Suit filed in LBAM spraying Nov 27, 2008
The EPA is charged with limiting the use of pesticides, and must register all pesticides in use to determine the potential harm to humans and the environment ... The suit contends that there were no signs of crop damage in either Santa Cruz or Monterey counties, and thus it was improper for the EPA to utilize the emergency clause that allows the use of unregistered pesticides ... "No governmental agency is above the law. We have no choice but to ask the federal courts to find the EPA in... (Sonoma Index-Tribune, CA)
Fatal attraction? (19) Nov 27, 2008
Volker claims the two "Checkmate" pesticides used in the spray program contain harmful chemicals the EPA was required to register under federal law. One of the inert ingredients, Volker charged, is tricaprylyl methyl ammonium chloride (TMAC) that is "harmful if swallowed or inhaled.". (Sonoma Index-Tribune, CA)
Lebanon resident gets transplant, another waits Nov 27, 2008
She lived north of town, next to a farm that was sprayed with pesticides ... But now, with a diagnoses of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), she thinks back to those pesticides. (Lebanon Express, OR)
Organic Foods are a Healthy Choice Nov 26, 2008
To be organic, a plant needs to be free of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals, while meats need to be free of antibiotics and growth hormones ... Without pesticides or fertilizers used in growing plants there are less free radicals that can harm a person s body as well ... According to the Pesticide Action Network, pesticides can increase the risk of autism, delay puberty and cause birth defects among other things. (Suite101.com)
More of this story Nov 26, 2008
These training sessions are designed to keep farmers abreast of the changing rules and regulations for applying pesticides, the proper methods for mixing, loading, and storing pesticides, and the safety precautions that should be taken when doing such. There have been some recent changes to the private pesticide applicator training program provided by the Cooperative Extension Service. (Hamburg Ashley County Ledger, AR)
Jaime Richardson | Green Valley NewsRich Richey, Chair of the GVCCC’s Community Service Committee, demonstrates how to use the expired medications boxes sponsored by the committee and installed last week at the Green Valley Fire District fire stations. \0\0 Nov 26, 2008
For information on the disposal of household hazardous products such as pesticides, paints, and cleaning products, call the Tucson/Pima County Household Hazardous Waste Program at 520-888-6947, or visit to for drop-off locations. 547-9726. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
Gulf War Research Panel Finds 1 In 4 Veterans Suffers From Illness Caused By Toxic Exposure Nov 26, 2008
25, 2008) At least one in four of the 697,000 U.S. veterans of the 1991 Gulf War suffer from Gulf War illness, a condition caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, including pesticides and a drug administered to protect troops against nerve gas, and no effective treatments have yet been found, a federal panel of scientific experts and veterans concludes in a landmark report released Monday ... The panel cited two Gulf War exposures consistently found to be causally associated with Gulf War... (Science Daily)
Kokua Line: State regulates pesticide use and can teach safe spraying Nov 25, 2008
Answer: Call the state Department of Agriculture's Pesticides Branch at 973-9401 and ask to speak to a pesticides specialist. The Pesticides Branch regulates the manufacture, sale and use of pesticides in the state ... However, "In most instances it is a matter of educating the person on the proper application of pesticides," Saneishi said. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Your views: Letters to the editor Nov 25, 2008
Stormwater runoff carries pesticides, fertilizers and petroleum products into the lagoon where these chemicals harm marine animal and plant life. The Indian River Lagoon is being killed by pollution. (Florida Today)
Purr-fectly 'Green' Cat Care Tips Nov 25, 2008
Just as added hormones or pesticides in your food aren't good for you, they're not good for your cat, either. Look for pet food that is natural, organic and FDA-certified. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Shopping for Affordable Organic Foods Has Never Been Easier Nov 25, 2008
Others eat organic and natural foods because they believe they taste better since they have not come in contact with pesticides ... When foods are labeled "organic" it means they were produced by avoiding exposure to potentially harmful additives such as chemical pesticides, fertilizers and preservatives, which are also environmentally harmful as they can end up in the ground, air, water or food supply. (Keokuk Daily Gate City, IO)
Hairspray and birth defects Nov 25, 2008
