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The question of pesticides Chabot College
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The question of pesticides Chabot College
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The controversy regarding
the health hazards or safety of the food we eat due to pesticides that
are used while growing and that remain as residues is an on going debate.
While the issues include the actual handling and application of pesticides,
this paper will address only the consumer side of purchasing foods that
contribute to good health.
Health Warnings
| Food Safety |
Current Regulations
Do You Know What You're
Eating? Pesticide Residues in Food
http://www.consumersunion.org/food/do_you_know2.htm
The non profit
group, Consumers Union of United States, Inc., is also the publisher of
Consumer Reports. The Public Service Projects Department¹s purpose
is to analyze the data collected by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Pesticide
Data Program. This particular article was first printed in
February, 1999 and is a summary of the published report. Based on
the origin of the data, the accuracy and authority of the study and information
should be reliable. The material given appears to be objective, and
there are numerous sub topics of other areas of pesticide use concern.
The authors
are Edward Groth III, Project Director; Charles M. Benbrook, Ph. D. Consultant;
and Karen Lutz, M. S.
Its intent is to inform consumers of the toxicity of fruits and vegetables.
Based on data of some 27,000 plus food samples of the USDA¹s Pesticide
Data, a Toxicity Index is established. This does not measure risk
because of to many individual variables - food intake, age, illness, as
well as other factors. The TI allows comparisons among foods - those
with the lowest, highest and how many residues. This publication
also addresses the questions of imported foods verses U. S. crops and processed
/ frozen foods verses fresh foods.
According to
their tests, residues are within legal limits with some exceptions, but
"legal limits do no define safe limits." However with the facts given,
they do not recommend less consumption of fruits and vegetables while waiting
for stricter government limits, but do give guidelines for consumer safety
such as thoroughly washing and peeling many fruits and vegetables.
A Shoppers Guide to
Pesticides in Produce
http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/Shoppers/shop_short.html
The non profit
organization, Environmental Working Group, is the sponsor of this site
and is a project of the Tides Foundation, a California Public Benefit Corp.
based in San Francisco. Their projects include farm subsidy, chemical
industry and environmental issues. They are funded by grants from
foundations and individual donors. There is a local office in Oakland,
CA. Their goal is to research state and federal government agencies
and turn ³raw data into usable information;² information that
can be passed on and used by the consumer.
The authority
and accuracy of this site is based to an extensive list of references which
include testimonies of EPA and USDA officials before the U. S. Senate and
various subcommittees, The American Journal of Public Health, Cancer Research,
EPA files and scientific institutions that deal with the effect of pesticides
on human reproduction, lactation, cancer and risks to children. This
article has a copyright of November 1995, but the most recent report on
pesticides is November 2001.
The authors
of this article are Richard Wiles, Kert Davies, Susan Elderkin, all of
whom are part of the Environmental Working Group. They have worked with
nutritionists to develop alternatives to what they consider the top twelve
fruits and vegetables that pose health problems because of high pesticide
content ratings. They are part of a research organization, use federal
government data and other sources of traceable data give credibility to
their report.
There is a
definite undercurrent and actual stated purpose that buying organic
grown produce will reward growers who use less toxic pesticides and also
send a message to Congress that actions to weaken pesticide safety standards
will not be accepted by the public. The idea is a kind of double
edge boycott, but is based on research more than opinion. This site
also encouraged purchasing Union label products. It comes across
as a citizens watch group and there is a very strong emphasis to not only
be an informed public, but to also demand a change.
Pesticide Residues in
Foods
http://www.acsh.org/publications/priorities/0503/pesticide.html
The sponsoring
institution for this site is the non profit American Council on Science
and Health, Inc. which includes a board of 350 physicians, scientists and
a policy advisor. It was founded by a group of scientists in 1978
to provide sound scientific basis for environmental and health issues.
The goal is to "present balanced, scientifically sound analysis of current
health topics." The validity of the report can be traced to quotes
from Dr. Landrigan, the pediatrician who wrote the NAS report; reference
to the EPA¹s tolerance for pesticides; and results from testing California
produce published in Issues in Food Safety by the California Department
of Pesticide Regulation (May 1992) This is a "non profit consumer
education consortium." The site offers information on other issues
such as alcohol, tobacco, and publications. This article is dated November
3, 1993, but there are current editorials and press releases from April
25, 2002.
