Search Results
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 22, 2024) A study in the journal of Environmental Science and Technology Letters, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is the first to find halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) in deep ocean sediment and biota off the coast of California. The test area, known as the Southern California Bight (SCB), is home to historic offshore DDT waste dumping, with part of the SCB designated as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site. 49 HOCs were detected in the sediment and biota, many of which are DDT-related and not previously screened for. The presence of these âunmonitored compounds can significantly contribute to the contaminant body burden across a range of marine taxa,â the study states, which leads to impacts on critical food webs and biodiversity. While this study is the first to specifically analyze previously overlooked DDT+ compounds, the results are nothing new. There is a body of science around the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of harmful pollutants that continue to lead to a decline in biodiversity, negative impacts on water and soil, and detrimental human health effects. Â Â Â Â Â To assess the bioavailability of DDT+ and HOCs in the deep ocean food web, this study focused on […]
Posted in Aquatic Organisms, Body Burden, California, DDT, Montrose, Mosquitoes, Oceans, Superfund, Wildlife/Endangered Sp. | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 21st, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 21, 2024) In a first-of-its kind series of biomonitoring studies published in Agrochemicals, researchers identified the presence of the herbicides dicamba and 2,4-D in all pregnant participants from both cohorts in 2010-2012 and 2020-2022. The findings from this research are not surprising given the explosion of toxic petrochemical pesticides in the Midwest region of the United States. âThe overall level of dicamba use (kilograms applied in one hundred thousands) in the U.S. has increased for soybeans since 2015 and slightly increased for cotton and corn,â the authors report, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service surveys. âThe overall level of 2,4-D use (kilograms applied in one hundred thousands) in the U.S. was highest in 2010 for wheat, soybeans, and corn. The amount of 2,4-D applied increased the most for soybeans and corn from 2010 to 2020.â The researchers focused on the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, given the increase in dicamba and 2,4-D during the study period for both cohorts (2010-2022). The researchers are based at Indiana University School of Medicine in the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Quebec Toxicology Center within the Institut national […]
Posted in 2,4-D, Dicamba, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Agencies, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Uncategorized, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) | No Comments »
Monday, May 20th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 20, 2024)Â (Beyond Pesticides, May 20, 2024) The Republican Farm Bill draft in the U.S. House of Representatives, released on Friday, May 17, is a broad attack on pesticide restrictions and the right to sue chemical manufacturers and allied users of pesticides when harmed. âThis legislation is a complete nonstarter for the millions of people who want stronger pesticide restrictions, democratic decision making on toxic chemicals in communities, and the right to sue manufacturers and pesticide users when harmed and misled on the hazards of pesticides,â said Jay Feldman, executive director. âWe vehemently oppose this Republican legislation with the understanding and experienceâbridging farmers, medical practitioners, land managers, local policy makers, and familiesâthat we can and must transition to safe practices and products that protect our health, biodiversity, and climate,â Mr. Feldman continued. The Farm Bill attack takes place on many critical fronts. The draft legislation: 1. Takes away the right to sue for failure to warn when harmed by pesticides. The language says: âprohibit. . .a court from directly or indirectly imposing or continuing in effect any requirements for, or penalize or hold liable any entity for failing to comply with requirements with respect to, labeling or […]
Posted in Agriculture, Alternatives/Organics, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Farm Bill, Genetic Engineering, Litigation, Preemption, Take Action, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, May 17th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 17, 2024) Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) proclaimed May 12 -18, 2024 as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Week, first established in 1998 in numerous states across the U.S. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)âalso called chemical intolerance or Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT), is characterized by disorders in one or more body systems, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and neurological processes. It is thought to be caused by adverse reactions to environmental chemicals and/or biological substances such as mold. Affected individuals suffer fatigue, rashes, muscle and joint pains, memory loss, and other symptoms. The Massachusetts proclamation encourages âresidents of the commonwealth to take cognizanceâ of the event and recognize the distress of their fellow citizens who suffer from MCS. May 12 is also known as International May 12th Awareness Day, an observance started in 2006 in the United Kingdom to educate the public about many diseases associated with sensitivity to chemicals, including MCS, fibromyalgia, and Gulf War Syndrome. While some scientists have considered MCS a psychological or psychosomatic problem, there is increasing support for the reality of MCS as a physical disease distinct from mental or emotional disorders. Yet there are no medical tests that can reliably confirm a diagnosis, […]
