A Review of Internet News Reports on Pesticide and Other Hazardous and Toxic Substances during the Last 100 Days
Please note: all websites to which references have been made in this review were active as of January 15 2006.
Summary
The Internet continued to be occupied by repeated reports, largely from the United States and the UK, about public concerns over pesticide exposure. Spills of other hazardous chemicals in China had some transient exposure, but the major public concern appears to be the hazards that arise from pesticide abuse. Pesticide manufacturers suffer enormous risks as transportation, storage and application of their products by people without training and awareness seems to continue unabated. This comes on top of reports that many markets may suffer inclement weather during 2006. Digital technology has made some interesting offers during the period under review that have potential to mitigate the risks associated with all hazardous substances.
Farm Worker Safety
We have known all along that farm communities are divided between land owners and laborers. This social issue has deep and important implications for companies involved in pesticides and other toxic chemicals used in agriculture. Customers who buy pesticides are often not the ones primarily and directly most affected by the acute and chronic risks of their handling.
The Peoples Weekly World has reported on January 14 2006 that the United Farm Workers in the United States have started agitating for regulatory protection against the hazards they face due to pesticide exposure. <http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/8380/1/303>
The University of Washington has reported high pesticide residues in rural communities. <http://www.uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=1890>
The report has surfaced on the Internet towards the end of 2005 though it is dated 2003.
The Palm Beach Post carried a touching article by Christine Evans on December 18, 2005 on how innocent infants born in farm worker families can be ravaged by pesticide residues. <http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2005/12/18/m1a_carlitos_1218.html>
Though the United States normally dominates the Internet, Latin America Press stood out on January 14 2006 with its report on acute poisoning of Santiago farm workers. http://www.latinamericapress.org/article.asp?lanCode=1&artCode=4513
The matter has also caught the attention of politicians. The Palm Beach Post reported on December 25, 2005 about how Florida legislators were shocked to see the conditions in which women of farm labor families are forced to work. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/state/epaper/2005/12/25/m1a_future_1225.html
Residues
Public awareness of matters such as acceptable daily intake and maximum residue limits are hazy at best, so any report of birth defects and pesticide violations triggers panic reactions. This aspect calls for pro-active stewardship by pesticide brand owners to egg user and distributor groups out of complacency.
Naples News from Florida reported on January 14 2006 that the famous Wal Mart chain had taken branded tomatoes off their shelves after reports of pesticide abuse and (related?) birth defects. http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/jan/05/walmart_plucks_tomatoes_stores_over_pesticide_issu/?business
The Palm Beach Post has also reported on this matter on December 20 2005 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2005/12/20/c1a_SantaSweets_1220.html
Record Net reported from Sacramento on December 30 2005 that regulators in San Joaquin had unearthed a number of cases of pesticide abuse. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051230/NEWS01/512300322/1001
Food Production Daily has reported high pesticide residues in food from Finland (01st December 2005) <http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=64257-finland-pesticides-contamination>
Contra Costa Times reported on January 02 2006 that a scientist had begun to study the possible impact of chemical residues in public water bodies on aquatic ecology. There would be serious product liability issues if any connection is established with a particular molecule. http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/13535118.htm
Drift
Pesticide use in lawns and gardens continue to come under restrictions largely on issues of drift.
News Target has an undated report on the Canadian Supreme Court upholding a Toronto judgment banning pesticide use in urban areas. http://www.newstarget.com/015421.html
The Rome News Tribune from Georgia in the US reported on 7th December 2005 of severe strictures against a Pest Control Operator for careless operations in a school environment. http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/680/public/news680449.html
Contamination
The disposal of pesticide containers is an important issue. Indian law prescribes burial of containers, which would make them a major source of soil and ground water contamination. Fortunately, implementation of this law is poor, though the actual practice of reuse of these containers by rural communities is even more hazardous.
The United Kingdom, aided by leading pesticide companies, seems to have taken a step in the right direction by encouraging recycling programs (Farmers Weekly of January 12th 2006): http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2006/01/12/91854/Pesticide+makers+share+burden+of+waste+disposal.html
Franklin County of Pennsylvania in the United States has also started a program designed to help people who use pesticides in their homes, dispose off empty containers through a professional service. Public Opinion from Chambersburg has reported on ‘Chemsweep’ on January 12, 2006 http://www.publicopiniononline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060112/NEWS01/601120313/1002
The Daily Californian has reported during November 2005 about pesticide residues in public water bodies. <http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=20449>
Breakthroughs
Electronics and software have made it possible for banks and telecommunication service providers to collate so much information about their millions of customers, that privacy itself is now jeopardized! There have been interesting reports during the last 100 days of how computers and satellites can combine to help manage risks associated with hazardous and toxic substances.
