(Beyond Pesticides, July 31, 2007) Preliminary research into birth records and pesticide data reveal that mothers who were within 500 meters of fields sprayed with organochlorine pesticides during their first trimester of pregnancy were six times higher to have children with autism compared to mothers who did not live near the fields.

Scientists from the California Department of Public Health conducted the study, which is available online in Environmental Health and Perspectives, entitled, “Maternal Residence Near Agricultural Pesticide Applications and Autism Spectrum Disorders Among Children in the California Central Valley.” The study, initiated to “systemically explore the general hypothesis that residential proximity to agricultural pesticide applications during pregnancy could be associated with autism spectrum disorders in offspring,” found that 28% of the mothers studied who lived near fields in Central Valley, which were sprayed with organochlorines, such as endosulfan and dicofol, have children with autism. However, officials are quick to point out that their findings are preliminary.

“We want to emphasize that this is exploratory research,” says Dr. Mark Horton, M.D., director of the California Department of Health. “We have found very preliminary data that there may be an association. We are in no way concluding that there is a causal relationship between pesticide exposure of pregnant women and autism.”

The scientists conclude that the “possibility of a connection between gestational exposure to organochlorine pesticides and autism spectrum disorders requires further study.”

The study analyzes information collected for the years 1996 through 1998, for nearly 300,000 children born in 19 counties of the Sacramento and San Joaquin river valleys. State records of the addresses of the pregnant women were compared against those of fields sprayed with pesticides. Only areas sprayed with organochlorines exhibited extraordinary patterns.

The highest rates for children with autism were those whose mothers lived closest to these fields. Exposure is brought about due to chemicals drifting off of the fields and into residential areas.

According to Susan Kegley, Ph.D., of the Pesticide Action Network North America, “This is one of the first papers that links use of pesticide to incidence of a disease, and autism in particular. The findings are very strong. This is a six-fold factor in comparison to someone who is not exposed.” But even though small numbers of children were involved, “it is still one of those things that make you sit up and pay attention,” she says.

A previous report citing air monitoring in Fresno, Monterey and Tulare counties in July by the state Department of Pesticide Regulation indicates that endosulfan can spread via the air from fields and expose the public. The agency is likely to soon designate endosulfan as a toxic air contaminant, and then take suitable steps to minimize chemicals drifting off fields into nearby homes.

Endosulfan and dicofol were developed in the 1950s to kill mites on cotton, vegetables and other crops. Since then, organochlorine use has declined because of increasing insect resistance, coupled with use restrictions and phase-outs of most other organochlorines, such as DDT. Endosulfan and dicofol are still in use in the U.S., however, both affect the nervous system, and have been shown to cause reproductive effects and alter hormones in animal studies. Even though these chemicals are not found in household products, residues are also found in food.

A growing number of scientific studies now link exposure to pesticides with increased rates of certain cancers, nervous system diseases, learning disabilities, Parkinson’s disease, and reproductive problems. Children, especially, are considered a high-risk group due to their increased exposure and sensitivity to toxic chemicals. Developmental disabilities such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, developmental delays, and behavioral disorders are being studied for links to childhood exposure and environmental contaminants found in pesticides. Autism, which has been increasing in prevalence, currently affects one in every 150 children.

For more information on pesticides and children’s health, and ways to protect the next generation, please visit https://www.beyondpesticides.org/schools/index.htm.

Source: Los Angeles Times

(Beyond Pesticides, July 30, 2007) Following the release of a new national report, Ending Toxic Dependency: The State of IPM, environmental and health groups in New York state issued a letter to Governor Eliot Spitzer. In the letter, they requested that the Governor order all state agencies to phase out use of toxic pesticides in favor of less- and non-toxic products. Twenty-six groups signed the statement, which urges Mr. Spitzer to reduce the amount of pesticides used in the state, which, in 2004, included 2.7 million gallons applied by pest-control companies alone.

