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Thursday, June 13, 2019

As Pesticide Turns Up in More Places, Safety Concerns Mount

A growing body of research is challenging the assumption that neonicotinoids are safer and less likely to spread than other pesticides

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As Pesticide Turns Up in More Places, Safety Concerns Mount

A growing body of research is challenging the assumption that neonicotinoids are safer and less likely to spread than other pesticides

 (By Jim Daley, Scientific American, April 30, 2019)

'Only 2 to 20 percent of the neonicotinoids applied to seeds make it into the plant, says Jonathan Lundgren... “And we’re starting to find (the other 80-98) in other areas of the environment like surface waters and untreated plants.'  Several of the studies referred to in the article are already on SNAP's web site under wildlife but there is mention of others. Neonicotinoids have also been widely found in foods.

"Morrissey says the problem is not as simple as banning one pesticide or another, though. '“The bigger problem is that we’ve become complacent about using pesticides for everything,” she says. Lundgren says 'meaningful change will have to come from grassroots efforts.'

filed under neonicotinoids

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Good news for Canadian bees, other pollinators and gardeners – major garden centres shut down use of neonic pesticides

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Good news for Canadian bees, other pollinators and gardeners – major garden centres shut down use of neonic pesticides   (Friends of the Earth, 12 June, 2019)

'Top place for neonic-free flowering plants goes to two big box chain stores and one regional chain: Home Depot, Lowes (which includes RONA and Reno-Depot Corporate stores across Canada and Sheridan Nurseries in Ontario.  As a close second, Canadian Tire Corporation reported that it has reached 95% neonicotinoid free.

Home Hardware reports 100% neonic-free products from its distribution centres, but Friends of the Earth notes that many Home Hardware stores host local nurseries and it is not clear that their plants are neonic-free.

Both Costco and Walmart report progress in removing neonics on their websites, but are not reporting on Canadian-specific markets.

Loblaw, with the largest number of outlets – some 2500 in Canada – is recycling its 2016 statement saying that since 2014 it has been “developing a plan”.

Empire Company, which owns Sobey, IGA, Safeway and other stores, has not responded to Friends of the Earth.

In Ontario, '...there is no response from Atlantic Canada’s Kent Chain, Quebec’s Botanix Garden Centres or BC’s Art Knapp Plantland. Friends of the Earth hopes they will respond soon.'

SNAP Comment: at least in Ontario. It has happened many times that, as pesticides got banned in Ontario. they were shipped West because we had no pesticide law yet. I hope the same isn't true for bedding plants. However, this is a survey so hopefully the companies answered truthfully. Always ask for neonicotinoid-free plants.

filed under Alternatives to insects and invertebrates

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Austria Moves to Ban Glyphosate This Year

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Austria Moves to Ban Glyphosate This Year ( Organic consumers Association, 12 June, 2019)

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Protecting Children from Pesticides: Information for Parents

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Protecting Children from Pesticides: Information for Parents (healthychildren.org, 29 Ma4ch 2017)

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement, Pesticide Exposure in Children, and accompanying technical report highlights some of the major health concerns linked to pesticide exposure—particularly prenatal exposure.

filed under children 

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

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Childhoods lost: disabilities and seizures blight India's endosulfan victims (The Guardian, 15 February 2017)

SNAP Comment: Well, this is not only a Kerala. India problem. where it was aerially sprayed on the cashew crop. 14 Endosulfan formulations were historically registered in Canada and two, THIONEX EC (ENDOSULFAN) COMMERCIAL INSECTICIDE and THIONEX 50W WSP WETTABLE POWDER INSECTICIDE were still legally sold until the end of 2016. This means they may still be in use because the Pesticide Act and regulations control sales, not use. I am sure there have been health effects but, until recently, the PMRA did not collect them or consider them in pesticide registration. The system currently set up only requires manufacturers (not MDs) to disclose pesticide health effects. more on adverse effects reporting and to report a pesticide ;incident' go to https://www.snapinfo.ca/emergencies/adverse-effects-reporting-to-the-pmra

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

From Glyphosate to Front Groups: Fraud, Deception and Toxic Tactics

European Chemicals Agency classifies glyphosate as a substance that causes serious eye damage

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From Glyphosate to Front Groups: Fraud, Deception and Toxic Tactics   (Colin Todhunter, OffG. Jun 8, 2019)   Along with her letter, she enclosed a 13-page document. Readers can access the fully referenced document here: European Chemicals Agency classifies glyphosate as a substance that causes serious eye damage (or see the embedded version below).

