Title: Pesticide Information for the Royal Commission On Pollution
1Pesticide Information for theRoyal Commission On
Pollution
- Buffer Zones
- Notification of Use
- The Right to Know
- How Safe is the Science?
2Decisions Made By DEFRA
- No Science to support Buffer Zones
- A Trial Area only for Notification
- Third Parties to Control Access to Information
about the Pesticides Used
3Was DEFRA Correct?
- What is regarded as scientific evidence?
- Are adverse health effects known?
- Do the monitoring systems work?
- Is evidence being ignored?
4Scientific Evidence Includes
- Recognised symptoms of pesticide exposure
- Recognised properties of pesticides
- Recognised routes of exposure
- Peer reviewed reports of drift effects
- Officially recognised incident confirmation
- Incidents of linked illness reported to the
authorities but not officially recognised - Medical records of induced symptoms
- Known risks to vulnerable individuals
5Pesticide Induced Symptoms
- Restricted breath/asthma
- Digestive upsets/diarrhoea
- Heart rate irregularity
- Sweating/skin lesions
- Running nose/eyes/saliva
- Sore throat/voice loss
- Headaches/anxiety
- Joint/bone disorders
- Diabetes/hypoglycaemia
- Muscle pain/tremors
- Memory loss
- Visual disturbance
- Chemical sensitivity
- Cognitive defects
- Neurological diseases
- Foetal abnormalities
- Cancers
- Hormone disruption
6Pesticides Include
- Arsenicals
- Carbamates
- Organochlorines
- Organophosphates
- Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids
- Genetically Modified toxins
- Acids, such as Sulphuric Acid
- Hormone disrupters
- Co-formulants which increase toxicity
7Routes Of Exposure
- Direct contact with pesticide or packaging
- Exposure to spray drift
- Exposure to volatile pesticide vapour releases
- Contact with sprayed crop or contaminated areas
- Inhalation of contaminated air
- Drinking contaminated water
- Eating contaminated food
- Tracking into the home via pets or humans
- Contaminated clothing or footwear
8Bioaccumulation is Dangerous
- Bioaccumulation results from the use of
pesticides which are lipophilic and which persist
in the environment for a long time - Many pesticides in common use are both lipophilic
and persistent - including many organochlorines
and organophosphates - Spray drift contaminates surrounding areas and
non-target species, including man
9Persistent Pesticides
- Bio accumulate
- Present risk of long-term exposure
- Enter the food chain
- Concentrate in higher animals and man
- Are difficult to remove from the environment and
from the human body. - Can induce long-term health effects
10Each Type of Pesticide Acts on Different
Functions in the Body
- Arsenicals
- Blood vessel damage
- Enzyme inhibitors
- Organophosphates
- Nervous system toxins
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Enzyme disruptors
- Damage DNA/RNA
- Limit oxygen transport
- Organochlorines
- Nervous system toxins
- Block GABA channels
- Hormone disruptors
- Pyrethrins
- Nervous system toxins
- Sensitisation
11Other Pesticide Actions
- Pyrethroids Type I
- Nervous system toxins
- Pyrethroids Type II
- Cause paresthesias
- Block sodium channel
- Inhibit GABA
- Chlorphenoxy
- Compounds
- Nervous system toxins
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Metabolic poisons
- Skin and mucous membrane irritants
12More Pesticide Actions
- Carbamates
- Nervous system toxins
- Similar in action to organophosphates but the
action is reversible - Triazines
- Mucous membranes
- Endocrine system
- Dipyridyls -paraquat
- Corrosive
- Membrane poisons
- No antidote
- Phthalimides
- Nervous system toxins
- Glucose metabolism
13Actions of Co-Formulants
- Can increase toxicity of active ingredients
- Can be extremely toxic in their own right
- Can be volatile with toxic vapours
- Can cause cancer e.g. benzene leukaemia
- Can have insecticidal properties
- Can protect the active ingredient
- Can prolong activity of the formulation
- Can trigger chemical sensitivity reactions
14Multiple Exposures Are Dangerous
- Each poison targets different enzymes
- Each poison adds to cumulative damage
- Repeated exposures can cause permanent changes
and long-term effects - When suffering from the effects of a pesticide
further exposures to that or any other should be
avoided until recovery is complete - Mixtures of pesticides are frequently used
- Pesticide/medicine combinations can be deadly
15 Symptoms can be Non-Specific
- Such as
- Flu-like symptoms including dizziness, malaise,
coughs, sore throat, headaches - Rashes or reddened skin, sweating
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, nausea, vomiting
- Blurred vision, seizures or strokes
- Heart rate abnormalities
- Effects of odours - which are not necessarily the
toxicological effects of the active ingredient
alone
16Pesticide Symptoms can Mimic Those of Other
Illnesses
- Asthma
- Influenza
- Heart Attack
- Brain haemorrhage
- Diabetes
- Gastroenteritis
- Pneumonia
- Viral infection
- Meningitis
- Bronchitis
- Epilepsy
- Alcoholism
- Parkinsons Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Alzheimers Disease
- Heat Stroke
17Contraindicated Treatments
- Theophylline / Aminophylline for asthma
- Certain antibiotics
- Antidepressants
- Anaesthetics
- Painkillers such as morphine
- A host of others too numerous to mention which
act on the same biological pathways
18Poisoning Recognised Officially
- Numerous PIAP reports in UK alone have confirmed
poisoning from single episodes of exposure to
spray drift - Thousands of poisoning cases are recognised
annually around the world - The adverse effects of drift are well known
19Unrecognised Poisoning Cases
- In the UK there is a reluctance to recognise any
pesticide poisoning cases - That is made worse by the unknown causes of many
serious illnesses such as cancer, ME, asthma or
Parkinsons Disease - Even direct poisoning cases are hidden as seen in
the Sheep Dip and OP litigation
20Inadequate Medical Care
- The graph below indicates the lack of
available medical treatment in the UK (deaths
treatment) - Source USA (2002)
http//www.aoec.org
21A Village in the UK where Pesticides are used
Intensively
22Known Illnesses in Past or Current Residents in
that Area
23Confirmed Illnesses to Date in the Village of
Thorley include
- Cancers
- M.E.