“We should not be exposing state workers and the public to hazardous and unnecessary chemicals that can cause a range of serious health problems, from asthma attacks to birth defects and cancer, as well as contaminate our air and drinking water,” said Laura Haight of the New York Public Interest Research Group, one of the co-signing organizations. “It’s not rocket science; there are towns and counties and cities across the state doing just this on their own property.” The body of the letter, expanding Ms. Haight’s statement, reads:

Our groups, which represent citizens from across the state, applaud you for your commitment to protecting the environment and public health. We appreciate the work you did as Attorney General to reduce the public’s exposure to harmful pesticides. As Governor, you have the opportunity to make New York a national leader in promoting and implementing safe and effective alternatives to pesticides.As you know, pesticide use poses a significant risk to public health and the environment. Large amounts of hazardous pesticides are used across New York State on a daily basis. Pesticides can contaminate air and water, as well as cause a wide range of acute and chronic human health problems including asthma and respiratory distress, neurological impairment and learning disabilities, immune system damage, many types of cancer, hormone disruption, liver damage, and birth defects.

Effective, non-toxic and least-toxic pest control alternatives exist for virtually all common pest problems. Many local governments in New York have already adopted their own laws to restrict or ban pesticide use on municipal property. These include Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Suffolk County, Westchester County, and numerous others. New York State has an opportunity to reduce the public’s exposure to harmful pesticides, as well as set an example for the private sector, by implementing these practices on state-owned and operated property.

We are respectfully requesting that you issue an Executive Order requiring that state agencies phase out the use of hazardous pesticides and switch to safer pest control alternatives on state property including state parks, state office buildings, and state colleges and universities. The most acutely toxic pesticides and those that are known or suspected to cause cancer, endocrine disruption, or threaten water supplies should be eliminated first.

The letter was signed by: Beyond Pesticides, Cancer Awareness Coalition, Inc., Center for Health, Environment & Justice, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Clean New York, Community Health and Environment Coalition, Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County, Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, Inc., Environmental Advocates of New York, Fluoride Action Network Pesticide Project, Grassroots Environmental Education, Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition, Group for the East End, Hopewell Junction Citizens for Clean Water, Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Inc., League of Women Voters of New York State, Long Island Neighborhood Network, New York Public Interest Research Group, New York State Advisory Council on Children’s Environmental Health and Safety, People’s Environmental Network of New York, Prevention Is The Cure, Inc., Quality Quest Coalition, Rochesterians Against the Misuse of Pesticides, Sierra Club, and Staten Island Citizens for Clean Air.

According to a spokeswoman, Mr. Spitzer “understands the health and environmental concerns associated with pesticides” and that the Department of Environmental Conservation will take the proposal into consideration.

TAKE ACTION: Urge your state to adopt a strong policy regarding toxic chemical use in the management of state-owned and leased property, including buildings and land. For more information, contact Jay Feldman, [email protected], 202-543-5450.

Source: The Ithaca Journal

(Beyond Pesticides, July 27, 2007) A new study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, shows that organic dairy and meat products in a mother’s diet improve the nutritional quality of her breast milk – markedly increasing beneficial fatty acids.

Specifically, a diet in which 90% or more of dairy and meat products are organic is correlated with measurably higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than in a moderately organic diet or a conventional diet. CLA is a type of fat that is believed to have anti-carcinogenic, atherosclerotic (i.e. ability to prevent hardening of arteries), anti-diabetic and immune-enhancing effects, as well as a favorable influence on body fat composition. For newborns specifically, CLA is believed to especially aid immune system development.

“These findings provide scientific support for common sense, by showing that organic foods are healthier,” says Dr. Lukas Rist, Ph.D., who is the lead author of the study and the head of research at the Paracelsus Hospital in Switzerland. The study, “Influence of organic diet on the amount of conjugated linoleic acids in breast milk of lactating women in the Netherlands,” involved 312 breastfeeding women with 1-month old infants from the Netherlands and compared mothers on a strict organic diet, greater than 90% organic dairy/meat, to those on a moderately organic diet, 50-90% organic dairy/meat, and those on a conventional diet, no organic dairy/meat.

“Many consumers know, based on increasing media coverage of scientific and medical research, that organic foods reduce their exposure to pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics, but this study shows that organic foods also offer superior nutritional quality,” says Charlotte Vallaeys, Farm and Food Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute. “The benefits of consuming organic food are of paramount importance when thinking about their impact on the development of very young children and fetuses,” Ms. Vallaeys added.

