News Briefs

State Report Links Pesticides with Birth Defects

The NC Division of Public Health has released a report following a 10-month study on three children with severe deformities born to farm workers employed with Ag-Mart in southeastern NC. The report stated that a link between pesticide exposure and the birth defects was "possible", but that it could not be proven definitively due to lack of comprehensive data. However, the deformities in these cases have been observed in laboratory studies with the same chemicals to which the pregnant workers were exposed. One child has since died.

Florida-based Ag-Mart is contesting the 369 pesticide violations found by the state. In the report, state officials are recommending better communication between state departments of Health, Labor and Agriculture. Some staff members working on the report have also suggested improper influence by Ag-Mart on the report’s conclusions. (Source: News & Observer)
>>Toxic Free NC Responds to NC Report on Ag-Mart, Pesticides and Birth Defects >>Read more from the News & Observer: Ag-Mart influence alleged; Researchers say the company had a hand in a state report on pesticide exposure

EPA Scientists Seek Tougher Pesticide Rules

Three labor unions representing 9,000 EPA scientists have issued a letter to the EPA Administrator, Stephen Johnson, seeking stricter regulations or outright bans of over 20 highly toxic pesticides that are under review for an August 3rd deadline as required by the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act. The EPA scientists and employees cited specific concern over children and infants' exposure to pesticides. The scientists say they are coming under undue political pressure from the chemical industry to expedite the regulations process, but the EPA insists it is carefully evaluating the pesticides. (Source: Chemical & Engineering News)
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The Pesticides-Parkinson’s Link

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, reporting in the July issue of Annals of Neurology, found a significant link between people exposed to long-term, low levels of pesticides and Parkinson's Disease. Study participants who used pesticides at work, home and in the garden had a 70% higher incidence of Parkinsons disease than unexposed men. The study was conducted between 1982 and 2001, and questioned participants about their environments, lifestyles and habits. Past studies have shown links between organophosphate pesticides and Parkinson's, an incurable neurological disease. (Sources: Reuters, Medical News Today)