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Scientists Fight Pesticide Industry Pressure, Florida Birth Defects, Get Rid of Pests Without Pesticides, and more
June 1, 2006

United States: Concerned about the harmful effects of pesticides on children, groups representing over nine thousand scientists in EPA and other government agencies wrote a letter to EPA chief Stephen Johnson complaining about pressure from the pesticide industry to allow continued use of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides without adequate evaluation. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) also revealed that the pesticide industry met with Bush administration officials last summer to outline their demands for the controversial human testing pesticide rule.

PAN has issued a news advisory in support of PEER, the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, Engineers and Scientists of California, risk managers and other scientists in the government. United Farm Workers issued an action alert to urge Stephen Johnson to respond to the scientists’ complaints.

Florida: PAN North America reviewed a report issued October 12, 2005, by Collier County Health Department in Florida regarding birth defects and possible links to pesticides. PAN comments that the dismissal of a possible link between pesticide exposure and the occurrence of birth defects in babies born to agricultural workers exposed to pesticides is grossly understated and not adequately addressed. Read PAN’s comments.

California: Rural residents in Lassen County protested pesticide spraying after thirteen families reportedly became sick after chemicals were used for mosquito abatement. Additional pesticide treatment is planned for the more populated area of Susanville. The Lassen News has the story.

Nepal: Prohibited toxic chemicals — mostly pesticides — dumped in a godown (warehouse) adjoining a secondary school in Nepal have been affecting the health of some 600 students and more than 5,000 residents of the village, reports eKantipur in their May 29th edition. As much as seven tons of imported pesticides were dumped in the godown after the government banned its use.

Washington: In 2005, ten Washington state residents agreed to testing of their hair, blood, and urine for the presence of toxic chemicals as part of an investigative biomonitoring study by the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition. The Coalition wanted to know which chemicals were getting into our bodies, and at what levels, to better understand the potential harm posed by poor regulation of chemicals, and to develop better solutions. Participants were tested for six groups of chemicals, including pesticides. Read the report and find out how you can take action to help stop chemical contamination.

Illinois: Pesticides aggravate asthma and are especially harmful to children. The Safer Pest Control project of Chicago offers helpful information for schools, homeowners, and everyone for reducing use of pesticides with information on Integrated Pest Management. Sound IPM approaches focus on the causes and prevention of pest problems using least-toxic methods. Read More.

PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and reporting on pesticide issues that don’t always get coverage by the mainstream media. It’s produced by Pesticide Action Network North America, a non-profit and non-governmental organization working to advance sustainable alternatives to pesticides worldwide.

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