable to assume that other insect pests will similarly increase in population and expand in range as the Northeast warms.”
An increase in pest populations would affect not only native species but also the $3 billion dollar agricultural sector. Farmers may be prompted to increase pesticide use to control exotic pests. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “Just as with weeds, increasing pest outbreaks and crop damage will quite likely lead to greater use of chemical controls and an increased risk of environmental damage.”
Mr. Turmel remains concerned. “When it comes to insectsâ€Â¦[t]hey can fly, they can hide, they can multiply, they can become resistant, they can adapt to any environment. That’s why with global warming, things that aren’t a problem now could be down the road,” he said.
See Beyond Pesticides recent stories on pesticides and climate change: Climate Change Tied to Crop Losses, Increases in Pest Populations, Scientist Examines Global Warming’s Impact on Pollen Allergies, Climate Change and Pesticides Hot Issue for Fish.
Source: The Barre Montpelier Times Argus
Posted in Climate Change, Insect-Borne Disease by: Beyond Pesticides
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28
Aug
(Beyond Pesticides, August 28, 2007) In a new study published in the August 2007 issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health (Vol. 33, No. 4), researchers from the Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances (IRET) in Costa Rica find parental exposure to pesticides linked to the increased risk of leukemia. IRET researchers, based at the National University of Costa Rica in Heredia, identified cases of childhood leukemia (N=334), in 1995-2000, on the Cancer Registry and the Children’s Hospital. Population controls (N=579) were drawn from the National Birth Registry. Interviews of parents were conducted using conventional and icon-based calendar forms. An exposure model was constructed for 25 pesticides in five time periods.
Mothers’ exposures to any pesticides during the year before conception and during the first and second trimesters are associated with the risk [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0-5.9; OR 2.2, 95% CI 2.8-171.5; OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.4-14.7, respectively] and during anytime (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.8). An association is found for fathers’ exposures to any pesticides during the second trimester (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.3).
An increased risk with respect to organophosphates is found for mothers during the first trimester (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.0-12.2) and for fathers during the year before conception and the first trimester (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.2 and OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.6, respectively), and benzimidazoles during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.4; OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-5.0; OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-5.2, respectively).
There is a suggestion of an exposure-response gradient for fathers as regards picloram, benomyl, and paraquat. Age at diagnosis was positively associated with fathers’ exposures and inversely associated with mothers’ exposures.
Leukemias are the most common childhood cancers, accounting for 25-35% of the incidence of all childhood cancer in most populations. Costa Rica ranks among the highest incidence of childhood leukemia in the world. Agriculture is a major economic activity in Costa Rica and is characterized by intensive use of pesticides.
Previous studies have also linked parental exposure to leukemia. A 2006 French study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, “Household Exposure to Pesticides and Risk of Childhood Acute Leukemia,” indicates that acute leukemia is observed to be significantly associated with maternal home pesticide use during pregnancy along with lawn chemical use and fungicide use during childhood. Research findings also show insecticidal shampoo treatment of pediculosis to be associated with childhood acute leukemia. Leukemia has also been linked to parental exposure to Agent Orange in children of Vietnam veterans.
Posted in Children/Schools, Disease/Health Effects, Leukemia by: Beyond Pesticides
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27
Aug
(Beyond Pesticides, August 27, 2007) Santa Clara County agriculture officials are hopeful that “mating disruption technology” – not pesticides – will eradicate the light brown apple moth, a tiny invasive pest that has been found in several areas of the county and is a threat to crops and plants.
Eight-inch “twist-tie” dispensers, which contain an odorless, synthetic pheromone, have been placed on plants and objects such as fence posts in the area immediately around where a moth was found last month in the Santa Teresa area of San Jose.
In addition, it’s likely that a new quarantine area will be established in the Alum Rock area of San Jose, where a single moth was found recently.
Since late February, the moth – native to Australia but established in Hawaii, New Zealand and Great Britain, among other places – has been identified in 11 California counties. More than 40,000 traps have been placed in the affected counties.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has posted maps of all the quarantine areas on its Web site and is urging residents in the affected areas to not remove plant materials from their homes. Instead people should dispose of green waste in an approved green waste bin provided by their county.
Kevin O’Day, deputy agriculture commissioner for Santa Clara county, said that the pheromone dispensers being used in Santa Teresa target adult male moths. The pheromone confuses them, impairing their ability to find mates. If this effort is successful, it will not be necessary to spray pesticides, he said. “Once the breeding cycle of the moth is broken, the light brown apple moth population is reduced and ultimately eradicated.”
Only the properties closest to where the moth was found will be treated with the twist-ties – not the entire quarantine area. About 40 dispensers will be placed at each property. After 90 days, they will be removed or replaced. Residents in the treatment area have been notified, Mr. O’Day said.
“In the treatment areas, we’ve had very little apprehension or concern,” he said. A meeting Monday at the Santa Teresa Library was sparsely attended, but Mr. O’Day said his department is “thrilled with the level of cooperation we’ve been receiving.”
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to try a new technology that has a great track record overseas,” Mr. O’Day said of the pheromone dispensers, which recently were given fast-track approval by federal and state pesticide regulators.
The half-inch-long light brown apple moth – which resembles many species of harmless moths – is making its first appearance in the continental United States. The pest is of particular concern because the moth’s larvae destroys, stunts or deforms young seedlings, spoils the appearance of ornamental plants and injures deciduous fruit-tree crops, citrus and grapes. The host list includes more than 250 species.
Agriculture officials want to eradicate the pest first in lightly infested areas around the edges of the region to curb its spread outward. This strategy is consistent with recommendations handed down in May by an international “technical working group,†a panel of nine scientists who met over three days in San Jose to study the infested areas.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will supply $15 million to combat the moth’s infestation in California, which threatens the state’s $31.8 billion agricultural industry. The money will cover expenditures already incurred and projected expenses for the rest of 2007.
Source: San Jose Mercury News
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, California by: Beyond Pesticides
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