Dangerous combinations of pesticides on food
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
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read the following article: Dangerous combinations of pesticides on food: study Last Updated: Mon Dec 3 13:26:50 2001
http://www.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2001/12/03/Consumers/pesticides_011203
LONDON - Scientists at Liverpool University say combinations of pesticides found in food could be harmful to your health.
Many foods are exposed to different pesticides during production. For the most part, the chemicals are gone by the time they reach the consumer, however, residues can remain.
Researchers at the university found combinations of different pesticides proved more toxic to human cells than when applied individually.
Scientists used cultured brain tissue for their experiments.
Dr. Vyvyan Howard, lead researcher, says little is known about how combinations of pesticides affect human health.
"If you consider that each one of us is walking around with hundreds of chemicals in our bodies, that couldn't have been there 50 or 60 years ago…(then) you can see the level of complexity of the problem."
Howard says unborn babies may be vulnerable to brain damage because of their mother's diet.
The findings have prompted calls for government to determine and set safe residue limits.
The British government's advisory committee on pesticides has called for more study.
Committee member David Coggan says the difference between the amount of residue people get from eating and the amount needed to cause health effects is enormous.
The concern over pesticides has been spearheaded by environmental groups and some studies that say there may be a link between the increased use of chemicals and certain cancers.
In Canada, the debate over pesticides has focused on lawn care products.
At least 39 communities in Quebec and the cities of Ottawa and Halifax have enacted restrictions on lawn spraying.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Well Mr. Helliker, how many studies will it take for you to understand the need for alternatives?
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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