Pesticides Ignored By Environmentalists
21 July, 2011 - talk given by Dr Meriel Watts, Auckland
We live in a toxic environment, illness, cancer, chronic disease and for some reason no one seems to know why.
Dr. Meriel Watts presents some incredible bombshells about what is really happening to our environment due to dangerous chemical pesticides and explains why the issue has been dropped from sight in the mainstream environmental movements.
What you don't know might be killing you.
Killer Pesticide Endosulfan to be Phased Out Globally
29 April, 2011 - press release
GENEVA: Gathered in Geneva this week, the nations of the world agreed to add endosulfan, an antiquated persistent insecticide, to the Stockholm Convention’s list of banned substances.
Environmental health and justice organizations from around the world who have been working towards a ban welcomed the decision.
Paraquat - PANANZ Pesticide Monograph
Feb 2011 - document by Dr Meriel Watts
Paraquat is the most highly acutely toxic herbicide to be marketed over the last 60 years.
Yet it is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, and in most countries where it is registered it can be used without restriction. It is used on more than 100 crops in about 100 countries.
Pesticides: Sowing Poisons, Growing Hunger, Reaping Sorrow
Feb 2011 - document available, produced by Dr Meriel Watts Sept 2010
Document addressing the poisoning of people, the contamination of the environment, the advent of insect resistance, and the reduction in the biodiversity that sustains agro-ecosystems.
It explores the greater productivity that can be achieved by avoiding the use of pesticides at the same time as enabling farming communities to regain their dignity and independence.
Tell ERMA NZ to Ban Dichlorvos Pesticide
16 Feb 2011 - submission to ERMA New Zealand by PANANZ
Submissions close Friday 17th February 2011.
Sent a note to: Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) NZ
Email: reassessments@ermnaz.govt.nz
Dichlorvos is a highly toxic, cancer causing pesticide that’s particularly bad news for children and for honey bees.
New Zealand Food Samples Still Stacked With Pesticide Residues
26 Oct 2010 - press release
* Pesticide residues found in 93% of targeted fruit and vege samples
* Prohibited endosulfan again in cucumber samples
* 11 out of 23 Pak choi samples with residues exceeding allowable levels
* 26 different pesticides found among 24 grape samples
* One grape sample containing 10 different pesticides
* Organic fruit & vege free of synthetic pesticides
The Soil &
Health Association – Organic NZ and the Pesticide Action Network
Aotearoa NZ are calling for an attitude change in New Zealand’s food
safety regulators following two very similar pesticide residue result
reports in 3 months, and, despite evidence to the contrary, continued
assurances that there is no food safety issue.
Pesticide Residues in Food - Worst Ever
28 July 2010 - press release
* Pesticide residues found in 94% of targeted fruit and vege samples
* Prohibited endosulfan in 11 of 23 cucumber samples.
* Dangerous fungicide exceeding allowable levels in 9 out of 24 Pak choi samples.
* 18 different pesticides found among 24 grape samples.
* Organic fruit & vege free of synthetic pesticides.
The
Food Safety Authority’s latest pesticide residue results are a
nightmare: they are the worst results I have ever seen," said Dr Meriel
Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand.
Time for New Zealand to Ban the Organophosphate Insecticide Chlorpyrifos
13 June 2010 - article by AgroNews
Chlorpyrifos, an acute nerve toxin & suspected endocrine disruptor has been linked to numerous health harms, including increased risk of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.
From 2001-2005, EPA (USA) phased out residential use of chlorpyrifos, citing concerns for childrens health in particular, although still widely used in rural agriculture, with its exposure dangers.
PAN North America is working with partners, to urge EPA to complete the chlorpyrifos ban. "Its just unconscionable to allow continued exposure to chlorpyrifos among children in agricultural areas, after ruling that it is too hazardous for kids in urban setting."
New Zealand still uses chlorpyrifos in agriculture, horticulture, on livestock & roses: its time to ban it.
Organophosphate Insecticides - Linked to Increased Risk of ADHD
Researchers at the University of Montreal and Harvard University have concluded that 'dietary' exposure to organophosphate (OP) insecticides substantially increases the risk of children getting attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
They
measured the levels of the main OP metabolites in the urine of 1,139
children ages 8 to 15. For each 10-fold increase in OP metabolite
levels, the risk of ADHD increased an astonishing 55% to 72%. The
effect was even seen at low exposure levels.
The
scientists concluded that "The present study adds to the accumulating
evidence linking higher levels of pesticide exposure to adverse
developmental outcomes."
They projected that food, especially fruits and vegetables, are the primary source of OP exposures among these children.
Source:
Maryse Bouchard, David Bellinger, Robert Wright, and Marc Weisskopf,
"Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Urinary Metabolites of
Organophosphate Pesticides," Pediatrics, Vol. 125, No. 6, June 2010.
These residues can be avoided by eating organic fruit and vegetables.