Other recent studies add support to the growing literature on the measurable nutritional benefits of organic foods. Cows that acquire most of their nutrition from grazing pasture have been shown to produce milk with decreased levels of saturated fat – the “bad” type of fat – and increased concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and CLA – the “good” types of fat.

Additionally, organically grown fruits and vegetables have numerous health benefits, including higher levels of antioxidants, as well as vitamins and minerals, than their conventionally grown counterparts, according to a 2006 study out of the University of Texas. A University of California at Davis study, published in 2003 found greater nutritional attributes in organically grown food, which the authors believe may result from the lack of insecticides and herbicides used (see Daily News story).

Source: Cornucopia Institute

(Beyond Pesticides, July 26, 2007) A company with previous pesticide violations will likely face a significant fine after accidentally spraying children at a day care in Virginia last week with herbicides. Several children were directly sprayed and at least three experienced symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning.

The company, NaturChem, was hired by Norfolk Southern to spray a section of railroad tracks, which they do every three years to suppress unwanted plants along the tracks. Sixteen children were playing outside at the day care, adjacent to the tracks as the NaturChem tanker went by. Four children, who were playing along the fence, were directly sprayed. While day care staff took them inside, washed them and changed their clothes immediately, at least three children had acute symptoms following their exposure, including a bloody nose, diarrhea, eye irritation, and blistering.

The chemicals’ labels prohibit application methods that result in drift to other property or people, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture, and it is illegal to use pesticides in a manner inconsistent with their labeling. This is NaturChem’s second violation in Virginia, following a $2,000 fine in 2005 for causing property damage in Giles County. The company also reached a $194,200 settlement with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture three years ago for 809 separate violations, in what was that state’s largest ever agricultural fine. While the company, with Norfolk Southern, is responsible for the children’s medical expenses related to their exposure and cleanup of the day care’s playground, they will also face a larger fine than for their previous incident in Virginia.

The chemicals that NaturChem sprayed were glyphosate, triclopyr, and imazapyr, according to Angela Harris, a senior toxicologist at the Arkansas-based consulting company Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health. These three chemicals have been linked to a variety of health effects beyond irritation, including cancer, neurotoxicity, and reproductive effects.

However, according to Ms. Harris, the chemicals are relatively harmless. “Whatever’s going to happen is going to happen right then, so the kids don’t have to worry about getting sick tomorrow or anything because of the chemicals,” she said. “Those are really common base chemicals that anyone would spray in their backyard if they were spraying. Those chemicals are deliberately made to be fairly non-toxic to humans because humans use them a lot.” NaturChem’s General Manager, Eddie Johnson, claimed that the chemicals “are not going to hurt anybody.”

The company’s claim is not reassuring parents. Sara Ballou, whose 2-year-old son was sprayed, followed the decontamination routine recommended by a poison control center. “If it’s not a big deal, why are all these things having to happen?” she wondered. “I really want to know why it happened, and I want to be assured that it will never happen again.”

Spraying along railroad tracks and roads is not the only vegetation management option available. For more information on state programs and alternatives, read “The Right Way to Vegetation Mangement” in Pesticides and You (pages 9-17).

Sources: Bristol Herald Courier (July 18, July 19, July 20), Associated Press, WHSV TV

State laws regulating pest management allow broad dependency on toxic pesticides, while four states call for pesticide reduction and alternatives

Washington, DC, July 25, 2007 – With increasing public concern about the use of toxic and polluting pesticides because of adverse impacts on people and the environment, a national study finds that states are lagging behind on “green” standards for managing their state lands and buildings. The report, Ending Toxic Dependency: The State of IPM, to be published in the Summer issue of Pesticides and You, finds that statewide integrated pest management (IPM) laws do not exist in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and existing laws in only 10 states are limited and mostly inadequate.

Only four states call for pesticide reduction and alternatives that do not rely on toxic chemicals in their IPM law. Six of the 10 states adopt the definition most promoted by the chemical and pest control industry — a combination of methods without priority being given to non-chemical practices and absent toxic reduction or elimination goals and least-toxic chemicals.