Posted in chemical sensitivity, Depression, Indoor Air Quality, Massachusetts, MCS/chem. sensitivity, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Thursday, May 16th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 16, 2024) In a recent study at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Ulm University in Germany, published in Current Research in Toxicology, scientists exposed embryos of South African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) to three neonicotinoids (NEOs), which led to developmental effects down to a molecular level. These frogs are a well-established model species often used in ecotoxicology studies as bioindicators for overall environmental and ecosystem health. When amphibian species like Xenopus laevis are exposed to contaminants in the water, it leads to negative impacts in the food chain and harms biodiversity. The study concludes that exposure to NEOs directly or through contaminated water leaves entire ecosystems vulnerable. Â Â The NEOs that the embryos were subjected to include imidacloprid (IMD), thiamethoxam (TMX), and its metabolite clothianidin (CLO). NEOs are a class of insecticides that target the central nervous system of insects and lead to death. These insecticides pose a potential hazard to nontarget organisms, such as animals and humans, since they are persistent in the environment and âare found in natural waters as well as in tap water and human urine in regions where NEOs are widely used,â this study states. The authors continue by […]
Posted in Aquatic Organisms, Biodiversity, Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Water | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 15th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 15, 2024) A study published recently in the journal Environmental Research finds a significant correlation between exposure to certain pesticides and an elevated risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic autoimmune condition of the gastrointestinal tract. The study, adding to the body of science on this subject, evaluates self-reported data from licensed pesticide applicators and their spouses exposed to pesticides for over 20 years. In addition, while some of the chemicals found to be most closely associated with incidents of IBD have been banned from use, they are âforeverâ chemicals that persist in the environment for generations. These findings demonstrate once again the failings of the current regulatory process to identify hazards before they are put into the environment. The study found evidence that exposure to several organochlorine insecticides (dieldrin, DDT, and toxaphene), as well as organophosphate insecticides (parathion, terbufos, and phorate) and herbicides (2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-TP, and metolachlor), is associated with elevated IBD risk. IBD is a generic term for diseases that result in chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, such as Crohnâs disease and ulcerative colitis. It is estimated that 6.8 million patients globally suffered from IBD in 2017. IBD may result from an imbalance […]
Posted in Agriculture, Cancer, Carbamates, Cardiovascular Disease, Chemical Mixtures, Chemicals, DDT, Dieldrin, Disease/Health Effects, Environmental Justice, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Farmworkers, Glyphosate, Gut Dysbiosis, Herbicides, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Iowa, Lindane, Liver Damage, metabolic syndrome, Metolachlor, Microbiata, Microbiome, North Carolina, organochlorines, organophosphate, Parathion, Phorate, soil health, synergistic effects, terbufos, toxaphene, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 14th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 14, 2024) As research continues to emerge on the value of organic farming, U.S. Congress debates its future as Farm Bill negotiations have been stalled for months. Recent studies published within the past few months show the significance of organic agricultureâs support of fungal and microbial life, which is essential to soil health. Meanwhile, last week the Democrat-led Senate and Republican-led House of Representatives presented their respective visions to amend the 2024 Farm Bill. The office of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released an initial Senate framework for the (now 2024) Farm Bill. At the same time, U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson (R-PA), chair of the House Agriculture Committee, released an outline of the House version, then followed up with more details. While the Senate Democratic proposal includes more robust support for expanding and strengthening organic product supply chains and domestic production, the House Republican support for organic land management principles and practices demonstrates that the Farm Bill could recognize, across the political spectrum, its economic, ecological, and public health benefits in the United States. Despite this, a growing coalition of advocates is alerting the public and members of Congress that the […]
Posted in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Farm Bill, National Organic Standards Board/National Organic Program, Preemption, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, May 13th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 13, 2024) A study published in Environmental Research finds that âearly life organophosphate pesticide exposure has been linked with poorer neurodevelopment from infancy to adolescence.â Researchers in this study acknowledge that there is still much more to be done in furthering understanding of âneural mechanisms underlying these associations,â and yet there is ânotable consistencyâ in their Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) birth cohort study. This studyâs findings are consistent with decades of substantial, peer-reviewed scientific literature documenting the adverse health impacts of organophosphate pesticides on public and ecological health. Organic advocates believe that a transition away from chemical-intensive agriculture and land management is the most viable solution to avoid adverse health impacts and end reliance on toxic chemicals in households and communities. The researchers for this study are based at the University of California, Berkley (Center for Environmental Research and Community Health as well as Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research), Department of Public Health at University of California, Merced, and Stanford University (Departments of Radiology and Pediatrics in the School of Medicine). âWe have reported associations of prenatal [organophosphate] exposure with poorer cognitive function and executive function, and more attention and […]