This was chosen from a list of 348 possible job titles that had been assessed by a panel of occupational hygienists for the likelihood of exposure to different chemicals including pesticides, phthalates, polychlorinated organic compounds, alkylphenolic compounds, bi-phenolic compounds, and heavy metals. Based on this list, women were categorised as either exposed or unexposed to these chemicals. (NHS Choices)
From melamine to cocaine, they see it all Nov 24, 2008
He has checked fruit to make sure it was free of pesticides and fungicides, and identified flame retardant in carpeting at the company's offices. At a trade show in New Orleans, he tested the coffee served each morning and found it contained very little caffeine. (Boston Globe)
Fed report vindicates ill Gulf War vets Nov 24, 2008
During the war, troops reportedly were exposed to pesticides, chemical and nerve agents and thick smoke from the hundreds of burning oil wells that turned the Kuwait sky black. According to the study, there also were reports that the military used uranium-tipped munitions. (Florida Today)
Pesticide linked to disease in valley Nov 24, 2008
For years, researchers have suspected commercial pesticides put people at risk for Parkinson's disease ... Researchers have found a strong connection between the debilitating neurological disease and long-term exposure to pesticides, particularly to a fungicide that is sprayed on thousands of acres of almonds, tree fruit and grapes in the valley. (Modesto Bee, CA)
Holing up on ozone Nov 24, 2008
Halons are an effective fire extinguisher and methyl bromide was and still is used extensively in pesticides ... However, the protocol does have a couple of loopholes exemptions include the production of chemicals necessary for public health (such as CFCs in asthma inhalers) and those instances where there is no technically or economically feasible alternative (such as methyl bromide in pesticides). (iAfrica.com)
Natural Treatments for Infertility Nov 22, 2008
Xenoestrogens found in the pesticides present in many foods can cause a hormone imbalance that can affect fertility. Buying organic can significantly reduce a woman s exposure to these chemicals. (Suite101.com)
Tortured in India Nov 22, 2008
Unable to bear the pain and the trauma, Kumar drank pesticides in an attempt to kill himself. He survived, but his parents say their son's mental age has been reduced to one year - he is on medication and requires constant care. (BBC News -- South Asia)
On the trail of our missing house sparrows Nov 21, 2008
Because modern pesticides are less toxic than they once were, the chemicals which build up in the bodies of small seed and insect-eating birds are not poisoning hawks as they would have done in the days of DDT. As the hawks thrive and spread, the small bird population declines. Eventually the sparrowhawk population should begin to decline as well as food becomes harder to find but, unless there's a hawk culling program, the days of thriving small bird populations are probably gone forever. (Telegraph.co.uk)
Flower power to save bees Nov 21, 2008
Genetically modified crops, climate change, pesticides and modern farming techniques have all been blamed for making bees vulnerable to parasites, viruses and other diseases. More research is needed to pin down the exact cause of the declining number of bees, the European Parliament is expected to recommend in its vote Wednesday evening. (India Times)
Hidden Pest Risks of Vacant Homes Nov 21, 2008
For more information on pests, pesticides and proper use, please visit www. PestFacts. (Pekin Times, IL)
Report offers hope for vets with Gulf War illness Nov 21, 2008
The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses identified the two primary culprits in the vast "toxic soup" to which Gulf War troops were exposed: pesticides and an anti-nerve gas pill containing pyridostigmine bromide. This confirms what veterans have long believed, and what their government has too often tried to debunk Gulf War illness is a specific, physical consequence of serving in the war that drove Iraq out of Kuwait. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Another View: A grateful nation needs to do more for veterans Nov 21, 2008
The cause, according to the panel's 450-page report, was ingestion of a drug administered out of fear the Iraqis would use nerve gas, as well as exposure to pesticides used to hold down sand fleas. There is no known cure for Gulf War syndrome, and the panel has recommended an annual appropriation of 60 million to find one. (Hanford Sentinal, CA)
Pollution at home lurks unrecognized, instead attributed to large-scale environmental disasters Nov 21, 2008
The study found about 20 target chemicals per home on average, including pesticides and compounds from plastics, cleaners, furniture, cosmetics and other products. Nearly all participants in the HES chose to learn their personal results, and the 25 selected for the current research were interviewed about their experiences learning the results for their home and the study as a whole. (EurekAlert!)