Muesli – Not as Healthy as it Seems, Unless it's Organic !
25 April 2010 - press release
The latest results from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s
(NZFSA) Total Diet Survey raise concerns about the number of
pesticides being found in muesli.
Fumigant methyl bromide Protests Organised !
21 April 2010 - press release
Picton, Frid April 23 | Wellington, Mon April 26 | Tauranga, Wed April 28 Used at many ports in New Zealand, this ozone destroying, highly toxic and potent gas, is often released directly into the atmosphere.
It can cause lung damage, neurological effects, severe poisoning and other adverse effects.
Workers or people living near to where the gas is used can be exposed to it. It has also been linked with motor neurone disease in the death of six port workers in Nelson, and prostate cancer.
Spray Link to Birth Defect - Australia
01 March 2010 - article by Perth Now
A toxic herbicide widely sprayed on food crops across the state has been linked to a shocking birth defect that is on the rise in Western Australia. | |
Bananas succumbing to Roundup
It has been known for awhile now that Roundup and glyphosate are increasing fungal diseases, especially Fusarium, in a number of crops. Now it is being reported that bananas are succumbing to Fusarium rot as a result of glyphosate use. Early varieties of bananas were known to be quite susceptible to Fusarium. These have been largely superseded by varieties with greater natural resistance to the fungal disease. But now, thanks to Roundup, Fusarium is making a come back ,threatening the future of commercial banana production.
Roundup & birth defects:
Is the public being kept in the dark?
That’s the name of the latest report raising concerns about the world’s most widely used herbicide.
The report supports the findings of the independent Argentinean researchers whose study published last year found that Roundup & glyphosate cause birth defects in frogs & chickens at concentrations much lower than those used in agricultural spraying (see item in Roundup Files “Roundup linked to birth defects”).
Cancer cause or crop aid? Herbicide faces big test
A new article published on the Reuters web site says concerns about glyphosate in general and roundup in particular are stacking up to such a great extent - and are now so well supported in the science literature - that even the US administration and Monsanto shareholders have to pay careful attention. Regulators in the United States and Canada are conducting a formal review of glyphosate's safety, lawsuits are pending and there are calls for a global ban. The US Environmental Protection Agency has set a deadline of 2015 for determining if glyphosate should continue to be sold or not, or use in some way limited. Agribusiness giants, including Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow Chemical, and BASF, have formed a 19-member task force to generate more data in an attempt to prove glyphosate is safe.
Roundup may cause spontaneous abortions in livestock associated with new pathogens thought to be linked to the use of the herbicide
American scientist Dr Don Huber has warned the US Department of Agriculture of a new, self-replicating, micro-fungal virus-sized organism which may be causing spontaneous abortions in livestock, sudden death syndrome in Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soy, wilt in Monsanto’s Roundup Ready (RR) corn, and may affect humans. The pathogen, which is new to science, is in “much higher concentrations in RR soybeans and corn suggesting a link with the RR gene or more likely the presence of Roundup”. He said “I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of a high risk status. In layman’s terms, it should be treated as an emergency.”
Huber, who has been studying plant pathogens for over 50 years and glyphosate for over 20 years, has noticed an increase in pathogens associated with the herbicide. Glyphosate stimulates the growth of fungi and enhances the virulence of pathogens. His team has concluded that glyphosate can significantly increase the severity of various plant diseases, impair plant defences to pathogens and diseases, and immobilize soil and plant nutrients rendering them unavailable for plant use. More than 40 plant disease are associated with use of glyphosate.
Roundup Metabolite Accumulates
in Soil
AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid), the main metabolite of glyphosate is accumulating in soils.
Source: Mamy L, Gabrielle B, Barriuso E. 2010. Comparative environmental impacts of glyphosate and conventional herbicides when used with glyphosate-tolerant and non-tolerant crops . Environ Pollut 158:3172-8.
Roundup Linked to Birth Defects
A new study has added to the mounting evidence that exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides such as Roundup may be causing birth defects, especially in areas where there are intensively used.
Roundup Linked to Reduced
Testosterone
Another recent study, on rats, found that exposure to Roundup significantly changed the progression of puberty, reduced testosterone production, and altered the structure of the testes.
Ref:
R. M. Romano RM, Romano MA, Bernardi MM, Furtado PV, Oliveira CA.
2010. Prepubertal exposure to commercial formulation of the herbicide
glyphosate alters testosterone levels and testicular morphology. Arch
Toxicol 84:309–317.
Roundup Contaminates Auckland
Harbour: Emerging Environmental
Concern
Last year Auckland Regional Council published the results of NIWA’s pilot study of Auckland’s aquatic environment for evidence of “chemicals of emerging environmental concern”. Residues of glyphosate and its breakdown product AMPA were found throughout the region.
Book
by PAN AP scientist
Dr Meriel Watts |
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