Posted in Chemicals, Children, multi-generational effects, organophosphate, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, May 10th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 10, 2024) A study published by scientists in France from La Rochelle Universityâs ChizĂŠ Center for Biological Studies, in collaboration with the University of Strasbourg and the University of Burgundy, finds lower pesticide load in chicks from a bird of prey species in areas with organic farming. A correlation between lower numbers of pesticides in the blood of birds with the presence of organic farms surrounding the habitats was determined after analyzing 55 Montaguâs harrier (Circus pygargus) nestlings from 22 different nests in southwestern France. As the percentage of organic agriculture around the nests increased, there was a significant decrease in the quantity and types of pesticides detected within the chicksâ blood. In beginning this study, the scientists hypothesized that âthe application of organic farming practices is expected to reduce contamination levels in the environment and consequently in wildlife.â They also referenced studies, such as a soil study, that aided in this speculation: âIn an analysis of topsoil samples collected across Europe, samples from organic farms showed significantly fewer pesticide residues and in lower concentrations than those from conventional farms … [with] 70 to 90% lower concentrations.â  This study screened for 104 total compounds, 28 of which […]
Posted in Agriculture, Alternatives/Organics, Biodiversity, Birds, Wildlife/Endangered Sp. | No Comments »
Thursday, May 9th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 8-9, 2024) In its proposal on mushrooms and pet food, the U.S. Department of Agricultureâs (USDA) National Organic Program is following up on recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to ensure that two areas of organic production are clarified and in compliance with the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA). The notice raises questions of standards that ultimately grow the organic market while ensuring that the USDA organic label is backed by standards that have integrity and garner the publicâs trust. In this spirit, Beyond Pesticides participates in the NOSB review/recommendation process and USDA rulemaking through public comments. [Note: Beyond Pesticides has served on the NOSB for a five-year term (2010-2015) and urges other environmental organization representatives to consider self-nominating for service on the board.] The issues relating to clear standards for mushrooms and pet food have been before the NOSB and in discussion for some time as a part of ongoing efforts to ensure continuous improvement of standards governing the organic sector. While virtually all in the organic community and industry agree that the USDA proposals are needed and long overdue, Beyond Pesticides points to problems in the proposed rule that need correcting: (i) Re. […]
Posted in Alternatives/Organics, Announcements, National Organic Standards Board/National Organic Program, Organic Foods Production Act OFPA, Take Action, Taurine, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 8, 2024) In an unexpected turnaround, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced at the end of April a Proposed Interim Decision (PID) to discontinue all but one application of the insecticide acephate. Acephate is an organophosphate pesticide, a well-known neurotoxicant, widely banned globally, including in the European Union. Under the proposal, all uses would end except for the injection of trees that do not produce fruit or nuts. In its proposed action, EPA asks the manufacturer to offer the agency a voluntary settlement, a process that typically compromises the health of the public, workers, and the environment. Acephate, an organophosphate (OP) pesticide, is approved for use in both agricultural settings, including crops like cotton and soybeans, and nonagricultural applications, such as injections for forestry trees. Acephate affects the nervous system by inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. Importantly, chronic, low levels of exposure can cause a range of adverse human health outcomes, from cancer to birth defects, reproductive and developmental problems, and learning disabilities. While the proposed April interim decision, if it comes to pass, is welcomed by advocates, some are concerned that EPAâs proposal does not fully critique the scientific documents and conclusions on risk that […]
Posted in Acephate, Malathion, organophosphate | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, May 7th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 7, 2024) The marginal user costs (MUC) of pesticide resistance for chemical-intensive farmers and the pest management industry are significantly affected by pesticide costs, density dependence (growth rate of a pest population impacted by its density), and dominant genetic mutations that cause resistance, according to a novel study published in Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. Although the authors believe that integrated pest management (IPM) can be fine-tuned based on these findings, many advocates believe that these findings in fact underscore the importance of eliminating toxic pesticide use amidst compounding climate, biodiversity, and public health crisesâwhich many IPM strategies do not adequately address. As the costs of petrochemical-based pesticides increase, organisms identified as pests continue to increase in population density as global and regional temperatures dually increase. Organic agriculture, and organic land management principles more broadly, are an economically and ecologically advantageous leap ahead in transitioning to a food system that moves beyond the status quo that poisons people and the planet. âThis paper seeks to develop a better understanding of how the user costs of resistance are potentially determined by the interactions of heterogeneous bioeconomic factors that vary by context,â say the study authors. […]