Decision deferred on field maintenance Nov 20, 2008
The Pennsylvania Turf approach, which uses herbicides and pesticides to kill off weeds prior to dressing the field, is "very standard," district Facilities Director Roy Johnson said ... "As a nurse who also has seen the environmental impact on children over the years, I question the wisdom of continued use of potentially harmful means of pesticides and herbicides around children and adolescents," Inderwies said reading from a prepared statement ... "We've tried to limit using any herbicides or... (Springfield Sun, PA)
PETA brings blood and guts to cooking game Nov 20, 2008
1 veg is filled with dangerous pesticides and chemicals and thus is not perfect 2 not eating meat at all is extremely bad for your health and can cause many problems 3 the game was rubbish , but damn it made me hungry (now where's that turkey) posted by : sane person, 19 November 2008. Oooh, those scamps. (Inquirer)
Gulf War Illness Nov 20, 2008
On the complicated web of factors and likely causes: The panel determined that two chemicals are likely responsible for GWI, both of which were administered by the U.S. military to its own soldiers: the drug pyridostigmine bromide (PB), given to troops to protect against nerve gas, and pesticides sprayed around barracks, dining halls and uniforms to protect against desert parasites. But the panel did not rule out the myriad other toxic chemicals that soldiers faced on the ground, including... (TIME)
Salmon helped in pesticide ruling Nov 20, 2008
- Farms and orchards that continue to use three pesticides that harm salmon will have to greatly expand buffer zones around their fields so the chemicals don't reach streams, federal biologists ruled Tuesday ... "That is not only good for salmon and good for wildlife, but good for people, because these pesticides have been detected in drinking water." ... "It makes no sense to allow uses of pesticides that poison salmon while we are trying so hard to save them," said Glen Spain of Pacific Coast... (MSNBC -- Environment)
Use Flower Power To Save Europe's Bees - EU Lawmaker Nov 20, 2008
Genetically modified crops, climate change, pesticides and modern farming techniques have all been blamed for making bees vulnerable to parasites, viruses and other diseases. More research is needed to pin down the exact cause of the declining number of bees, the European Parliament is expected to recommend in its vote on Wednesday evening. (Planet Ark, United States)
Think of the chemical stream Nov 20, 2008
While there may be some disagreement about the safety of chemical traces that accumulate in the human body from eating crops grown conventionally, there is no doubt about the toxic accumulation of chemicals in the soil and water as a result of nonorganic fertilizers and pesticides. One of the most dramatic consequences of these chemical inputs is the vast "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, the result of chemical pesticide and fertilizer runoff from the conventional farms of the American... (Boston Globe -- Editorial)
Ample evidence of pesticide ills Nov 20, 2008
A 1993 report by the National Academy of Sciences, "Pesticides in the Diets of Children," described the dangers in detail and led to the passage of legislation requiring an extra margin of safety to protect kids from food contaminated by these poisons. While the cost of buying organic foods may be higher than conventional foods, the costs of dealing with the illness caused by organophosphate pesticides can be prohibitive ... Interestingly, on the same day Foreman's article appeared in the Globe,... (Boston Globe -- Editorial)
Our view: Gulf War illness Nov 19, 2008
The council, made up of scientists and veterans and working on marching orders from Congress, lays the blame on exposure to pesticides and the PB (pyridostigmine bromide) pills taken to thwart the effects of nerve gas. With one in four of the 697,000 Gulf War vets reporting some level of the same symptoms, the lights should have gone on a long time ago in the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. (Anchorage Daily News)
State issues brown water advisory for Kauai Nov 19, 2008
It says overflowing cesspools, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, chemicals and flood debris could taint the water ... It says overflowing cesspools, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, chemicals and flood debris could taint the water. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Health & Fitness Snapshots Nov 19, 2008