The Technology Review of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports on such technology for transport of hazardous substances. Kevin Hogan’s article if dated March 2002, but I have only seen it of late. http://www.technologyreview.com/InfoTech/wtr_12764,294,p1.html
Food for Thought
Continuity Central has carried an undated report by Miguel Albano about 2006 droughts that are possible during 2006 <http://www.continuitycentral.com/feature0285.htm>
The Indian insecticides business is amongst some significant sectors that have declined in 2005 over 2004, and a further downturn in 2006 could hit budgets to promote safe and judicious use hard.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has evolved a set of new principles for Business Continuity. These concepts have important implications for business sectors such as pesticides that involve high risk, and which can suffer crippling disruptions during acutely emergent situations. http://www.bis.org/publ/joint14.pdf
The Guardian Unlimited on December 04 2005 carried an article of a scientist’s protest against alleged pressure by a pharmaceutical company that had sponsored his research on one of their products, to influence the results and their presentation. The matter has tremendous significance for the pesticides industry as well, as it depends on such research to generate much of its regulatory data. <http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1657275,00.html>
The Grist Magazine has carried a similar article by Audrey Schulman on 01st December 2005. <http://www.grist.org/comments/soapbox/2005/12/01/schulman/>
The Seattle Post Intelligencer has carried an article in November 2005 on how misconceptions about pesticide residues drive families towards organic foods. <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/249625_hcenter24.html>
The Philadelphia Inquirer has reported from China during November 2005, on social unrest due to peoples’ frustration over pollution from chemical plants. <http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/13252534.htm>
Companies that ignore trends in public opinion against their products and practices, run the grave risks of acutely embarrassing pressure to which they often eventually succumb. Take a look at <http://www.panna.org/campaigns/lindane.html> for a disturbing example!
Summary
The Internet continued to be occupied by repeated reports, largely from the United States and the UK, about public concerns over pesticide exposure. Spills of other hazardous chemicals in China had some transient exposure, but the major public concern appears to be the hazards that arise from pesticide abuse. Pesticide manufacturers suffer enormous risks as transportation, storage and application of their products by people without training and awareness seems to continue unabated. This comes on top of reports that many markets may suffer inclement weather during 2006. Digital technology has made some interesting offers during the period under review that have potential to mitigate the risks associated with all hazardous substances.
Farm Worker Safety
We have known all along that farm communities are divided between land owners and laborers. This social issue has deep and important implications for companies involved in pesticides and other toxic chemicals used in agriculture. Customers who buy pesticides are often not the ones primarily and directly most affected by the acute and chronic risks of their handling.
The Peoples Weekly World has reported on January 14 2006 that the United Farm Workers in the United States have started agitating for regulatory protection against the hazards they face due to pesticide exposure. <http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/8380/1/303>
The University of Washington has reported high pesticide residues in rural communities. <http://www.uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=1890>
The report has surfaced on the Internet towards the end of 2005 though it is dated 2003.
The Palm Beach Post carried a touching article by Christine Evans on December 18, 2005 on how innocent infants born in farm worker families can be ravaged by pesticide residues. <http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2005/12/18/m1a_carlitos_1218.html>
Though the United States normally dominates the Internet, Latin America Press stood out on January 14 2006 with its report on acute poisoning of Santiago farm workers. http://www.latinamericapress.org/article.asp?lanCode=1&artCode=4513
The matter has also caught the attention of politicians. The Palm Beach Post reported on December 25, 2005 about how Florida legislators were shocked to see the conditions in which women of farm labor families are forced to work. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/state/epaper/2005/12/25/m1a_future_1225.html
Residues
Public awareness of matters such as acceptable daily intake and maximum residue limits are hazy at best, so any report of birth defects and pesticide violations triggers panic reactions. This aspect calls for pro-active stewardship by pesticide brand owners to egg user and distributor groups out of complacency.
