Re: water purification
Charles Benbrook (cbenbrook@igc.apc.org)
Tue, 4 Oct 1994 11:56:12 -0700
Sanetters --
Following two items appear today on the Net, various places.
Signs of the times.
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PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK NORTH AMERICA UPDATES SERVICE
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Report Documents Pesticides in Indian Milk
Oktober 1, 1994
In India, a seven year study of pesticide residues in milk in
12 Indian states has attracted considerable public concern.
The study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),
found that a high proportion of milk food samples -- bovine,
human and other -- had residues of HCH and DDT above
government-established tolerance limits. Both HCH and DDT
are on the Pesticide Action Network InternationalUs list of
Dirty Dozen Pesticides.
A meeting held in July 1994 to discuss the report,
Surveillance of Food Contaminants in India 1993, was
attended by a number of prominent activists, scientists,
social scientists and politicians. The meeting, organized
by a non-governmental organization in Delhi, was the
brainchild of Maneka Gandhi (former Indian Environment
Minister), who is known for her environmental and public
interest work. Former Prime Minister VP Singh also attended
the seminar.
The report, based on work carried out at six government food
testing labs, examined bovine and infant milk foods which
were analyzed for DDT and HCH. Analysis was extended to the
presence of metal and aflatoxins for other food samples.
Unlike similar government reports, this document was widely
circulated and attracted much public attention, especially
since it focused on milk -- an important source of nutrition
particularly for the young and elderly. Over 50% of India's
800 million population are vegetarians who consider milk an
important part of their diet, and who often drink milk
during illness and convalescence.
Dr. G.S. Totefa, who summed up the ICMR report, pointed out
that of the 2,205 samples of bovine milk, 85% of the samples
contained levels of HCH isomers (alpha, beta, gamma or
delta) above the tolerance limits. In the case of gamma-
HCH, 28% of samples were above the tolerance limit of .01
mg/kg as set out under the Prevention of Food Adulteration
Act for whole milk.
The highest levels of HCH contamination were documented in
the state of Andhra Pradesh, followed by Bihas and Uttar
Pradesh. In Maharashtra, 74% of DDT samples exceeded the
upper limit. Of the 186 samples of baby foods taken from 20
commercial brands, DDT was present in about 70% of the
samples, and HCH in 94%. Out of 32 Indian states, 25 had
not been taking residue samples from milk when the report
was issued.
At the July meeting, participants noted that there had been
no prosecutions or warnings issued since permissible limits
of pesticide residues were established in 1968, and that no
pesticide limits had been set for animal feedstuff, water,
air or soil.
The seminar adopted a ten point resolution pointing out that
the level of pesticides in milk is intolerable and dangerous
to human health, and that the government has been generally
apathetic -- particularly regarding research and development
into alternatives to dangerous pesticides. Participants
expressed concern for the environment and for protecting the
generations to come, and voiced support for farmers and NGOs
who promote sustainable ecological farming.
Source: Pesticides News (the journal of the Pesticides
Trust, Eurolink Centre, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ, UK),
September 1994. Contact: A.T. Dudani, President, Society for
Citizen Concerns, C-35 Panchsheel Enclave, New Delhi, 11017,
India.
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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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*Written 8:51 PM Oct 3, 1994 by ens in igc:ewire.news */
/* ---------- "Single Voice For Chemical Industry" ---------- */
put ens m. to ens Deavenport Calls On Chemical Industry To Speak
With A Single Voice
Budapest, Oct. 4, 1994 /E-Wire/ -- The chairman of the largest
U.S. chemical industry trade association said today that if
the global chemical industry is to influence trade and
environmental policies, it must speak with a single voice.
Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr., chairman and CEO of Eastman
Chemical Company (NYSE: EMN), addressed the 29th SCI European
Chemical Industry Annual Meeting today. He told participants
the global chemical industry is not influencing public debate
as effectively as environmental activists.
Deavenport, who is also Chairman of the Chemical Manufacturers
Association (U.S.), is an active proponent of increased
industry participation in public policy discussions.
He noted that while the chemical industry has not been uniform
in its public policy positions, well-organized, media-savvy
environmental activists are pulling in the same direction.
"Environmentalists, working together, are swaying public
opinion, influencing international policy-making, and shaping
laws and regulations," Deavenport said. He said environmental
groups are shaping public policy without the benefit of
chemical industry input.
"At the heart of the matter," Deavenport said, "is our ability
to speak uniformly on issues that influence health, safety and
environmental procedures and world trade."
Deavenport told participants that environmental activists have
been incredibly successful in their efforts to set
environmental agendas and forge links between international
trade and health, safety and environmental issues. He
identified the Montreal Protocol to phase out CFCs and the
U.S. Superfund legislation as examples of the success
environmental groups have had in shaping public policy.
"Regulations based on fear instead of science make great
headlines but not a lot of common sense," Deavenport said.
"Many of these laws fail in practice but succeed in spirit by
encouraging bolder and more reckless international
initiatives."
Deavenport said environmentalists continue to shape public
policy without all the facts and without the benefit of
industry input.
"Global dialogue is a matter of survival for the industry,"
Deavenport emphasized. "Now is the time to speak up. Now is
the time to speak out. Now is the time to speak with a shared
voice of reason."
Deavenport said he is optimistic that his industry, which has
for so long regarded silence as golden, can speak with one
voice. "I'm optimist because Responsible Care(R), an industry
initiative, has spread to 35 nations. I'm optimistic because
there is growing realization that the foundation for
successful economic and environmental performance has to be a
system of sound risk assessment and risk management,"
Deavenport said.
"At no point in our history could the chemical industry come
together as it is today -- secure in our technical
capabilities and an enlightened understanding of the world we
inhabit, Deavenport said. "Basing environmental policy on
unbiased, scientific risk assessment and cost-effective risk
management is something upon which we can agree. It is
something we should work toward."
Deavenport said the international chemical industry has to be
ambitious if it is going to continue to move forward. "We
need to take the next step and begin exercising our right to
be heard," he emphasized.
He recommended that the International Council of Chemical
Associations (ICCA) be the global voice for the industry.
"The last thing we should do is create a new organization."
"We have to work together more closely to achieve common
goals," Deavenport concluded. "We need to rise above our
differences and articulate a vision of what the chemical
industry is about and what we seek to do."
"We need to engage those who do not agree with us in a
meaningful exchange that's worthy of public consideration.
And, we must agree to commit ourselves to an international
presence."
CONTACT: Rod Irvin of Eastman Chemical Company,
615-229-4008.