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PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK NORTH AMERICA UPDATES SERVICE
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New Analysis of Nonagricultural Pesticide Use Released
June 21, 1994
The California Policy Seminar (CPS), a joint program of the
University of California and California state government, has
recently released "Pesticides in the Home and Community:
Health Risks and Policy Alternatives" targeting the extensive
use of pesticides in and around homes, workplaces and public
areas. In response to the growing concern around issues of
urban exposure, the authors analyze use patterns, risks and
policy alternatives related to nonagricultural pesticides.
Public policy concerning pesticides and health risks has
traditionally focused on agricultural use and food residues,
with little emphasis on urban exposure. CPS recognized the
need to focus attention on the hazards of pesticide use in
homes and communities where hundreds of millions of pounds
are applied annually. Approximately 70 million pounds of
consumer pesticides were sold nationally in 1991, accounting
for an estimated 6% of that year's total pesticide use. In
California alone, tens of millions of pounds of toxic
chemicals are applied each year in and around homes,
workplaces, schools, and public spaces. Nearly 6,000
nonagricultural pesticide poisonings were reported in
California between 1984-1990, a figure similar to the number
of known cases among farmworkers. The authors explain that
pesticide use in the home and community can be more intensive
than agricultural use and may create an environment for
multiple and cumulative exposure to toxic chemicals, for
which there is insignificant data regarding long-term health
effects.
The report's findings include:
-- Approximately nine million pounds of pesticides are used
each year to control structural pests in California. Between
1984 and 1990, 849 documented pesticide illnesses were
associated with structural fumigation in the state. Methyl
bromide and sulfuryl flouride are responsible for 60% of the
total fumigants applied during 1990 and 1991. Methyl bromide,
which is slowly being phased out because it is a potent ozone
destroyer, is highly toxic to humans and has been determined
to cause birth defects in laboratory animals.
-- CPS reports that commercial landscape maintenance in
California accounts for 1.5 million pounds of pesticides used
each year. Despite the lower acute toxicity of landscape
pesticides as compared to structural pesticides, 224 of the
reported pesticide illnesses between 1984 and 1990 were
associated with landscape maintenance.
-- Consumer use may also pose significant risks. The
substances most frequently associated with adverse health
effects include insecticidal foggers and other insecticides,
disinfectant and cleaning products, and herbicides. Most
consumers are uninformed about the risks posed to themselves
and their children when they use and store these products in
and around the home. The San Francisco Regional Poison
Control Center received over 4,000 calls relating to
nonagricultural pesticide exposure in 1991 and 1992, of which
956 resulted in documented health problems.
The authors recommend an approach to controlling the hazards
of urban exposure based on the principles of Integrated Pest
Management (IPM). They emphasize the need to broaden the
definition of IPM to include long-term sustainable methods of
urban pest control. "The role and responsibilities of the
governmental agencies need to be reconceptualized from one of
regulatory micromanagement to one of establishing targets for
pesticide use reduction." The authors support the development
and promotion of least-toxic alternatives as well as more
substantial taxes based on chemical toxicity levels to
encourage both commercial applicators and consumers "to get
off the urban pesticide treadmill."
Sources: James C. Robinson, William S. Pease, David S.
Albright, and Rachel A. Morello-Frosch, "Pesticides in the
Home and Community: Health Risks and Policy Alternatives,"
California Policy Seminar, University of California, 1994;
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Pesticide Industry
Sales and Usage: 1990 and 1991 Market Estimates," 1992.
Contact: California Policy Seminar, 2020 Milvia Street, Suite
412, Berkeley, CA 94704; phone (510) 642-5514; fax (510) 642-
8793; email: pease@sph.berkeley.edu.
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The Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS) is a
pesticide-related news service posted weekly by the
Pesticide Action Network North America Regional Center
(PANNA). PANNA is located at 116 New Montgomery Street,
#810, San Francisco, CA 94105. Tel: (415) 541-9140. Fax:
(415) 541-9253. To receive a standard information packet
about the Pesticide Action Network send a short e-mail
message to panna-info@igc.apc.org.
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