- Neurological problems
- (4 died)
- Serious heart problems
- Asthma
- Joint/bone problems
- 39 of which 27 died
- 9 cases (6 left village)
- 9 cases 2 confirmed as pesticide poisoning
- 13 of which 10 died
- Numerous cases
- Numerous cases often in ex-farm workers
24Evidence of Harmful Effects
- Studies show adverse effects in children
- Effects in pesticide applicators
- Studies of pesticide use and effects in schools
and hospitals - Tracking of pesticides into homes
- Persistence of pesticides after application
- Evidence in law of recognised long-term effects
from repeated low-dose exposures
25Medical Records
- The correct tests are often not offered
- Availability of testing is often denied
- Test results are often hidden or falsified
- Supporting medical opinion is ignored
- Medical records are withheld
- Lack of that information is then used to claim
there is no risk from pesticides
26Risks to Vulnerable People
- Foetal exposures developmental changes
- Children - susceptible to low exposures
- Those already poisoned, or on medication
- Patients with cancer, MS, Parkinsons etc.
- Elderly patients
- Anyone with infection, M.E. or asthma
- Those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
27Children are at Greatest Risk
- Immune systems are still forming
- Greater exposure relative to weight
- Hand to mouth contact more frequent
- Often crawling or playing in treated areas
- Unaware of any risk
- Unaware of appropriate precautions
- Vulnerable and need greater protection
28Reasons for Notification
- To allow the vulnerable to be protected
- To allow those who can to move away
- To ensure that children are indoors
- To reduce post-application exposures by physical
contact with sprayed areas - To ensure no contamination of washing
- To allow time to seal homes if necessary
29Reasons for Right to Direct Pesticide
Information Access
- Some treatments are ineffective after 24 hrs
- Third party involvement increases costs
- Less likelihood of error
- Information required for correct diagnosis
- Diagnosis required for safe treatment
- Less Secrecy Greater Trust
- Greater trust improves rural relationships
30Dangers of Using a Third Party
- Delay in obtaining information
- Additional costs
- Increased likelihood of error
- Need to persuade Third Party to act
- Uncertain knowledge of subject
- Regular updates required
- Information easily overtaken by events
- Additional Data Protection problems
31Is the DEFRA Science Flawed?
- Pesticides are more persistent than claimed
- Exposures are more prolonged than claimed
- Exposures are rarely to a single chemical
- Accurate exposure measurement impossible
- Induced effects are easily missed
- Records are dangerously inaccurate
- Powerful vested interests are involved
32Current Legislation
- Demands protection of human health
- Requires pre-marketing pesticide approval
- Requires control of pesticide use
- Protects non-target organisms people?
- Demands that least toxic methods are used
- Requires pesticide records to be kept
- But regulations are rarely enforced
- Without enforcement there are no laws
33Conclusions
- Buffer Zones are essential to protect health
- Pesticide testing is inadequate
- Advance notification for the vulnerable and
direct access to detailed information about the
pesticides used is essential - DEFRA has failed to protect the public or the
environment from dangerous toxins - The National Health Service has failed to protect
individuals poisoned by pesticides
34The Way Forward
- The Government must remove from positions of
influence all those who have provided false
information - Testing and treatment centres should be
established in all areas as part of a health
improvement programme - All pesticides must be properly tested by
independent laboratories before approval - An Independent Inquiry into the entire issue
- Prosecute Officials who have acted unlawfully
35Towards Public Protection
- Every means available should be enacted to
protect children and vulnerable groups - All pesticide laws, regulations, and
recommendations should be legally binding on
those who use pesticides - Enforcement of those regulations is the key to a
more healthy population and a cleaner environment
for us all
36Questions for DEFRA
- Where is your independent science?
- Why do you ignore contrary evidence?
- Do you understand the human metabolism?
- Will you stop providing false or unreliable
information to Ministers and the public? - Will you ever put the safety of public health
before the interests of industry?