The author
D. Thomas H. Jukes, was a renowned scientist who had an extensive career
in nutrition science and molecular evolution. He received his Ph.
D. in biochemistry at the University of Toronto in 1933. He later
became Professor of Biophysics at U. C., Berkeley. He advocated
the use of pesticides and hormones in food production. He ultimately
developed antibiotics and cancer therapies.
While the information
has a solid research base, there is a strong reference to "to many environmental
extremists who refuse to acknowledge any benefits from pesticides;" "NAS
report . . .the fear-mongers emphasized" continued consumption of fruits
and vegetables. Even with those references, there is respect for
the other side and makes reference to the Environmental Protection Agency¹s
guide lines for safe use of pesticides. There are tables to demonstrate
that of 2,598 samples taken, 92% had no detectable residues or were within
the tolerable limits established by the EPA. Also available is a
table evaluating the monitoring programs of various states. He wholeheartedly
states that "on a risk - benefit basis," the hazards of pesticide residues
on foods are far outweighed by the benefits.
Consumer¹s Guide
Natural Toxicants in Foods
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/scripts/htmlgen.exe?DOCUMENT_FS044
This site is
sponsored by the University of Florida, Cooperative Extension Service,
the Institute of Food and Agricultural Services. The EDIS is the
Florida Extensions publications resource and also provides the Integrated
Database Search Engine access from its home page. The document itself
is referred to as Fact Sheet FS-10, part of a series published by Food
Science and Human Nutrition. The information given here is informative
and was published in June, 1992.
The authors
of this information are R. F. Matthews, Professor and Food Technologist,
and L. M. Ravelo of the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department.
The article has been adapted by Mark L. Tamplin, Ph. D., Associate Professor
and Food Safety Specialist, Home Economics Department, Co operative Extension
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Services.
In comparing
the natural chemicals in foods verses the man made chemicals, there is
a sense of confidence in the food that we consume. A chart demonstrates
the percentage of carcinogenic substances in natural food verses any additives
such as spices and pesticide residue. Consumers ingest "10,000 times
more natural chemicals than man-made chemicals (by weight)". When
these chemicals are evaluated by the same methods used to evaluate the
effects of man-made chemicals, there is a specific toxicological risk involved
in the natural chemicals. A chart of "A Holiday Dinner Menu" emphasizes
the body¹s ability to consume these naturally occurring potentially
toxic substances. The guide lines also point out the natural toxicity
of vitamins A and D. The rule of thumb, "eat a wide variety of foods
in moderate amounts." Balance and moderation in the quantity and
variety of produce that are ingested are stressed in order to maintain
good health .
Organophosphate Pesticides
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/primer.htm
The government
organization, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency is the sponsor
and author of this site. The fact that it is a government established,
scientific based agency the information should be viable. Its documents
are available to public evaluation and scrutiny either in the public registry
or the internet. This document not only informs, but also explains
the use of these particular pesticides and their need for evaluation.
The site also provides links to Pesticide Programs, the Federal Registry,
O P Schedule and Documents, plus publication numbers of articles and a
phone number for further information. May 1999 is given as the publication
date. The goal of the EPA is "to reduce risk without jeopardizing
out nations agriculture and its farm communities . . ."
The information
at this site includes a definition of tolerance ("maximum residue limit
that may lawfully remain in each food commodity". This is enforced
by the Food and Drug Administration and the U. S. Department of Agriculture
who monitors food produced in the U. S. as well as food imported from other
countries. There is a check and balance system of the three agencies.
All pesticides
prior to sale have been thoroughly evaluated to ensure that it will not
harm human health or the environment. The Food Quality Protection
Act of 1996 set the requirements by the EPA. The EPA states that these
pesticides are primary in evaluation because many people are exposed to
them on a regular basis. Plus, they are known to cause acute and
chronic effects to humans and wildlife. The EPA must reassess all
tolerances established prior to August 3, 1996 and must complete these
reassessments by August 2006; one third are to be completed by August 1999.
The reassessments will include studies for physical and behavioral
effects and physiological effects on the nervous system - "specifically
. . . evaluated for ability to harm motor activity, learning and memory,
reflexes and sensory ability, and cell development and structure."
While there
is no direct encouragement to continue consumption of fruits and vegetables,
the emphasis is on the continued assessment and safety of additives and
pesticides to the foods we consume.
