Fw: PANUPS: Cancer-Causing Pesticide Use Rising in California

Thu May 4 12:25:54 PDT 2000


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> From: PANUPS   <panupdates at panna.org>
> To: PANUPS <panups at igc.topica.com>
> Subject: PANUPS:  Cancer-Causing Pesticide Use Rising in California
> Date: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 12:16 PM
> 
> ===========================================
> P A N U P S
> Pesticide Action Network Updates Service
> ===========================================
> Cancer-Causing Pesticide Use Rising in California
> 
> May 3, 2000
> 
> PANNA Report Shows Total Use Remains Alarmingly High
> 
> Use of cancer-causing pesticides in California has more than doubled
> in the past eight years, up 127% between 1991 and 1998, according to
> a report released by the Pesticide Action Network North America
> (PANNA). Since 1996, use of carcinogens has remained within 0.5
> million pounds of the highest level ever reported, with no downward
> trend in sight. The report, Hooked on Poison: Pesticide Use in
> California 1991-1998, was released by the statewide coalition
> Californians for Pesticide Reform. The coalition was joined by
> cancer and health organizations and physicians who signed a joint
> letter to Governor Davis calling for leadership to end the use of
> carcinogenic pesticides.
> 
> Between 1991 and 1998 more than 1.5 billion pounds of pesticides
> were applied in California including agricultural and
> non-agricultural uses. Hooked on Poison finds that total reported
> pesticide use rose 40% between 1991 and 1998, and that over the last
> three years, use has remained at alarmingly high levels. These use
> patterns show no trend toward decreasing dependence on toxic
> pesticides.
> 
> Approximately one-third of pesticides used in 1998 are known to be
> particularly toxic to humans. These pesticides are classified as
> acute poisons, carcinogens, neurotoxins, reproductive or
> developmental toxins or are known to have contaminated groundwater
> in California. Use of these most hazardous, "California Bad Actor"
> pesticides rose sharply between 1991 and 1998 from 50.4 million
> pounds to 63.9 million pounds, peaking in 1995.
> 
> The total pounds of pesticides used on California cropland increased
> 51% between 1991 and 1998 -- from 129 million pounds of active
> ingredients to 195 million pounds. During this same time period, the
> number of acres planted remained approximately constant. The result
> was a dramatic increase in intensity of pesticide use--up 60% from
> 14.4 to 23 pounds per acre. One quarter of all pesticides used in
> the U.S. are applied in California, even though planted acreage in
> the State represents only 2-3% of total U.S. cropland. Crops that
> have the highest intensity of pesticide use are strawberries, dates,
> sweet potatoes, pears and lemons.
> 
> Use of pesticides outside of agriculture is extremely difficult to
> estimate. Only 7% of reported pesticide use falls in this category;
> however, pesticide sales data indicate that many more pounds of
> pesticides are applied but not reported. This gross underestimate is
> due to the fact that there are no requirements to report consumer
> pesticide use (estimated to be about 20% of total use) and some
> institutional and manufacturing uses. Non-agricultural applications
> of pesticides are of particular concern because they are applied in
> close proximity to where large numbers of people live and work.
> 
> The report finds that government agencies have no coherent,
> long-term strategy guiding growers and other users to transition
> their pest control practices to least-toxic approaches. It
> recommends that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation
> and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency take a proactive stance to
> reduce pesticide use, including the following elements:
> 
> * Phaseout use of the worst pesticides, including carcinogens, acute
> poisons, reproductive and developmental toxicants, neurotoxins and
> pesticides that are known to contaminate California groundwater.
> 
> * Increase funding and grower support for a transition to
> least-toxic pest control.
> 
> According to PANNA, state and federal agencies currently have an
> "inadequate, haphazard patchwork of programs and regulations to
> promote alternatives--but pesticide use trends show these efforts
> aren't nearly enough. PANNA calls for a comprehensive plan to
> research and promote sustainable agriculture."
> 
> The report analyzed data from the California Department of Pesticide
> Regulation annual pesticide use reports from 1991 to 1998, the
> latest year for which data is available. The Pesticide Use Reporting
> system tracks use of pesticide active ingredients used commercially
> in agricultural and urban applications. It does not include consumer
> or most institutional uses of pesticides.
> 
> Copies of Hooked on Poison: Pesticide Use in California 1991-1998,
> are available from Pesticide Action Network North America at (415)
> 981-1771. Free to California residents; US$10 for all others. The
> report is also available at http://www.panna.org.
> 
> Source/contact: Pesticide Action Network North America.
> 
> 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.
> 
> You can join our efforts! We gladly accept donations for our work
> and all contributions are tax deductible in the United States. Visit
> our extensive web site at www.panna.org to learn more about getting
> involved.
> 
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> Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)
> 49 Powell St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA
> Phone: (415) 981-1771
> Fax: (415) 981-1991
> Email: panna at panna.org
> Web: http://www.panna.org
> ===========================================
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