Posted in Antibiotic Resistance, Integrated and Organic Pest Management, Pesticide Efficacy, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, May 6th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 6, 2024) The pattern of failure to protect the public from pesticides is again brought to public attention by an analysis by Consumer Reports (CR) that effectively updates its previous report released in 2020. The report and its earlier iteration identify deep structural weaknesses with the institutions charged with protecting the publicâs health and safety. The health risks outlined by CR in 2020 and related to ongoing pesticide exposure, even at low levels, include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, reproductive dysfunction, respiratory problems (e.g., asthma, bronchitis), neurological impacts (e.g., developmental effects and dementia/Alzheimerâs), and endocrine dysfunction, among others. Previously, the magazine reported, âCR’s experts say the government hasnât upheld its responsibility to protect consumers [and that] the research used to set [pesticide residue] tolerances is imperfect, and theyâre often too high.â CR has cited the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is primarily responsible for pesticide regulation, for multiple inadequacies. According to the latest CR analysis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Summary has once again failed to accurately portray the safety of some of the most commonly sold fruits and vegetables in the United States. CR reviewed seven years of PDP data, finding that 20% […]
Posted in Agriculture, Alternatives/Organics, Carbamates, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), organophosphate, Pesticide Residues, Uncategorized, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) | No Comments »
Friday, May 3rd, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 3, 2024)Â Parkinsonâs disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world after Alzheimerâs. Genetic factors account for only a fraction of PD cases, and for decades scientists have been aware of associations between pesticide exposures and PD. Yet, not everyone exposed to pesticides gets PD. Consequently, neither the genetic nor the environmental hypothesis is fully satisfactory; both may be involved. Thus, there has been great interest in identifying gene variants that affect the risks of PD associated with pesticide exposure. Now a team of University of California at Los Angeles researchers led by neurologist Brent Fogel, MD, PhD has traced a connection between certain gene variants and the occurrence and severity of PD in a cohort of central California PD patients who have had long-term exposure to pesticides. The genes are related to autophagy, the process by which cells organize, degrade, recycle or eject molecules to maintain healthy chemical balance. Autophagy is an essential process throughout the body, including regulation of mitochondria, which are also vital for healthy cellular function. The study supports other research suggesting that autophagy is disturbed in neurodegenerative diseases. As Beyond Pesticides discussed in its April 19 Daily News, PD […]
Posted in arsenic, cacodylic acid, California, Carbamates, Farmworkers, Lewy Body Disease (LBD), Nervous System Effects, organoarsenic, organophosphate, Parkinson's, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, May 2nd, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 2, 2024) In the midst of a climate crisis and a lack of government recording of atmospheric measurements of sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2), a study of the estimated emissions of sulfuryl fluoride throughout the U.S. shows elevated levels being released in California. The study, performed by researchers from Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, University of Californiaâs Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationâs (NOAA) Global Monitoring Laboratory, uses measurements from the NOAA Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network and a geostatistical inverse model. Sulfuryl fluoride is a fluoride compound and pesticide used primarily for the extermination of drywood termites and beetlesâlinked to increased greenhouse gas emissions and having acute exposure consequencesâwith little data collected or reported on the amount of sulfuryl fluoride being used and released into the atmosphere. There is a long history of limited protections for the public centered around sulfuryl fluoride, with regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not addressing both dietary and nondietary exposure to fluoride compounds and the body burden this creates. With the dismissal of aggregate risk exposure, public health and safety and environmental sustainability are not prioritized. Organic alternatives have been left out of the conversation, […]
Posted in California, Climate Change, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fluoride, Pesticide Regulation, sulfuryl fluoride | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, May 1, 2024) According to a new analysis by Consumer Reports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Summary has once again failed to accurately portray the safety of some of the most commonly sold fruits and vegetables in the United States. A review of seven years of PDP data show that 20% of the foods tested pose a âhigh riskâ to the public and 12 specific commodities are so dangerous that children or pregnant people should not eat more than one serving per day, according to Consumer Reports analysis. Consumer Reports contend that U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) pesticide residue tolerances are too lenient. To better evaluate potential health risks associated with various foods, Consumer Reports applied stricter residue limits than the EPA tolerances (see here for CR’s analytical methodology). Notably, USDA certified organic food products are not permitted to be produced with the pesticides identified by the report. Pesticide residues found in organic, with rare exception, are a function of the off-target chemical-intensive agriculture pollution through pesticide drift, water contamination, or background soil residues. The Consumer Reports results fly in the face of the rosy outlook reported by the USDA in its 2022 […]