Limit your exposure to lead and pesticides. They are known to increase the risk of Alzheimer's and diabetes, which also comes with a risk of dementia. (Montana Standard, MT)
Stay out of brown water, health officials warn Nov 19, 2008
Swimmers and surfers from Nawiliwili to Hanalei Bay are advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, chemicals and associated flood debris, according to a notice from Monitoring and Analysis Section Chief Watson Okubo. When coastal waters are dirty, it is difficult to determine what is in it at a glance, Clean Water Branch Chief Alec Wong said. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Toxic Chemicals Blamed for Gulf War Illness Nov 19, 2008
Its likely cause was exposure to toxic chemicals that included pesticides that were often overused during the war, as well as a drug given to U.S. troops to protect them from nerve gas, a frequent weapon of choice of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein ... In addition, soldiers were exposed to pesticides that were also cholinesterase inhibitors, Steele said ... "The strongest evidence points to pyridostigmine bromide and pesticides as causal factors," she said. (MEDLINEplus)
Lessons From A New Gulf War Report Nov 19, 2008
The report also blames pesticides for Gulf War Illness. Overton said the soldiers would soak their clothing in Deet like chemicals to keep away the sand flies. (W-USA News, DC)
Gulf War syndrome is real, report finds Nov 18, 2008
The panel found two possible causes: a drug given to troops to protect against nerve gas, known as pyridostigmine bromide, and pesticides that were used heavily during the war. The panel said other possible causes could not be ruled out, including extensive exposure to smoke from oil-well fires and low-level exposure to sarin gas when captured Iraqi stocks were destroyed. (Boston Globe)
Morocco and Mexico sign two cooperation agreements Nov 18, 2008
Morocco and Mexico also agreed to guarantee that animal-derived products exported to each other are free of hormones, drugs, pesticides, toxins and any other substance harmful to human and animal health. In this regard, they will swap information on manufacturing and processing methods of products of animal origin. (Yahoo News -- Morocco)
Entrepreneur fills niche as bug, rodent rancher Nov 18, 2008
" Still, it's not always easy for her. Her oldest son, Clint, helps with this and other chores. Maria Heidkamp Scully, who breeds and sells snakes at , also sells feeder mice, though hers are shipped frozen from the Lower 48. She's thinks it's great Smith is doing this, giving reptiles more opportunity to eat fresh and local. As for the crickets and mealworms -- especially the mealworms -- Smith's timing couldn't be better. Mealworms, also known as "crawly gold" in certain circles, are a hot... (Anchorage Daily News)
Understanding the Global Famine Nov 18, 2008
The food prices not only increase as local production decreases, the prices climb further as farmers are expensive fertilizers and pesticides from the same multinational corporate bodies. Third World domestic consumption becomes an afterthought to boosting revenue from exports. (Suite101.com)
Sea lamprey control on Vermont side of Lake Champlain sparks debate Nov 18, 2008
Some in Vermont say that in pumping pesticides into the lake, humans are meddling where they do not belong. 1. (Albany Times Union)
Watching The Wine With New Technology Nov 18, 2008
Second, winegrowers know when they have to use pesticides, so instead of spraying chemicals on the vineyards every two weeks as is common today, they only do so when there is a risk to the vines. And third, they can monitor how well the grapes are developing in order to determine exactly the right time to harvest the wine. (Science Daily)
Gulf War syndrome exists, say scientists Nov 18, 2008
GULF WAR syndrome is real, distinct from other illnesses and strongly linked - for the first time - to pesticides and medicines to protect against the effects of nerve gas, according to a definitive US investigation ... Those agents - pyridostigmine bromide pills, to protect against possible nerve gas attacks, and pesticides - were likely culprits because the intensity of symptoms increased in proportion to the quantity military personnel were exposed to, and because animal tests demonstrated... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
