Volume 21 , Number 1 Spring 2001 Pesticides and You News from Beyond Pesticides / National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP) Healthy Ecosystems, Healthy Children Weather and the West Nile Virus O Economic and Environmental lmpacts of lnvasive Species and Their Management O Planning for Planting: How to Plan Your Organic Garden O ChemicalWATCH Factsheet: Glyphosate O Fluoride: The Hidden Poison in the National Organic Standards Letter from Washington Fighting Fluoride the Organic Way hile we are enjoying winter and the snow storms on Let there be no mistake, chemical-intensive practices in the east coast, thoughts of Spring are not far off. conventional agricultural systems incorporate polluting prac- WWhat better way to plan for the glorious rebirth of tices that also result in fluoride contamination and other pol- Spring then to start planning a garden. This issue contains a lution problems of a magnitude that far exceeds organic prac- piece that gets us thinking about steps in the preparation of an tices. Nevertheless, as consumers and farmers seek to improve organic garden. Gardens are hopeful and positive, especially and purify organic practices, we must face the challenges raised when they are planned to prevent pest problems. by Ellen and Paul Connett’s article and others. Organic and Fluoride War on Weeds However, this would not be Pesticides and You if we did not This issue also provides the background for a problem that illustrate some of the challenges that we face in making our is taking on greater seriousness as pressure builds to use pes- environment safer for all its inhabitants. So, we publish a piece ticides in the battle against weeds, or invasive species, across by Ellen and Paul Connett in which they document the serious the country. David Pimentel’s article outlines the serious eco- health problems associated with fluoride, its widespread use in nomic and environmental implications of invasive species. food production and drinking water, and provisions that per- We cannot ignore this issue. At the same time, it is foolish to mit its application under the new National Organic Standards. assume that the solution is pesticide-dependent, as many (or Fluoride has been tied to damage in the bones of the elderly, most) weed managers seem to think. Related to this prob- and interference with the functioning of the brain, thyroid lem, is the growing use of the herbicide glyphosate, gland, pineal gland, kidney, and the reproduction system. RoundupTM, which we review in this issue because of serious The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), and the new stan- concerns about the weed killer’s adverse impact on human dards released in December, 2000, offer consumers and the pub- health and the environment. lic an important set of minimum standards regarding process In a note to the Commissioners of Boulder County, CO in and outcome under the definition and labeling of organic food. February, Professor Tim Seastedt from the University of Colo- It also provides a process, through the National Organic Stan- rado said, “I do believe I have a sustainable long-term, eco- dards Board (NOSB), to continue discussing controversial mate- logically friendly, extremely cost-effective solution for diffuse rials, such as fluoride, under the process of defining acceptable knapweed.” Tim is using insects, primarily a little weevil called (and unacceptable) materials in organic farming systems. Larinus minutus, as a form of biocontrol. “In mid June, I pre- The Connetts, pointing out the public’s desire for pure food dict that the bolting knapweed at the site will be “dying on when purchasing organic, identify a weakness in the new rule the vine” prior to flowering due to the abundance of the that can be corrected with public input and pressure. The stan- biocontrol insects.” dards mistakenly accept categories of so-called “inert” ingredi- ents, defined under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Ro- Global Climate Change denticide Act (FIFRA), as acceptable materials in organic pro- duction. Inert ingredients, a term of art in the law, can be bio- We brought global climate change to the pages of this maga- logically and chemically active and harmful in their own right. zine last issue as part of our focus on the causes of pest prob- They are treated as trade secret information by the EPA. It just lems in the design of prevention strategies. If, in fact, we will so happens that sodium fluoride is listed as a List 4B inert in- see, among other things, an increase in public health pesticide gredient by EPA (see Lists of Other (Inert) Pesticide Ingredients use in our communities as a result of early global climate on EPA’s website, www.epa.gov/opprd001/inerts/lists.html) or change, the problem merits our attention. We are including in “Inerts which have sufficient data to substantiate they can be this issue a schematic entitled “Weather and West Nile Virus” used safely in pesticide products.” The trouble with this ap- to further this discussion. proach, of course, is that the safety standard in the pesticide law is much weaker and less protective