Winter 2007–2008
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Pesticides and You News from Beyond Pesticides: Protecting Health and the Environment with Science, Policy and Action Volume 27, Number 4 Winter 2007-2008 Facing Scientifi c Realities, Debunking the “Dose Makes the Poison” Myth How Safe is Your Bait? Pesticides May Be Labeled as “Nonvolatile,” But Still Release Poisons into the Air Grounding out Grubs: Managing grubs with prevention and least-toxic strategies The Secret History of the War on Cancer Letter from Washington Danger at (Really) Low Dose Mo�vates changes that reject the use of toxic chemicals arm resul�ng from really low dose exposure to toxic chemicals can be measured in the air, with the excep�on of boric acid, which is now accepted in scien�fic circles. However, the pes�cide is commonly found in bait formula�ons. With the science on low Hregulatory process s�ll does not reflect the science, nor does level exposure and poten�al adverse impact, we know why there it comply with a 1996 statutory requirement that the agency have ought to be concern, especially when the chemical is placed for long in place by now a protocol for evalua�ng pes�cides that may be periods in and around the perimeter of a room in a sealed indoor endocrine disruptors, known to wreak havoc at miniscule doses in environment. Our ar�cle sheds some important light on this topic. developing organ systems. More data emerges year by year. When we do not have all the answers Lab experiments link exposure to brain effects This discussion adds important weight to the already heavy support In this issue of PAY, we print a talk given by Warren Porter, Ph.D., for the precau�onary approach to pest management. Use approaches professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and prac�ces that do not rely on toxic chemicals, but instead seek at the 25th Na�onal Pes�cide Forum in which he discusses the to prevent, build out or exclude pests and adopt prac�ces that do scien�fic literature and his own laboratory work that find in some not invite them in. This approach informs our prac�cal strategies for experimenta�on, “The low dose effect is the greatest effect.” Dr. day-to-day insect and plant problems that we may face. In this issue Porter is talking about effects on the brain. of PAY we con�nue our Changing Cultural Prac�ces Series and apply the preven�ve first approach to grubs in lawns and the least-toxic What spurred Dr. Porter to delve into this topic was a headline in methodology which, in this case, u�lizes biological controls. his local newspaper in 1997 which read, Cost of Accommoda�ng: As special educa�on grows, so does the cost of staffing. He was The history of the war on cancer in the U.S., and the new book, The astonished, as anyone would be, by the sta�s�cs between 1990 and Secret History of the War on Cancer by Devra Davis, Ph.D., reviewed 1995: 87 percent increase in the emo�onally disturbed, 70 percent in this issue, lays out the challenges that we have faced and will increase in learning disabili�es. So as he looked into this, he found con�nue to confront in ge�ng adequate legal controls. The author that it reflected a na�onwide trend. Laboratory studies trying to concludes: “The absence of extensive informa�on confirming that capture a possible connec�on between pes�cide exposure and human health is endangered . lulls most of us into assuming that children’s ability to learn —not something evaluated by the current no such hazard exists. The lesson of this book is that we should all regulatory review process— find that learning capacity is adversely ques�on this presump�on. A lack of defini�ve evidence regarding affected at the lowest doses, typically referred to as an inverse dose human health is not proof that no such harm occurs.” Put in the response. So that throws out the window using only ‘dose makes the context of a regulatory system that is not current scien�fically poison’ theory and maximum tolerated dose experimenta�on, the and fails to ask all the ques�ons needed to fully determine harm, founda�on of EPA’s regulatory review process. precau�on and avoidance is the best and much-needed course. Dr. Porter in his lab confirmed the ability of pes�cides to induce Organizing learning deficiencies. One area where he sees a low dose effect is This spring we join together in California for the 26th Na�onal on the prefrontal cortex of the brain, that por�on of the brain that Pes�cide Forum, Reclaiming Our Health Future: Poli�cal change to scien�sts believe is responsible for execu�ve func�on, or planning, protect the next genera�on, to delve into the science and organize reasoning and problem solving. He found that one chemical actually to advance sound and safe prac�ces. We know that because of the