“While people are increasingly concerned about pollution, global warming, and fossil fuel use, state legislatures have a responsibility to ensure that pest management practices on state property are environmentally sound,” said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, and co-author of the report. “The toxic and petroleum-based pesticides are not needed and it’s wrong for states to do nothing or fall short of their responsibility to health and the environment,” Mr. Feldman said. The report cites 195 million acres of state land that would be affected by statewide laws requiring environmentally sound pest management practices.

In the report, Beyond Pesticides, a Washington, DC-based national clearinghouse and advocacy organization focused on pesticide hazards and alternatives, evaluates the states’ definition of IPM and essential components that it says are key to effective programs that trade toxic pesticides for sound public health and environmental practices. For buildings, these include sanitation, structural repairs, moisture control, maintenance, and biological controls. Outdoors, practices include planting proper plant varieties, soil health and natural fertilization.

Local governments across the country in 17 states have adopted ordinances that phase-out toxic pesticides on public property. Forty-one states prohibit towns and cities in their state from restricting pesticide use on private land.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jay Feldman or Laura Hepting, 202-543-5450

Update: See Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),  United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2008.  The report notes that not only can organic agriculture feed the world but it may be the only way we can solve the growing problem of hunger in developing countries. UNEP and UNCTAD state that its extensive study “challenges the popular myth that organic agriculture cannot increase agricultural productivity.” In an analysis of 114 farming projects in 24 African countries, UNEP reports that organic or near-organic practices result in a yield increase of more than 100 percent.

(Beyond Pesticides, July 24, 2007) After a three-year study of worldwide organic versus conventional farm yields, researchers have found that organic farming can produce as much as, and even exceed the crop and animal yields of conventional farming. These findings dispute the myth that organic methods are less productive.

University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment professor Ivette Perfecto, Ph.D., and Catherine Badgley, Ph.D., research scientist with the University’s Museum of Paleontology, conducted the study. Their findings are derived from a database of information from farms in both developed and developing nations. The full study, “Organic agriculture and the global food supply” is published in Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (formerly known as American Journal of Alternative Agriculture), Vol. 22, Issue 2.

Among the findings are that (1) in developed countries, organic and conventional farms recorded similar yields, (2) yields can be doubled or tripled in developing countries using organic methods, and (3) organic fertilizers can be used to attain such yields, even without putting more farmland into production.

Their research shows that for organic corn, yields range from 84 percent to 130 percent of conventionally grown corn. “It even surprised us,” Dr. Badgley said, “We expected we might find that it might be oh, 80 percent or something simply because that’s the number that has been cited in the past.”

This study is not the only analysis that shows organic farming can be competitive with conventional methods. Other findings have reported that comparable yields can be obtained with organic farming while using 30 percent less energy, conserving water and without pesticides.

However, some have disputed these findings. Mike Score, who has worked several years with African farmers, and is a Washtenaw County agricultural agent for Michigan State University Extension, said that these reports do not reflect his experience. Mr. Score said, “The farmers I have worked with have not been able to equal yields (with organic methods) in all cases.” He also added that other factors, such as labor and fuel costs, need to be taken into consideration.

Organic farming conserves natural resources by recycling natural materials and it encourages an abundance of species living in balanced, harmonious ecosystems. Organic farmers are required by the National Organic Standards to minimize soil erosion; implement crop rotations; provide for the humane, general welfare and health of farm animals and prevent contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant and animal nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances. Even though the popularity of organic produce has grown tremendously in recent years, farmers in the US are not nearly keeping pace with consumer demand for organic products, estimated to be growing by 20 percent a year. Organic growers face an uphill battle against the conventional growers that get the lion’s share of appropriations from the Farm Bill.

Beyond Pesticides is a member of the National Organic Coalition that is advocating for an increase in the funding available for organic farmers in the 2007 Farm Bill. For more information, please visit https://www.beyondpesticides.org/organicfood/index.htm.

Source: The Ann Arbor News

(Beyond Pesticides, July 23, 2007) New research finds several species of freshwater fish have lower temperature tolerances when exposed to the widely used pesticides endosulfan and chlorpyrifos. The discovery reveals another key pesticides issue in the global warming debate.

The study, “The Effects of Three Organic Chemicals on the Upper Thermal Tolerances of Four Freshwater Fishes” (Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, July 2007), is the work of Ronald Patra of Australia’s Department of Environment and Conservation and colleagues. The study establishes the upper temperature tolerances of both unexposed and exposed silver perch, eastern rainbowfish, western carp gudgeon and rainbow trout. Exposed fish were given sublethal doses of endosulfan, chlorpyrifos or phenol.

