19 March 2010
Chlorpyrifos linked to developmental delays in young children
A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health found the pesticide chlorpyrifos is associated with delays in physical and metal development in young children.
- news story

13 March 2010
INDIA: Cows die after pesticide poisoning
At least 10 cows have been found dead after eating grass laced with pesticide in Gujarat, India. It is suggested the cows consumed the grass, thought to be lawn clippings, after it had been thrown disposed of as rubbish.
- news story

3 March 2010
Herbicide may be responsible for worldwide frog decline
Researchers at the University of California have shown that the widely used herbicide atrazine is responsible for making male frogs infertile as well as causing male frogs to turn into females. The study shows sex-reversed males mate with other male frogs and lay eggs but only produce male offspring which has huge implications for wild frog populations.
- news story

24 February 2010
UK: Pesticides found in watercourses
Pesticides have been found in watercourses such as rivers around the country in levels that exceed those considered safe for drinking water. Evidence of the banned herbicide isoproturon was also found.
- news story

19 February 2010
US: Skin cancer linked to pesticide exposure
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives has shown incidence of skin cancer to be higher in farmers exposed to certain pesticides. The study looked at 50 000 workers and found a dose-response relationship between incidence of skin cancer and the farmers having worked with four pesticides: parathion, carbaryl, mancozeb and benomyl.
- news story

17 February 2010
CANADA: Pesticide responsible for lobster deaths
Hundreds of lobsters from the Bay of Fundy in Canada have been found dead by fishermen following the contamination of the Bay by an agricultural pesticide. Tests on the dead lobsters have shown they were exposed to the pesticide Cypermethrin which is highly toxic to lobsters and illegal for use in marine environments.
- news story

15 February 2010
Pesticide exposure increases risk of prostrate cancer
A recent study reported in Environmental Health Perspectives has shown that exposure to the insecticide coumaphos may increase the risk of prostrate cancer in individuals where there is a family history of the disease. The study examined male pesticide applicators with a family history of prostrate cancer who had been coumaphos and found they were 65% more likely to develop the disease than those who had not.
- news story
- journal article

12 February 2010
US: Study links underactive thyroid to pesticide exposure
A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology has reported a link between thyroid problems in women and pesticides. The study looked at over 16 500 women married to men who were licensed pesticide applicators. Over 20% of the women reported having problems with their thyroids. Problems included thyroid disease and underactive thyroid glands.
- news story

9 February 2010
GERMANY: Retailers pledge to increase monitoring of pesticide levels
Leading German retailers have joined forces with the Trade Association of Germany in a project to increase the monitoring of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables.
- news story

8 February 2010
US: Atrazine may be linked to birth defects
A study carried out by the University of Washington has shown a potential link between the commonly used herbicide atrazine and the birth defect gastroschisis. The study found incidence of gastroschisis was much higher in eastern Washington state where agriculture is the main industry. The study compared reports of the birth defect with U.S. Geological Survey database records of agricultural spraying.
- news story

8 February 2010
TAIWAN: Excessive insecticide residues found in 16% of agricultural products
The Department of Health in Taiwan have released figures showing around 16% of agricultural products for sale on the domestic market contain excessive levels of pesticide residues. Out of 118 agricultural products for sale examined, 19 contained higher than acceptable pesticide levels.
- news story

4 February 2010
FRANCE: Farmers win occupational disease legal case
Three french farmers have won their legal battle that their cases of cancer and Parkinson's disease were caused by working with pesticides. The farmers have successfully sued the chemical companies responsible and are now encouraging others to put forward their cases.
- news story

7 February 2010
INDIA: Water around Union Carbide factory polluted
The Central Pollution Control Board in India has found the water surrounding the abandoned Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal is heavily polluted with toxins. According to the board, "In some cases, the toxins were found to be several hundred times more than the permissible limits in drinking water".
- news story

14 January 2010
UK: Schools using potential carcinogenic pesticides
Seven of the pesticides commonly used in schools may have serious negative health impacts with at least four being potentially cancer causing according to a new survey of English, Welsh and Scottish school authorities published by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK).
- press release (pdf)
- report (pdf)

4 January 2010
US: Pesticide harmful to bees is banned levels
From 15 January 2010 a judge has banned the sale of spirotetramat, a dangerous pesticide known to endanger bee colonies. Spirotetramat is sold under the trade names Movento and Ultor.
- news story

4 January 2010
INDIA: Four die following insecticide poisoning
Four family members have died after consuming food suspected to have been laced with an organophosphorus cotton insecticide. Three of the four died within an hour of eating the food. The deaths are not thought to be deliberate, one of the deceased worked as a farm labourer on a cotton farm. Three boxes of pesticides used in cotton production have been taken from the family home as evidence.
- news story

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Pesticide Updates Archive
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