Naples News from Florida reported on January 14 2006 that the famous Wal Mart chain had taken branded tomatoes off their shelves after reports of pesticide abuse and (related?) birth defects. http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/jan/05/walmart_plucks_tomatoes_stores_over_pesticide_issu/?business
The Palm Beach Post has also reported on this matter on December 20 2005 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2005/12/20/c1a_SantaSweets_1220.html
Record Net reported from Sacramento on December 30 2005 that regulators in San Joaquin had unearthed a number of cases of pesticide abuse. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051230/NEWS01/512300322/1001
Food Production Daily has reported high pesticide residues in food from Finland (01st December 2005) <http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=64257-finland-pesticides-contamination>
Contra Costa Times reported on January 02 2006 that a scientist had begun to study the possible impact of chemical residues in public water bodies on aquatic ecology. There would be serious product liability issues if any connection is established with a particular molecule. http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/13535118.htm
Drift
Pesticide use in lawns and gardens continue to come under restrictions largely on issues of drift.
News Target has an undated report on the Canadian Supreme Court upholding a Toronto judgment banning pesticide use in urban areas. http://www.newstarget.com/015421.html
The Rome News Tribune from Georgia in the US reported on 7th December 2005 of severe strictures against a Pest Control Operator for careless operations in a school environment. http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/680/public/news680449.html
Contamination
The disposal of pesticide containers is an important issue. Indian law prescribes burial of containers, which would make them a major source of soil and ground water contamination. Fortunately, implementation of this law is poor, though the actual practice of reuse of these containers by rural communities is even more hazardous.
The United Kingdom, aided by leading pesticide companies, seems to have taken a step in the right direction by encouraging recycling programs (Farmers Weekly of January 12th 2006): http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2006/01/12/91854/Pesticide+makers+share+burden+of+waste+disposal.html
Franklin County of Pennsylvania in the United States has also started a program designed to help people who use pesticides in their homes, dispose off empty containers through a professional service. Public Opinion from Chambersburg has reported on ‘Chemsweep’ on January 12, 2006 http://www.publicopiniononline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060112/NEWS01/601120313/1002
The Daily Californian has reported during November 2005 about pesticide residues in public water bodies. <http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=20449>
Breakthroughs
Electronics and software have made it possible for banks and telecommunication service providers to collate so much information about their millions of customers, that privacy itself is now jeopardized! There have been interesting reports during the last 100 days of how computers and satellites can combine to help manage risks associated with hazardous and toxic substances.
The Technology Review of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports on such technology for transport of hazardous substances. Kevin Hogan’s article if dated March 2002, but I have only seen it of late. http://www.technologyreview.com/InfoTech/wtr_12764,294,p1.html
Food for Thought
Continuity Central has carried an undated report by Miguel Albano about 2006 droughts that are possible during 2006 <http://www.continuitycentral.com/feature0285.htm>
The Indian insecticides business is amongst some significant sectors that have declined in 2005 over 2004, and a further downturn in 2006 could hit budgets to promote safe and judicious use hard.
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has evolved a set of new principles for Business Continuity. These concepts have important implications for business sectors such as pesticides that involve high risk, and which can suffer crippling disruptions during acutely emergent situations. http://www.bis.org/publ/joint14.pdf
The Guardian Unlimited on December 04 2005 carried an article of a scientist’s protest against alleged pressure by a pharmaceutical company that had sponsored his research on one of their products, to influence the results and their presentation. The matter has tremendous significance for the pesticides industry as well, as it depends on such research to generate much of its regulatory data. <http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1657275,00.html>
The Grist Magazine has carried a similar article by Audrey Schulman on 01st December 2005. <http://www.grist.org/comments/soapbox/2005/12/01/schulman/>
The Seattle Post Intelligencer has carried an article in November 2005 on how misconceptions about pesticide residues drive families towards organic foods. <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/249625_hcenter24.html>
The Philadelphia Inquirer has reported from China during November 2005, on social unrest due to peoples’ frustration over pollution from chemical plants. <http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/13252534.htm>
Companies that ignore trends in public opinion against their products and practices, run the grave risks of acutely embarrassing pressure to which they often eventually succumb. Take a look at <http://www.panna.org/campaigns/lindane.html> for a disturbing example!
posted by Dr. S. Banerji at 5:11 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home