The results show exposure to endosulfan cause a decrease of temperature tolerance in silver perch by 2.8 °C, eastern rainbowfish 4.1 °C, western carp gudgeon 3.1 °C, and rainbow trout 4.8 °C. Chlorpyrifos decreases temperature tolerance in silver perch by 3.8 °C, eastern rainbowfish 2.5 °C, western carp gudgeon 4.3 °C, and rainbow trout 5.9 °C. Phenol is not shown to cause a significant decrease in tolerance.

The authors conclude, “The reduction in thermal tolerance of fish in the presence of endosulfan and chlorpyrifos suggest that, not only does temperature influence the sensitivity of fish to a toxic chemical, but chemical exposure also affects the temperature tolerance of fishes.”

The additive stress on species from exposure to pesticides and other toxics in combination with rising global temperatures reiterates that reducing pesticide use in favor of non-toxic alternatives remains an important action that protects and improves environmental and human health.

(Beyond Pesticides, July 20, 2007) Dow Chemical Company has reached agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin cleanup of dioxin contamination downstream of its Midland, Michigan facility immediately. The teratogenic (i.e. ability to cause developmental malformations) and mutagenic compounds are not only byproducts of manufacturing processes but are contained in one of Dow’s most used herbicides.

Last November, Dow identified dioxin hot spots along the Tittabawassee River, but corrective action “has taken too long” according to an EPA press release. “EPA has documented that dioxin contamination in soil poses risks to human health and the environment.” Dioxins are a family of chemicals that have been linked to cancer, weakened immune systems and reproductive problems.

Terry Miller, a member of Lone Tree Council, an environmental group, told the Saginaw News that EPA’s decision confirmed his suspicions that Dow was “dragging their feet” in the cleanup efforts. “There’s been a lot of print suggesting the state has been too hard on the company when it appeared that Dow was being too slow,” he said. “The federal government would seem to support that contention.”

Michelle Hurd-Riddick, a spokeswoman for the Lone Tree Council, was quoted by the Saginaw News saying that her search of the federal agency’s documents revealed “fatigue and frustration” with the chemical giant’s “chronic, chronic delays” while the highest concentrations of dioxin contamination linger untouched.

Past waste disposal practices, fugitive emissions and incineration at the Midland plant have resulted in on- and off-site contamination of nearby waterways. Dow’s manufacturing of chlorine-based products and other chemicals results in dioxins, as well as furans, chlorobenzenes and heavy metals, as byproducts.

Dioxins can be found in final products too, including 2,4-D, one of Dow’s major herbicides in use today. 2,4-D is commonly found in weed and feed and is used widely for vegetation control in agriculture as well. Dow has been a leader in obscuring the science and weakening the regulation of these and other deadly chemicals. Beyond Pesticides is working to make consumers aware of the dangers of these products and hold companies accountable for their wrongdoings.

Sources: EPA Press Release, Saginaw News

(Beyond Pesticides, July 19, 2007) In response to the recent declining bee colony crisis, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Gale Buchanan announced on July 13, 2007 that USDA researchers have finalized an action plan for dealing with colony collapse disorder (CCD) of honey bees, which includes pesticides as a reason for the problem.

“There were enough honey bees to provide pollination for U.S. agriculture this year, but beekeepers could face a serious problem next year and beyond,” Buchanan said. “This action plan provides a coordinated framework to ensure that all of the research that needs to be done is covered in order to get to the bottom of the CCD problem.”

The action plan coordinates the federal strategy in response to CCD. It addresses four main components: (1) survey and data collection needs; (2) analysis of samples to determine the prevalence of various pests and pathogens, exposure to pesticides, or other unusual factors; (3) controlled experiments to carefully analyze the potential causes of CCD; and (4) developing new methods to improve the general health of bees to reduce their susceptibility to CCD and other disorders. Four possible causes for CCD are identified in the plan: (1) new or reemerging pathogens, (2) new bee pests or parasites, (3) environmental and/or nutritional stress, or (4) pesticides. Research will focus on determining which of these factors are contributing causes of CCD, either individually or in combination.