Posted in Acephate, Agriculture, Alternatives/Organics, Breakdown Chemicals, Chemicals, contamination, Drift, Environmental Justice, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Herbicides, oxamyl, Pesticide Drift, Pesticide Mixtures, Pesticide Residues, Uncategorized, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 29th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, April 29, 2024)Â The contamination and poisoning left behind from wood treatment sites, resulting in hundreds of designated Superfund clean-up sites across the country, is the subject of an action by Beyond Pesticides after the release of yet another report criticizing the federal governmentâs inadequate response to the publicâs risk to âresidual contamination in the groundwater and soilâ by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG). The report criticizes EPAâs weak response at the American Creosote Works Superfund site in Pensacola, FL, a problem that reflects the unending dangers of sites contaminated with persistent toxic chemicals associated with wood preservatives. The site was put on the Superfund priority list in 1983 and in 2017 it was estimated that the clean-up would cost $35.3 million. Just last year, EPA Administrator Michael Regan toured another Superfund Site contaminated with creosote and pledged the clean-up of that site, which affects a community of predominantly people of color. Tell EPA to cancel the registration of highly toxic wood preservatives, including creosote, chromated arsenicals, and copper compounds, and the U.S. Congress to ensure the prevention of future site contaminations. As long as dependency on toxic wood preservatives (used on utility […]
Posted in Children, Environmental Justice, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Inspector General, Uncategorized, Wood Preservatives | No Comments »
Friday, April 26th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, April 26, 2024) Researchers build on existing research when assessing the relationship between long-term exposure to organophosphorus pesticidesâwidely used in food production and homes and gardensâand the human gut microbiome. In a new study published in Environmental Health, an interdisciplinary research team from University of California, Los Angeles determined, âthat exposure to [organophosphorus pesticides] is associated with changes in the abundance of several bacterial groups and differential functional capacity in metabolic pathways supported by the human gut microbiome.â The study draws upon data from a âParkinsonâs, Environment and Gene study (PEG)â in which 190 participants were asked to submit fecal samples and answer interview questions. â[The study] was initially designed to investigate the etiology of Parkinsonâs disease (PD) and participants were recruited in two study waves [âover the full 10-year exposure windowâ]: 2001â2007 and 2012â2017. At baseline, [Parkinsonâs disease] patients were diagnosed within the past 5 years and randomly selected community controls were also recruited,â the research team shares in their Methodology section. âSince 2017, we invited previous study participants who could be contacted to enroll in a pilot study of the gut microbiome. In addition, we invited a household or community member of [Parkinsonâs] patients to participate.â […]
Posted in Biomonitoring, Chemicals, contamination, Disease/Health Effects, Microbiata, Microbiome, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, April 25th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, April 25, 2024) In a study from earlier this year, âPesticides: An alarming detrimental to health and environment,â scientists compiled research from 154 articles regarding pesticide use and the adverse effects they have on the environment and human health. Among the effects of the harmful pesticides described is genotoxicityâthe alteration of genetic material that results in the mutations in DNA that cause cancer. The authors state that âgenotoxins are mutagenic chemicals, and exposure to them increases the risk of developing tumors, hormonal changes, DNA damage, and changes in the ovaries and eggs, all of which leading to cancers… The risk of DNA damage surges with increased genotoxicity in people exposed to pesticides.â In addition, the National Institute of Health states that all âpesticides are highly biologically active chemicals. They may interact with DNA and damage its structure.â Despite these documented risks, pesticide use continues to surge. While phased out to a considerable extent after being widely used in agriculture and residential areas, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) or its breakdown compound dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) continue to show up as residues in the environment and food supply. Symptoms in humans that have been exposed to these chemicals include: seizures, […]