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Videos of Organic Strategies for Community Environmental Health:

The 37th National Pesticide Forum, April 5-6, 2019

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Organic Strategies for Community Environmental Health:  Eliminating pesticides where we live, work, learn and play

The 37th National Pesticide Forum, April 5-6, 2019

This is  the link to the videos of the event.

Convened by Beyond Pesticides and the Children's Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai Institute for Exposomic Research at the New York Academy of Medicine in New York, NY

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

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Childhoods lost: disabilities and seizures blight India's endosulfan victims (The Guardian, 15 February 2017)

SNAP Comment: Well, this is not only a Kerala. India problem. where it was aerially sprayed on the cashew crop. 14 Endosulfan formulations were historically registered in Canada and two, THIONEX EC (ENDOSULFAN) COMMERCIAL INSECTICIDE and THIONEX 50W WSP WETTABLE POWDER INSECTICIDE were still legally sold until the end of 2016. This means they may still be in use because the Pesticide Act and regulations control sales, not use. I am sure there have been health effects but, until recently, the PMRA did not collect them or consider them in pesticide registration. The system currently set up only requires manufacturers (not MDs) to disclose pesticide health effects. more on adverse effects reporting and to report a pesticide ;incident' go to https://www.snapinfo.ca/emergencies/adverse-effects-reporting-to-the-pmra

Monday, June 10, 2019

U.S. federal agency shows that glyphosate causes cancer

Nice comparative charts. Simple, easy to understand comparison of independent glyphosate assessments versus regulatory

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 U.S. federal agency shows that glyphosate causes cancer (Prevent Cancer Now, 9 June 2019)

SNAP comment: Nice comparative charts. Simple, easy to understand comparison of independent glyphosate assessments versus regulatory (PMRA, EPA). When you see the chart, Bayer/Monsanto's argument implying glyphosate's safety because neither the EPA or PMRA has banned it doesn't hold water. It is merely a distraction from the facts. 

'The federal U.S. public health agency that assesses toxic exposures showed scientifically that glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) such as Roundup cause cancer in humans. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry (ATSDR) did not, however, say that GBHs cause cancer. Independent scientists do say so.

See for yourself, some of the data that scientists and lawyers are using to prove that glyphosate causes cancer, while regulators fail to acknowledge health risks.'

file under health/cancer/links between individual....and Legislation/Regulatory

Monday, June 10, 2019

Roundup’s Risks Could Go Well Beyond Cancer

Evidence of the cheap herbicide’s danger to biological functions and the environment continues to mount. Why are U.S. regulators not listening?

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Roundup’s Risks Could Go Well Beyond Cancer

Evidence of the cheap herbicide’s danger to biological functions and the environment continues to mount. Why are U.S. regulators not listening?  (By Mark Buchanan, Bloomberg Opinion, June 4, 2019)

'Both the EPA and the EFSA relied on information provided by researchers linked to the industry and considered studies provided by the industry that were not peer-reviewed or made public. The IARC relied solely on publicly available peer-reviewed research.'  ' In both the U.S. and Europe, the supposedly safe limits for human ingestion are based on long-outdated science. Research also points to serious adverse consequences for the environment, and there are indications glyphosate can cause disease in mammals even several generations removed from the initial exposure.'

SNAP comment: The article does not answer its question other than pointing out the narrow scope of studies which regulatory agencies evaluate. I can add the mandatory 'risk-benefit assessment' where use is considered a benefit and need and trumps any negative health and environmental effects. This, in my view, is 'long outdated science', as well as the belief that there is a 'safe' dose at which there is no effect, and the unscientific way this is calculated. 

filed under pesticide fact sheets/glyphosate