CCD became apparent as a problem beginning in the winter of 2006-2007 when some beekeepers began reporting losses of 30-90 percent of their hives. While colony losses are not unexpected during winter weather, the magnitude of loss suffered by some beekeepers was highly unusual. There is currently no recognizable underlying cause for CCD. The main symptom is finding no or a low number of adult honey bees present with no dead honey bees in the hive. Often there is still honey in the hive and immature bees (brood) are present.

Many scientists believe that pesticides, including imidacloprid, have been shown to disrupt the mobility, navigation, and feeding behavior of beneficial insects, and have been blamed for the decline in many insect populations, especially the honeybee.

Pollination is a critical element in agriculture, as honey bees pollinate more than 130 crops in the United States and add $15 billion in crop value annually.

(Beyond Pesticides, July 18, 2007) Since 2000, the United States has financed aerial spraying of glyphosate over Colombia’s coca crops, the raw material of cocaine, as part of the “War on Drugs.” Scientists from Pontificia Catholic University in Quito, Ecuador, have completed a study of 24 residents living within three kilometers of the Colombian border — an area targeted by the coca spraying – and have found a wide variety of ailments. The study’s subjects suffer from symptoms that include intestinal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, numbness, blurred vision, skin irritation, rashes, and difficulty breathing. In addition, the damage to their chromosomes was 600 to 800 percent greater than that of people living 80 km away, which can signal possible conditions like cancer and reproductive effects like miscarriages.

The U.S. has increased the spraying each year since 2000, including the addition of a fourth spray team in 2006. In 2006, the Colombian National Police’s Anti-Narcotics Directorate (DIRAN) sprayed more than 424,055 acres of coca. Extensive research in recent years regarding glyphosate’s toxicity to placental cells and aquatic life, among others, has prompted the U.S. Congress to seek guarantees that Colombian wetlands would not be sprayed, but the program continues to threaten legal crops, domestic animals, and fish hatcheries, in addition to exposing humans to the study’s documented health effects.

Research like this study, led by researcher Cesar Paz y Mino, has led Colombian officials to seek out other means of eradication of the coca crops. By 2006, more than 100,000 acres, or 25 percent, were destroyed by workers using hoes, while guarded by policemen against guerrilla groups that derive much of their wealth from the cocaine trade. This year, they aim to uproot 172,000 acres. “We are convinced of the advantages of manual eradication over spraying, and that’s why we want to give more importance to manual eradication,” said Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos.

This position, likely due in part by studies like that of Paz y Mino, is also aided by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) data that shows coca crops remain as strong as they were in 2001, despite $5 billion in U.S.-funded spraying. El Tiempo, Colombia’s largest newspaper, published an editorial that said, “The strategy doesn’t work; fumigating doesn’t eradicate. Instead of clamoring for help on a program that seems more inappropriate every day, the government should take advantage of this moment to redirect and rethink its anti-drug collaboration with the United States. Fumigation should be suspended and only used in extraordinary causes.”

TAKE ACTION: Democrats in Congress have recently cut aid to Colombia by ten percent from concern over human rights and the efficacy of spraying. To ensure that coca eradication does not continue to endanger humans or the environment, write to your senator or representative and express your concern over these issues today!

Sources: Truthout, Washington Post

(Beyond Pesticides, July 17, 2007) A study conducted by Canadian researchers show that high concentrations of POPs, or Persistent Organic Pollutants, can be observed in humans and other air-breathing animals even though they may not accumulate in fish. This suggests that current risk assessment methodologies need to be changed for identifying potential POPs in birds and mammals.

POPs are synthetic, toxic chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in food chains and are common contaminants in fish, dairy products and other foods. These compounds are generally accepted to be hydrophobic and fat-soluble. Screening for these bioaccumulative compounds is normally conducted with laboratory tests using fish. However researchers Barry C. Kelly, and Frank Gobas, Ph.D., at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia report that this methodology may overlook a significant number of pollutants that pose health risks to air-breathing animals.

