Pesticide Awareness Grows in The UK, So Do
Complaints
Complaints over the use
of pesticides have soared by 70 percent in the UK, according to figures released
by the Health and Safety Executive on Tuesday. More than 450 chemical
pesticides are approved for use in the UK. Pressure groups charge that farmers
and doctors know little about these pesticides.
Subject: Pesticide Awareness Grows in The UK, So Do Complaints---
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 11:11:54 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
Dear Mr. Helliker,
I thought you might like to read an article from the Environment News
Service entitled: Pesticide Awareness Grows in The UK, So Do Complaints.
LONDON, United Kingdom, October 18, 2000 (ENS) - Complaints
over the use of pesticides have soared by 70 percent in the UK, according to
figures released by the Health and Safety Executive on Tuesday.
More than 450 chemical pesticides are approved for use in
the UK. Pressure groups charge that farmers and doctors know little about these
pesticides. Click here: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/oct2000/2000L-10-18-10.html
A government agency, the Health and Safety Executive
ensures that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are
properly controlled. Its annual Pesticides Incident Report for 1999/2000 showed
that in the 12 months up to March 31, 2000, 254 complaints in connection with
the use of pesticides were investigated - an increase of 104 cases over the
number investigated the previous year.
Of the 254 complaints, 83 alleged ill health caused by
exposure to pesticides from a work
activity. This represents a 15 percent increase of the record low figure in
1998/99, but is still lower than the average of 90 per year for the preceding
seven years.
Although usage in the UK is controlled by law, pesticides
can be overused or wrongly used. One tablespoon of herbicide carelessly used
near water can pollute drinking water for 200,000 people, and parts per trillion
of some pesticides can have adverse effects on wildlife.
There are nearly 450 chemicals approved for use in the UK.
Pressure groups such as the Pesticide Action Network UK charge that farmers and
doctors, let alone the public, have little detailed knowledge of these
chemicals, some of which are in everyday use.
Yesterday's figures and the hundreds of phone calls
Pesticide Action Network receives each year indicates public awareness is
growing. The network says that
typically, callers have come into contact with pesticides in the home, or may
have had accidents with hazardous garden chemicals.
Their symptoms range from minimal to complete collapse and
in some cases, lead to suicide.
"We have found the greatest incidence of pesticide
exposure in the past two years has been to organophosphorus head lice treatment,
closely followed by accidental exposure to glyphosate, which is widely used by
farmers and local authorities to control weeds," said Enfys Chapman,
founder of the network's Action on Pesticide Exposure, known as PEX. PEX is a
support group for those whose health has been affected by exposure to
pesticides.
Commenting on Tuesday's report, Chief Agricultural
Inspector Linda Williams said the rise in complaints could be because of
heightened media attention to the issue of pesticides.
"The increase in the number of complaints reported to
the Health and Safety Executive is disappointing, particularly following on from
the record low figure recorded last year," said Williams.
"But, it may be a reflection of the public's
increasing awareness about the use of pesticides."
Williams said that the Health and Safety Executive's
revised guidelines on how to report incidents of exposure to pesticides were
promoted widely last year, and certain high profile prosecutions received
intense media attention during the summer.
The Pesticide Action Network has built on recent work by
the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Psychiatrists on the effects of long-term,
low-dose exposure to sheep-dips. It informs callers on treatment options, and
works with them to develop self help strategies.
One case involved a farmer on the Isle of Wight who was
fined a total of 220,000 pounds (US$319,000) for 11 offences committed during
1997/98. This is the largest penalty imposed under pesticides
legislation since the introduction of the Food and Environment Protection
Act 1986.
The farmer had imported and used non-approved pesticides
from abroad, as well as using approved pesticides contrary to the conditions of
approval.
During 1999/2000, the Health and Safety Executive issued a
total of 154 enforcement notices under specific pesticide legislation, and 30
cases went to court.
The average fine on conviction was 4,691 pounds (US$6,809),
significantly higher than the corresponding figure of 930 pounds
(US$1,350) for the previous year. The rise is largely down to the penalties
imposed in the Isle of Wight case.
Well Mr. Helliker, it is too bad that the awareness of
the many safe and far more effective alternatives to your dangerous
"registered" POISONS is not growing as fast as is the public
fear/concern of continuing to use/misuse your dangerous "registered"
POISONS. The sad thing is that
years ago I had already developed a totally safe and far more effective lice
treatment shampoo and sheep dip. One
day I am sure many nations will indiict this nation of war crimes for all of the
needless deaths, health problems and environmental damages caused by their use
of your "registered" nerve gases (neuro-toxins), carcinogens, and
other "registered" dangers/problems that are inherent in your
"registered" POISONS! I
am sure that the fact your "registered" POISONS have not, will not,
and do not even control, much less will ever eliminate the pest problems will
also be a subject of many court actions. How
long will you personally continue to stop the use of safe and far
more effective alternatives?
Respectfully, Stephen
L. Tvedten |