affects different parts of the brain, some effects seen at lower doses success of non-toxic approaches, we do not have to accept pes�cide and the others at higher doses. hazards for workers who handle and work around pes�cides, and children who eat treated food, breathe contaminated air, or touch How safe is your bait? toxic surfaces. We enter the new year with a recommitment to As more ques�ons emerge that further challenge the adequacy develop new and improved strategies and approaches to elimina�ng of the regulatory process allowing toxic pes�cide products on the toxic chemicals in the management of land, agriculture, and market, it raises addi�onal scien�fic issues of concern. For example, buildings. as the pest management industry moves away from spraying pes�cides indoors and adopts the use of bait formula�ons –pastes, Thanks again to all those who supported gels, and granules, it is generally viewed as a posi�ve evolu�on. Beyond Pes�cides’ program in 2007 and However, given the reliance on toxic formula�ons, the use of baits best wishes to all our members and friends raises ques�ons about exposure that have not been fully answered. in 2008. It is assumed that because many of the baits are low to extremely- low vola�lity (meaning that very li�le chemical evaporates into the - Jay Feldman is execu�ve director of ambient air at a point in �me), then exposure is not an issue. Even the Beyond Pes�cides classifica�on for vola�lity on the low end assumes that the chemical Contents Pesticides and You © 2008 (ISSN 0896-7253) is published 4 times a year by Beyond Pesti- cides. Beyond Pesticides, founded in 1981 as the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP), is a voice for health and the environment, promoting protection from pesticides and safe alternatives; dona- tions are tax-deductible. National Headquarters: 701 E Street, SE, Washington DC 20003 ph: 202-543-5450 fx: 202-543-4791 email: [email protected] website: www.beyondpesticides.org Articles in this newsle�er may be repro- duced without Beyond Pesticides’ permission unless otherwise noted. Please credit Beyond Pesticides for reproduced material. Page 16 BEYOND PESTICIDES STAFF Jay Feldman, Executive Director John Kepner, Project Director Jane Philbrick, Public Education Associate Ray Koytcheff, Research Fellow Nichelle Harrio�, Research Associate Kagan Owens, Senior Project Associate 2 Mail Terry Shistar, Ph.D., Science Consultant What is Organic Fer�lizer; Hold the Roundup; Beyond Pes�cides’ Daily News Blog entries PESTICIDES AND YOU Jay Feldman, Publisher, Editor Jay Feldman, John Kepner, Jane Philbrick, 4 Washington, DC Nichelle Harrio�, Kagan Owens, Ray USDA Gives Break to Farmers Who Plant Monsanto Koytcheff, Contributors GM Seeds; Na�onal Mall Tests Organic Lawn Care; John Kepner, Layout Groups Challenge Legality of Human Pes�cide Tes�ng; Target Se�les with EPA on Labeling Viola�ons BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robina Suwol, president, California Safe Page 9 Schools, Van Nuys, CA 6 Around the Country Rou� Riegart, M.D., vice-president, Medical CA Reports Overall Pes�cide Use Down, Use on University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC Strawberries Up; CA Lindane Ban Protects People and Terry Shistar, Ph.D., secretary, Kaw Valley Water Quality; Pes�cide Exposure May Increase Risk Greens, Lawrence, KS Lani Malmberg, treasurer, Ecological Ser- of Asthma; Bt Corn Harms Aqua�c Ecosystems; vices, Lander, WY Boulder, CO Ac�vists Successful in Delaying Herbicide Caroline Cox, at-large, Center for Environ- Spraying; States Sue EPA Over Relaxed Toxic Repor�ng mental Health, Oakland, CA Requirements Ruth Berlin, LCSW-C, Maryland Pesticide Network, Annapolis, MD Shelley Davis, Farmworker Justice Fund, 9 How Safe is Your Bait? Washington, DC Pes�cides May Be Labeled as “Nonvola�le,” But Lorna Donaldson, Donaldson Family Farm, S�ll Release Poisons into the Air Tiptonville, TN Jay Feldman, Beyond Pesticides, Page 13 Washington, DC 13 Grounding out Grubs Tessa Hill, Kids for Saving Earth Managing grubs with preven�on and least-toxic Worldwide, Plymouth, MN strategies Chip Osborne, Orborne Organics, Marblehead, MA Warren Porter, Ph.D., University of 16 Facing Scientific Realities, Debunking the Wisconsin, Madison, WI “Dose Makes the Poison” Myth Jim Riddle, University of Minnesota Organic The Big Picture: Linking Pes�cide Science and Health Effects Ecology Program, Winona, MN Floribella Redondo, Campesinos Sin Fronteras, Yuma, AZ Allen Spalt, Toxic Free North Carolina, 24 Resources Carrboro, NC The Secret History of the War on Cancer Andrea Kidd Taylor, DrPH, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD Affiliations shown for informational purposes only. Printed on 100% post consumer waste with soy inks.