House Democrats battle over energy panel Nov 18, 2008
Henry Waxman of California, left, and John Dingell of Michigan worked together to help craft changes to the Clean Air Act in 1990, but the two legislative lions have been rivals for decades, scrapping over environmental and health policies. AP photos by Manuel Balce Ceneta, left; Lauren Victoria Burke, right. (USA Today -- News)
Panel: Gulf War illness a real medical condition Nov 18, 2008
However, they laid the blame for Gulf War illness primarily on two causes: pesticides sprayed on the troops during deployment and pyridostigmine bromide, an anti-nerve agent ... Besides pesticides and pyridostigmine bromide, the committee said, it couldn't rule out exposure to sarin, a toxic nerve agent, as a possible cause of Gulf War illness as well. (AZCentral -- News)
Fish, wildlife are a concern in mosquito spraying Nov 18, 2008
The Game and Fish Department has been working with Williston Vector Control District 1 Director Fran Bosch and the U.S. Air Force, which may be flying over with pesticides. The Air Force is waiting upon an environmental assessment to be completed before it knows for sure if it is going to fly over the area. (Williston Daily Herald, ND)
State begins spraying for citrus pest Nov 18, 2008
All citrus trees within about a quarter-mile of the discoveries were treated with two pesticides. Residents in the area received notices telling them to close their windows, take their laundry inside, and move barbecues, lawn furniture and toys away from trees and shrubs. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
PANEL FINDS WIDESPREAD GULF WAR ILLNESS... Nov 17, 2008
Two things the military provided to troops in large quantities to protect them -- pesticides and pyridostigmine bromide (PB), aimed at thwarting the effects of nerve gas -- are the most likely culprits, the panel found ... We know that at least 40,000 American troops may have been overexposed to pesticides, Vesser said, adding that more than 250,000 American troops took the small, white PB pills ... It found that in terms of brain function, exposure to pesticides and the PB pills hurts people s... (The Drudge Report)
Imagine all the people living life in peace - oh, it's just a hoax Nov 17, 2008
The food and chemical giant Monsanto appeared to endorse the use of ladybugs rather than pesticides. And the back page was taken up with an ad for KBR, a major Iraq war contractor, that proposed the company should play a major role constructing a peace-time American infrastructure. (Globe and Mail -- Entertainment)
Study bolsters link between Parkinson's disease, pesticide Nov 17, 2008
She wonders whether years of exposure to pesticides triggered her disease ... For years, researchers have suspected commercial pesticides put people at risk for Parkinson's disease ... Researchers have found a strong connection between the debilitating neurological disease and long-term exposure to pesticides, particularly to a fungicide that is sprayed on thousands of acres of almonds, tree fruit and grapes in the Valley. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Theres no escape from Georgina Downs, the poisoned Pesticide Nun Nov 16, 2008
For those responsible for government policy on pesticides there has been no escape in recent years from Georgina Downs. Now aged 35, she has for much of her life been exposed to a horrific cocktail of pesticides that was regularly sprayed on farmland beside her family home in Chichester, West Sussex ... The judicial review found that the government had failed to protect people, particularly rural residents, from exposure to pesticides. (Times Online)
Health Highlights: Nov. 15, 2008 Nov 16, 2008
Possible reasons for these ailments include exposure to pesticides used for insect control and pyridostigmine bromide pills, which were protection against nerve agents. But more research is needed to substantiate the cause of Gulf war illness, the panel concluded. (U.S. News & World Report)
There are lots of chores for the November gardener Nov 16, 2008
Check spray equipment for leftover pesticides. Clean and store. (Westerly Sun, RI)
Grant McOmie: Possible sturgeon trouble on the Columbia Nov 16, 2008