Posted in Cancer, Chemicals, Disease/Health Effects, Endocrine Disruption, Farmworkers, Glyphosate, organochlorines, organophosphate, Pesticide Regulation | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 24th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, April 24, 2024) On April 16, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted an âupdateâ to the Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework (Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework to Reduce Exposure of Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Species and Designated Critical Habitats from the Use of Conventional Agricultural Herbicides) that was released last summer, weakening aspects of the agencyâs efforts to âprotectâ endangered species from herbicide use. The update outlines three types of modifications to the Draft Strategy, including âsimplifyingâ its approach, increasing growersâ âflexibilityâ when applying mitigation measures, and reducing the mitigation measures required in certain situations. By reducing the stringency of the Strategy, advocates are again questioning EPAâs commitment to fulfilling legal requirements under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or protecting endangered species and their habitats in the midst of an unprecedented rate of global extinction. ESA is celebrated as one of the most far-reaching conservation laws globally, credited with preventing the extinction of 99 percent of those species the government targets for protection, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). ESA establishes a framework to categorize species as âendangeredâ or âthreatened,â granting them specific protections. Under ESA, EPA is required to consult with relevant agencies […]
Posted in Agriculture, Alternatives/Organics, Announcements, Disease/Health Effects, Drift, Endangered Species Act (ESA), Environmental Justice, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Farmworkers, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Habitat Protection, Herbicides, Increased Vulnerability to Diseases from Chemical Exposure, National Organic Standards Board/National Organic Program, Organic Foods Production Act OFPA, organophosphate, Parks for a Sustainable Future, Pesticide Efficacy, Pesticide Mixtures, Pesticide Regulation, Pollinators, U.S. Geological Survey, US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Wildlife/Endangered Sp. | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, April 23, 2024) The Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report last week finding that the agency has failed to establish âinstitutional controlsâ at the American Creosote Works Superfund Site in Pensacola, Florida, leading to continuous groundwater and soil contamination that âleav[es] the public at risk of exposure.â The 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) established the Superfund program, codified under 42 U.S.C. Chapter 103, to clean up contaminated sites with tax money from polluting industries. The OIG made eight recommendations for the regional EPA administrator and one for the assistant administrator âfor Land and Emergency Management to improve the institutional controls at American Creosote Works Superfund Site.â There are three main determinations found in the results section of the OIG report: first, the institutional controls to prevent potential exposure were either âinsufficient or unimplemented;â second, the EPA missed its mark in communicating associated risks to the public in areas surrounding this Superfund site; and third, the full administrative record for this site was not available at the time of inspection. This report builds on what advocates argue is the sustained legacy of EPA inaction and failure to […]
Posted in CCA, Chemicals, Children, contamination, creosote, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pentachlorophenol, Uncategorized, Wood Preservatives | No Comments »
Monday, April 22nd, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, April 22, 2024) Today, on Earth Day, the future of the planet and the health of all its inhabitants come into focus from numerous human and ecosystem health perspectives, with particular concern for the health of the next generationâas childhood cancer continues to be a leading cause of death from disease among children. Many studies demonstrate an association between environmental or occupational pesticide exposure and the risk of childhood cancer in offspring. Taking Action in Your Community: On Earth Day, Beyond Pesticides invites communities to join together in its nationwide campaign to convert parks to organic land management practices through the Parks for a Sustainable Future program. Through this program, Beyond Pesticides works with park managers, bringing hands-on horticultural support to eliminate petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers and instead nurture soil organisms to cycle nutrients naturally while creating resilient landscapes that resist weeds, insects, and disease. This program outlines the steps to become a parks advocate and how Beyond Pesticides works with communities committed to safe parks and playing fields for communities, children, and pets. One major impetus for the Parks program are the many studies that find prenatal and early-life exposure to environmental toxicants increases disease susceptibility. For decades, studies have […]
Posted in Cancer, Children, Congress, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Parks for a Sustainable Future, Take Action, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Friday, April 19th, 2024
(Beyond Pesticides, April 19, 2024)Â Parkinsonâs disease (PD) and certain forms of dementia have been associated with exposure to pesticides, industrial chemicals, and air pollution for decades. But the mechanisms of disease progression have been unclear, and U.S. regulators have been reluctant to recognize the risks. Now neurologist E. Ray Dorsey, MD of the University of Rochester and researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Aarhus University in Denmark propose a new research paradigm based on tracking how toxicants cause neurodegeneration through inhalation and ingestion pathways. The paradigm, the authors believe, can be used to gain insight into how PD and a form of dementia known as Lewy body disease (LBD) are initiated as many as 50 years before the onset of symptoms. Dorsey and colleagues build on a recent theory that PD and LBD may be two versions of the same basic disease, both involving Lewy bodies in the nervous system. The groupâs proposal was published in the Journal of Parkinsonâs Disease in April. If its recommended research agenda produces the anticipated empirical support, the new paradigm will demand integration of many interdisciplinary lines of evidence showing that environmental exposures to synthetic chemicals may be the primary cause […]
Posted in Lawns/Landscapes, Lewy Body Disease (LBD), Parkinson's, Uncategorized | No Comments »