than the standard in Please plan to attend our 19th the organic law. To infer adequate regulatory review and pro- National Pesticide Forum and 20th tective standards under FIFRA for purposes of implementing Anniversary Celebration this year. OFPA is certainly a mistake. Once down this road, other prob- We’ll see you in Boulder, CO, May lems suddenly appear, such as the other “inert” that the 18-20, 2001. Connetts identify, bone meal. The Connetts tell us that fluo- ride concentrates in the bones of all mammals and, they say, we can expect concentrations to be in the 1000 ppm plus range. It continues to be important to bring these concerns for- — Jay Feldman is ward to the NOSB and, as the Connetts suggest, to effect changes executive director of in practices where use of fluoride can be reduced or eliminated. Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP Contents Pesticides and You ©2001 (ISSN 0896- 2 Mail 7253), published 4 times a year by the Beyond Pesticides/National Coalition Tucson Community’s First Victory Against Pes- Against the Misuse of Pesticides ticides, Effects of ln-utero Pesticide Exposure, (NCAMP), is a voice for pesticide safety Wood Preservative Exposure Causes lll Effects and alternatives. Beyond Pesticides/ NCAMP is a non-profit, tax-exempt membership organization; donations are 4 Washington, D.C. tax-deductible. Controversial Choices Named to George W. National Headquarters: 701 E Street, SE, Bush Cabinet, USDA Announces New National Washington DC 20003 Organic Standards ph: 202-543-5450 fx: 202-543-4791 email: [email protected] website: www.beyondpesticides.org 6 Around the Country Printed on recycled paper with soy ink. Gender Bending Pesticides May Reverse Sex in Articles in this newsletter may be Endangered Salmon, Poor Colombian Farmers reproduced without Beyond Pesticides/ NCAMP’s permission unless otherwise Poisoned by U.S. Coca Eradication Program, noted. Please credit Beyond Pesticides/ lllinois Schools Disregard State Pesticide Laws, NCAMP for reproduced material. Survey Finds Many Schools Pose Risks to Chil- BEYOND PESTICIDES/NCAMP STAFF dren, Study Shows Adverse Effects on the Jay Feldman, Executive Director lmmune System Associated with Living Near a Kagan Owens, Program Director Pesticide Dump Site Greg Kidd, J.D. Science & Legal Policy Director John Kepner, Program Associate Terry Shistar, Ph.D., Science Consultant 9 Weather and the West Nile Virus Becky Crouse, Public Education Associate Leslie Haug, Intern 10 Economic and Environmental PESTICIDES AND YOU Jay Feldman, Publisher, Editor lmpacts of lnvasive Species Greg Kidd, Becky Crouse, John Kepner, and Their Management Kagan Owens, Leslie Haug, Ellen and Paul Connett, Ph.D. and David Pimentel, by David Pimentel, Ph.D. Ph.D., Contributors Free Hand Press, Typesetting 12 Planning for Planting: How to BEYOND PESTICIDES/NCAMP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Plan Your Organic Garden Ruth Berlin, LCSW-C, Maryland by Becky Crouse Pesticide Network, Annapolis, MD Laura Caballero, Lideres Campesinas en California, Greenfield, CA 16 ChemicalWATCH Factsheet Nancy and Jim Chuda, Children’s Health Environment Coalition, Malibu, CA Glyphosate Merrill Clark, Roseland Farms, Cassopolis, MI Alan Cohen, Biological Pest 18 Fluoride: The Hidden Poison in the Management, Washington, DC Shelley Davis, J.D., Farmworker Justice National Organic Standards Fund, Washington, DC by Ellen and Paul Connett, Ph.D. Lorna Donaldson-McMahon, Silvertop Farm, Tiptonville, TN Jay Feldman, NCAMP, Washington, DC Tessa Hill, Kids for Saving Earth 24 Resources Worldwide, Plymouth, MN Draft lmplementation Plan: Pesticides and Na- Paul Repetto, Horizon Organic Dairy Boulder, CO tional Strategies for Health Care Providers, Prai- Terry Shistar, Ph.D., Kansas Chapter, rie Moon Nursery: 2001 Catalog & Cultural Sierra Club, Lawrence, KS Guide, ln Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Gregg Small, Pesticide Watch, San Francisco, CA Development, The Healthy House: How to Buy Allen Spalt, Agricultural Resources Printed with soy-based inks on One, How to Build One, How to Cure a Sick Center, Carrboro, NC Ecoprint Offset, and cover on Audrey Thier, Environmental Advocates, NY Quest™, both 100% post-consumer One, Pesticide Exposures in Children with non- waste and processed chlorine free. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Affiliations shown for informational purposes only Vol. 21, No. 1, 2001 Pesticides and You Page 1 Beyond Pesticides/National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides Mail Tucson Community’s velopment of a solid pesticide policy that Dear Ms. Pinedo, defines acceptable pest management prac- It is extremely important to avoid pesti- First Victory Against tices is also essential, and you have achieved cide use and exposure while pregnant, and both. Your win could be the beginning of an to protect your children from exposure, as Pesticides even larger movement. Through your vic- they are much more susceptible to the ad- Dear Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP, tory, others will come to understand the verse effects of the chemicals.