He s worried about what he s found in some fish: poisons like pesticides, PCBs and mercury ... Gunderson says pesticides accumulated when DDT spraying was common in the last century. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR)
Campaigner wins pesticide victory Nov 15, 2008
A campaigner has won a legal victory in a long-running battle with the government over the use of pesticides ... Ms Downs, who lives on the edge of farm fields, launched her independent UK Pesticides Campaign in 2001 ... Defra had argued that its approach to the regulation and control of pesticides was "reasonable, logical and lawful". (BBC News -- Health)
Purr-fectly 'Green' Cat Care Tips Nov 15, 2008
Just as added hormones or pesticides in your food aren't good for you, they're not good for your cat, either. Look for pet food that is natural, organic and FDA-certified. (Pekin Times, IL)
Campaigner in crop spray legal victory Nov 15, 2008
A campaigner has forced the Government to review the rules on crop pesticides after winning a long-running legal battle. The High Court ruled Georgina Downs, who lives on the edge of fields which were regularly sprayed, produced "solid evidence" residents were harmed. (Mirror.co.uk)
No easy solutions found to water problem (30) Nov 15, 2008
Dr. Tommy Jarrell, director of the Richmond County Health Department, arranged the meeting which included Dr. Ken Rudo, toxicologist; Art Barnhardt, supervisor of aquifer protection; Dr. David Rithie, professor of plant pathology; Dr. Henry Wade, manager of environmental programs, pesticides; and Michael Drennon, epidemiologist ... The pesticides have a high health risk because they have a long life and they don t bond to other material and have high water solubility. (Rockingham Daily Journal, NC)
Lawn chemical ban wins praise Nov 15, 2008
The announcement comes months after city council decided to ban pesticides in Calgary ... While the cancer society is in favour of bans for cosmetic uses of pesticides, this is the first time food production has been examined ... But Rod Scarlett, executive director with the Wild Rose Agriculture Producers, said numerous studies of various types of pesticides, herbicides and insecticides have indicated there is no connection between them and cancer. (Calgary Herald)
N. Idaho hopes to shrink carbon footprint Nov 15, 2008
Last summer, the Sandpoint couple doubled their garden space, growing vegetables without pesticides or power tools. And when they needed a storage shed, Kuhnel built it out of recycled lumber. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
How wineries are packaging their eco-credentials Nov 15, 2008
Members are encouraged to reduce, but are not outright required to eliminate pesticides ... Though biodynamic farming is similar to organic farming in that it eschews chemical fertilizers and pesticides, proponents say biodynamic wines have more of a sense of place, since very few additives are allowed. (San Francisco Chronicle)
State launches twin campaigns vs. fruit pests Nov 15, 2008
Now, all host plants within a 400-meter radius of sites where the insect was found will be treated with a combination of two pesticides ... The use of pesticides is bound to be a concern for residents and also organic growers. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Going organic may go the way of the downturn Nov 14, 2008
"Although supermarkets are benefiting from consumers' decisions to eat at home more than dine out, the costlier organic items may be feeling the pinch of the nation's economic woes. Organics may have grabbed more shelf space than ever before, but with groceries in general up 7 percent over last year, some consumers are thinking twice before putting them in their basket. "To cope with higher prices, many shoppers are simply opting not to buy pricey organic or premium brands," says Marcia... (Anchorage Daily News)
About half of Everglades buy contaminated Nov 14, 2008
Decades of agricultural operations involving fertilizers, pesticides and petroleum leave behind pollutants such as arsenic, cooper, selenium and DDT, according to the South Florida Water Management District. Land that would be part of restoration efforts would likely have to be cleaned up before it could be used to build the reservoirs and water treatment areas envisioned to rehydrate the remaining Everglades. (The St. Augustine Record)
