The truth about hazardous pesticides

Global Pesticide Campaigner (September 1995, Vol 5, No. 3)
Pesticide Action Network, North American Regional Centre
Individual subscription rate US$25
Reviewed by Dot Tumney This issue is mainly concerned with assessing the 10-year Dirty Dozen Campaign which is aimed at: ensuring human safety and environmental health are given foremost consideration in all policy decisions; ending the use of Dirty Dozen pesticides whenever their safe use cannot be assured; eliminating the double standards in the global pesticide trade that permit pesticides banned in countries of origin to be exported and sold in other nations; and to generate support for research and implementation of safe and sustainable pest control methods. (Dirty Dozen Handbook, 1985). In its future work, PAN hopes to: ensure that categories, not just particular chemicals or products, are banned; to make full "cost accounting" essential when pesticide use is contemplated; counter the marketing strategies which assume pesticides are essential and that "safe use" is achievable; and involve NGOs in the planning and expansion of their coverage to biotechnology developments. The original dozen — 17, since closely related compounds were included — are Camphechlor, Chlordane, Heptachlor, Chlordimeform, DBCP, DDT, Aldrin, Endrin, EDB, HCH/BHC, Lindane, Paraquat, Parathion, Methyl parathion, PCP and 2,4,5-T. Aldicarb was added in 1986 to make it a "bakers dozen". From the last 10 years, it's clear that the use of highly toxic pesticides is moving from rich to poor countries. Another trend is that exports, which are dependent on the high use of pesticides, have a short lifespan; shipments with high pesticide residues are being rejected, and the declining effectiveness of these pesticides is becoming a disincentive to their continued use. The manufacturers' response, of course, is to flog as much as possible, as fast as possible. Regulating these chemicals would involve either banning their use, restricting their use, or not registering or withdrawing their registration, which means that the chemical is not banned, but could be used for another purpose later on. All of these options depend on national regulation and require enforcement. Standards vary. There are no bans on these chemicals' production although their use may be prohibited in the producing country. Countries which ban the use of particular chemicals often still import them. Of as much interest as the reports themselves is the comprehensive listing of source material, pages of short news items and the resource pointer which lists Email, postal and street addresses for useful publications and organisations. PAN is an international coalition with regional centres for Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. To subscribe, write to PANNA, 116 New Montgomery Street, #810, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA or Email panna@panna.apc.org. PANNA also has a World Wide Web page (http://www.panna.org/panna/).