May - August
5 August 2009
USA: Pesticides in well water linked
to Parkinson’s
Residents in California’s Central Valley who drink water
from private wells sited near fields that are sprayed with the
insecticides propargite or chlorpyrifos are 90% more likely to
develop Parkinson’s disease according to a recent study
published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Researchers
from UCLA studied more than 700 people in the area, which is in
the centre of California’s farm belt.
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news story
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study
2 August 2009
TURKEY: 74 pesticides banned
Turkey has announced it will be banning 74 pesticides because
they are poisonous. The pesticides are among the 135 chemicals
identified as illegal by the EU. The country will ban another
6 next year but may take longer to prohibit the remaining 55 which
have been identified as being crucial to local farmers.
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news story
30 July 2009
Childhood leukemia linked to pesticides
Higher levels of common household pesticides have been found in
the urine of children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(ALL) according to a study published in the August issue of Therapeutic
Drug Monitoring. The study was carried out by researchers at the
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in America. Researchers also
measured the levels of pesticides in the mothers’ urine
with corresponding results. 41 children with ALL and their mothers
were tested against a control of 41 healthy children and their
mothers.
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news story
27 July 2009
USA: Two pesticides highly toxic to frogs
Chlorpyrifos and endosulfan are toxic to two species of frogs:
Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla); and foothill yellow-legged
frogs (Rana boylii) both found in the Sierra Nivada moutains.
A recent study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry has shown both pesticides cause the tadpoles of both species to
develop abnormalities with endosulfan also effecting the growth
and development rates of both species.
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news story
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study
21 July 2009
Young children more vulnerable to pesticides
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives has found children under the age of 7 are more vulnerable to pesticide
toxicity than adults as they have significantly lower levels of
an enzyme, paraoxonase, that protects against the toxic effects
of certain pesticides. Genetics are also involved in determining
how effective the enzyme is at breaking down and neutralising
the pesticides – different children carry different genetic
variations of the enzyme gene causing it to be present in higher
or lower levels.
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news story
5 June 2009
INDIA: Human milk contains pesticides
Organochlorine pesticides have been found in both blood and milk
samples collected from lactating women from Anupgarh, Rajasthan
by researchers at Rajasthan University. Newborns are extremely
vulnerable to pesticide exposure which can effect their stamina
and cause poor growth. Anupgarh has India's largest foodgrain
industry.
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news story
4 June 2009
AUSTRALIA: Farmers near Great Barrier
Reef to be fined
From January farmers may face fines of up to $30 000 if they fail
to reduce the impact of pesticides and fertilizers on the Great
Barrier Reef. The Queensland Government aims to reduce pesticides
entering the reef by 50 per cent over four years.
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news story
28 May 2009
Herbicides linked to pancreatic cancer
Farm workers who regularly work with certain herbicides have a
significantly greater chance of developing pancreatic cancer than
those who have not been exposed the same herbicides. A study published
in the International Journal of Cancer has shown the
herbicides pendimethalin and EPTC both increase the risk of developing
pancreatic cancer.
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news story
20 May 2009
USA: Pesticide exposure during pregnancy
risky for baby
A new report by The Organic Centre highlights how exposure to
pesticides during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature
birth, low birth rate, neurological problems and diabetes. That
First Step: Organic Food and a Healthier Future is a review
of over 150 studies and shows how a balanced organic diet benefits
childhood development
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news story
15 May 2009
UK: Sheep dip causes health problems
in farmers
Even low levels of organophosphate sheep dip can cause health
problems according to a study published by the Department for
the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 132 farm workers were
monitored over a period of two years and were found to suffer
from a number of health problems including fatigue, muscle ache,
and impaired memory, response speed and motor control.
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news story
9 May 2009
Lindane to be banned under Stockholm
Convention
Lindane is one of 9 dangerous agricultural and industrial chemicals
to be banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants. They will join the existing 12 "dirty dozen"
substances listed under the 2001 Stockholm Convention
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news story
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