The study entitled “Food Web—Specific Biomagnification of Persistent Organic Pollutants” (Science 2007, v317, p236) examines the biomagnification of moderately hydrophobic compounds with octanol-water partition coefficients (K_ow) between 100 and 100,000 (currently, compounds with K_ow greater than 100,000 are generally categorized as bioaccumulative compounds and tend to be hydrophobic and fat-soluble) and compounds with high octanol-air partition coefficients (K_oa). The compounds have been tested within a variety of food webs including one with only water-respiring organisms, one with only air-breathing organisms, and one with both (including humans). Compounds with a high K_oa and K_ow, such as PCB 153, biomagnify in all food webs. However, compounds such as lindane, which has a high K_oa and low K_ow do not biomagnify in food webs including only water-respiring organisms, but do accumulate in food webs with air-breathing animals.

According to Lynn Goldman, M.D., of the John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, the study suggests, “a broader range of chemicals, with high K_oa but lower K_ow, should perhaps be considered to be persistent organic pollutants.” Dr. Gobas points out that even though the degree to which chemicals are transformed in organisms is difficult to predict, he hopes that environmental regulations will change in light of this new work. EPA research chemist, Lawrence Burkhard says, “[C]urrent risk assessments that classify a chemical as a persistent organic pollutant have based their conclusions primarily on science drawn from aquatic toxicology. This paper strongly suggests risk assessment methodologies need to be changed to include data on bioaccumulation in birds and mammals. If this is done, more chemicals may be classified as POPs than have been in the past.”

The finding is important since many Americans may carry enough POPs in their bodies to cause subtle but serious health effects, including reproductive and developmental problems, cancer, and disruption of the immune system. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), POPs pose a particular hazard because of four characteristics: they are toxic; they are persistent, resisting normal processes that break down contaminants; they accumulate in the body fat of people, marine mammals, and other animals and are passed from mother to fetus; and they can travel great distances on wind and water currents. Even minute quantities can cause nervous system damage, diseases of the immune system, reproductive and developmental disorders, cancers and other diseases like diabetes. Most vulnerable are those in the womb or egg, and in infancy, as vital organ systems are being developed.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (see Daily News) represents one of the most important efforts by the global community to rein in and ultimately halt the proliferation of toxic chemicals. This treaty, ratified on May 17, 2004 is an attempt to reduce the impact of these persistent chemicals throughout the world. The U.S. has yet to be among 150 ratifying countries. In 2001, President Bush promised to support the treaty, but his administration has sought to undermine it with legislation that would make it harder, rather than easier, for EPA to comply.

Source: Chemical and Engineering News

(Beyond Pesticides, July 16, 2007) In its report released on Father’s Day 2007, “Men, Boys and Environmental Threats,” the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment urges greater awareness among parents about environmental risks to boys. “All children are at risk from exposure to environmental hazards, but boys appear to be at greater risk,” said Dr. Lynn Marshall, MD, with the Ontario College of Family Physicians.

The report summarizes the evidence about environmental risks to boys, specifically examining cancer, asthma, learning and behavioral disorders, birth defects and testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Below is a summary of the report’s findings.

Cancer: Although cancer is rare among all children, more boys are diagnosed with cancer than girls. Among young adults (age 20—44) several cancers are on the rise, including testicular cancer. Concern arises over parents’ exposures before conception or during pregnancy. Childhood cancers are associated with exposures to pesticides, solvents, petroleum products, motor vehicle exhaust, benzene and other pollutants. Much remains unknown. Since cancer involves problems with cell division, it is logical that exposures during times of rapid cell division (especially in the womb) likely pose the greatest risk.

Asthma: In the past 20 years there has been a dramatic rise in asthma in children. Less well known is that more boys have asthma than girls and more are hospitalized for it. Boys are born with smaller airways, relative to their lung size, than girls. They also tend to have more allergies, which can contribute to developing asthma. Asthma is a complex disease. Evidence shows that it results from interactions between genetics and environmental triggers. Such triggers include indoor and outdoor air pollution and also include some pesticides and chemicals in household cleaning products.

Learning and Developmental Disorders and Disabilities: Large numbers of children have learning and behavioral disorders or disabilities. The apparent increase in autism in recent years is of concern. For unknown reasons, boys are at greater risk for autism as well. More boys than girls have autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, Tourette’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia. For autism and ADHD, boys outnumber the girls by up to four to one. We know that children’s brains can be damaged by lead, mercury, arsenic, radiation, dioxins, PCBs, solvents and some pesticides.

