Resource Pointer #234
April 12, 2000

For copies of the following resources, please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.

*Pesticide Research Updates, February 2000* Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and Californians for Pesticide Reform. Reviews recent research on health effects of pesticides. Includes summaries of studies on reproductive effects, children’s health, poisonings and more. Features discussion of pesticides in human breast milk, suicides with pesticides and provides online resource and reading lists. 8 pp. Free. Html and PDF versions available at PANNA Web site http://www.panna.org.

*Green Blood–Red Tears, 1999* Joe Terrence Gray. Documentary film examines relationship between depression and suicide among U.S. farmers. Presents studies that suggests use of organophosphate-based pesticides could increase the risk of suicide. Features interviews with suicide investigator Ronald Maris, epidemiologist Ian Crombie and former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower. 87 minutes. US$95 plus $5 shipping for institutions, US$50 plus $5 shipping for community non-profit organizations. Contact Joe Terrence Gray, Ag-Culture Media Project, 11503 Main St., Middletown, KY 40243; phone (502) 244-9444.

*Suicide and depression resulting from exposure to pesticides among tobacco farmers in Paraná, Brazil: A pilot study, 2000* Natascha M. Smits. Discusses depression and suicide rate among tobacco farmers in Brazil. Reviews epidemiological studies on chronic exposure to pesticides and suicide, on chronic pesticide exposure and depression and on acute exposure and depression. Includes chapters on tobacco cultivation in Brazil, suicide and depression, toxicological mechanisms and more. 68 pp. Contact Environmental and Occuaptional Health, Ritzema Bosweg 32-A, P.O. Box 238, 6700 AE Wageningen, the Netherlands.

*The Agricultural Use of Antibiotics and Its Implications for Human Health–GAO/RCED-99-74, 1999* U.S. General Accounting Office (US GAO). Examines implications for human health, federal responsibilities for overseeing agricultural use of antibiotics and whether to further regulate or restrict agricultural use of antibiotics. Presents research linking agricultural use of antibiotics to emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of disease-causing bacteria, including Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli (E. Coli). 33pp. First copy free, additional copies US$2. Contact US GAO, P.O. Box 37050, Washington, DC 20013; phone (202) 512-6000; fax (202) 512-6061; TDD (202) 512-2537; email info@www.gao.gov; Web site http://www.gao.gov.

*Federal Efforts to Ensure the Safety of Imported Foods Are Inconsistent and Unreliable–GAO/RCED-98-103, 1998* U.S. General Accounting Office (US GAO). Evaluates U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Department of Health and Human Service’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) efforts to ensure safety of imported food supply. Discusses weaknesses in FDA port-of-entry inspections, FSIS inspection and testing focus and import controls that allow entry of unsafe food products. Presents recommendations to Congress, Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Agriculture. First copy free, additional copies US$2. Contact US GAO, P.O. Box 37050, Washington, DC 20013; phone (202) 512-6000; fax (202) 512-6061; TDD (202) 512-2537; email info@www.gao.gov; Web site http://www.gao.gov.

We encourage those interested in having resources listed in the PANUPS Resource Pointer to send review copies of publications, videos or other resources to our office.