Boys’ brains may be more vulnerable for several reasons. There are genetic differences, slower rates of maturity and greater vulnerability to physical injury. Brain development and the pattern of hormone production in the womb are different for boys than girls. Recent studies of adults reveal gender differences in brain structure, function and chemistry. These differences may make boys more vulnerable to chemical exposures. As well, there are a larger number of cell divisions in males during fetal development, which increases the chances of genetic errors occurring.

Birth Defects: Birth defects occur in about two to three per cent of births in Canada – boys are affected more often than girls. About half of birth defects affecting boys include cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and hypospadias (a defect of the male urinary tract). Stillbirths and miscarriages, which often can be due to birth defects, also seem to be more common in male babies. Many factors can contribute to birth defects including genetics, infection during pregnancy, and environmental factors. While much remains unknown, interaction of multiple factors is likely. We know that certain chemicals can impact development, including lead, mercury, radiation, and PCBs contaminated by dioxins and furans. Scientists suspect there are many more contaminants that come into play, including some pesticides, organic solvents, and some air pollutants.

Development of the male reproductive system has more steps and is more complex than for the female system. As a result there are more chances for error. Rapid cell growth creates a higher risk of incorporating errors during development than cells growing more slowly. Where defects originate in an X chromosome, females have a chance to “neutralize” this defect with another X chromosome, while males have only one X
chromosome.

Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome: Scientists describe a group of impacts on the male reproductive system under the term Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome (TDS). TDS includes the birth defects cryptorchidism and hypospadias, as well as poor semen quality (i.e. reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm), decreased fertility and perhaps also testicular cancer. Scientists suspect chemical exposures during pregnancy, specifically during the time when the male reproductive system is developing, may be causing these related impacts. Hormones (the endocrine system) play an important role in the development of the fetus. Scientists suspect that TDS results from chemicals that can disrupt these hormones. Called “endocrine disruptors,” scientists have shown these effects for a few chemicals including PCBs, dioxins and some pesticides.

The report encourages parents, especially fathers, to take an active role in protecting their children from environmental risk factors. A checklist of preventive measures is included in the report.

For more information on children and pesticides, visit Beyond Pesticides’ Children and Schools webpage.

(Beyond Pesticides, July 13, 2007) A European Union (EU) court banned the toxic weedkiller paraquat Wednesday, accepting arguments from the Swedish government that it does not meet EU health standards. Paraquat is the main ingredient in Swiss-based Syngenta’s Gramoxone – one of the world’s three most widely used weedkillers.

Paraquat has been linked to reproductive effects and to Parkinson’s disease. Although paraquat had already been banned in 13 countries, including Sweden, Denmark, and Austria, in 2003, the Commission of European Communities (CEC) had issued an order approving the use of paraquat. Sweden challenged this order and the judges, in a previous decision, ruled that the CEC’s action showed a “disregard” of proper procedures.

In the new ruling, the Court of First Instance criticizes EU regulators for not checking more carefully whether paraquat could harm humans and animals before authorizing it for sale in 2003. The court said the European Commission – which regulates herbicides and pesticides – was mistaken when it found no signs that the chemical could cause nervous system diseases such as Parkinson’s and that regulators failed to review existing studies on paraquat – even though the chemical producers that asked for approval had not mentioned the adverse studies in their application.

The ruling is a victory for Sweden – supported by Denmark, Austria and Finland – which was angered by having to lift some of its strict environmental controls when it joined the EU in 1995 in order to conform with trade rules.

Paraquat, which has been in use for more than 60 years, attacks the green part of a plant, drying the leaves out to kill it without affecting the roots of crops below ground. Among the literature that links paraquat to Parkinson’s is an April 2007 study that finds farm workers exposed to paraquat have twice the expected risk of developing Parkinson’s. A 2005 study also confirms the link between paraquat and Parkinson’s.

Source: Associated Press

TAKE ACTION: Let the Bush Administration know that the United States should follow the EU’s lead and ban the toxic herbicide paraquat. Contact EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and send an email to President Bush. Also let your elected members of Congress know how you feel. Contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives.