September - November 2004
1. PAN Europe activities
In September 2004 we produced two new briefings entitled Why
current European pesticide legislation fails to protect our health
and Pesticides in Food- what’s the problem?
Both are available on our website under Publications.
Annual Network conference attracts Eastern and Southern
Europeans
PAN Europe’s annual network conference took place on 12-13
November 2004, with
81 participants from 15 European and Caucasian countries (Armenia;
Belgium; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Denmark; France; Germany; Hungary;
Italy; Poland: Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; UK; and Ukraine). Good
representation of organisations from Central, Eastern and Southern
Europe was achieved with 11 participants from CEE and Caucasian
countries and 53 participants from Catalunya, other parts of Spain
and Italy. The conference was supported by the Departments of Health
and Environment of the Catalan Regional Government and 8 government
officers attended, including from the Catalan Centre for Workplace
Health and Safety. This was an important achievement in bringing
together civil society public interest groups with public sector
officers working in the areas of health and environment. Participants
heard about the 38 documented incidents of urban pesticide exposure
in the workplace in Catalunya since 1994, affecting over 300 people.
We also addressed the importance of agricultural livelihoods and
constructive dialogue with farmers’ associations, two of whom
made presentations during the conference. Participants visited the
Agricultural Park at Baix Llobregat to learn about a unique experience
in Europe for conserving agricultural land use and farming livelihoods
under threat from urban expansion and industrial pollution. Summary
report of the conference presentations and discussions will be made
available in early 2005, along with the technical seminar described
below.
Sharing best practice in Europe for use reduction
A technical seminar on Best European Practice in Reducing Use
of Pesticides and Other Chemicals held 15-16 November attracted
70 participants from local councils, trade unions, local offices
of regional and Barcelona district agencies for public health, occupational
health and safety, environmental protection, parks and gardens management
centres, and NGOs and universities. The seminar was organised by
the Catalan campaign Pesticides out of our Lives! and PAN
Europe’s role was to select key speakers from the European
Commission DG Environment, and from public and private agencies
in UK, Germany, Denmark, France and the Netherlands to give presentations.
We also presented our PURE campaign and project work on capacity-building
and advocacy for the public right to know in relation to bystander
exposure to pesticides. Significant media coverage was obtained
via both events for PAN Europe, PURE and European experiences, including
articles in five Catalan and one national newspaper, two radio interviews
and a short interview on Catalan TV.
Informing decision makers about health impacts
A Round Table entitled “Environmental Impact on Health
– Raising Awareness of Decision Makers” was organised
on 23 November at the European Parliament by the AREHNA* DG SANCO
funded project together with PAN Europe and with the collaboration
of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and EPHA Environment
Network (EEN) . This Round Table, supported by Members of the European
Parliament Frédérique Ries, Anne Ferreira, Satu Hassi
and Adamos Adamou, addressed many issues from the Budapest June
04 conference on Environment and Health and from ongoing discussions
about the Commission Environment and Health Action Plan, REACH and
Pesticide Policy. Pr. V.C. Howard from the University of Liverpool
stressed the particular vulnerability of children to chemical pollution
and on the need to apply the precautionary principle, Pr. L Hens
from the Free University of Brussels pointed out the lack of data
to properly assess risks, about the ranking of levels of evidence
between exposure to pollutants and health effects obtained by reviewing
the scientific literature and the need to target children protection
in order to protect the rest of society.
Mr D. Gee from the European Environmental Agency explained how,
even “small” influence of environmental pollution can
be “substantial”, Dr. F Branca from the Food and Research
Institute in Rome spoke about the need for a new integrated approach
to environmental health issues with special concern on children
and Pr. P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati of the National and Kapodistrian
University of Athens gave information about AREHNA and TREEE (Trans
European Environmental Educational ) Health Network. Dr. Sc. Catherine
Wattiez from PAN Europe explained why pesticide authorization Directives
do not protect health and presented NGOs demands for the review
of the Plant Protection Products Directive, for the use phase of
pesticides to be handled in the future Thematic Strategy on pesticides
and for the proposal of a Regulation for harmonisation of pesticides
Maximum Residues Limits, Mr S Scheuer of EEB spoke about potential
health benefits from REACH. The EEN video “It’s our
world, our future too” was shown, voicing children concerns
about pollution affecting their health.
2. Published news and information
This issue highlights some studies and news from Spain and other
Mediterranean countries to tie in with holding our first PAN Europe
event in the Mediterranean region.
Major pesticide exposure and bad practice needs addressing
in Spain
The problem of illegal practices in Spain has spurred the Spanish
agrochemical association into creating a task force to combat these.
In January 2004, for example, two producers in Almeria province
in Andalucia were sentenced to 18 months prison for selling unauthorised
pesticides. Illegal activities reported by the new task force or
denounced by companies will be reported to the relevant authorities
and results of a study on illegal practices will be presented to
the Ministries of Health and Environment. The industry association
is also taking part in a European Crop Protection association worker
safety initiative in Almeria, where there is intensive greenhouse
horticulture.
Oestrogenic properties of organochlorine pesticides
linked to breast cancer in Spain
This study during 1996-1998 in three hospitals serving Granada and
Almeria provinces in Southern Spain, looked at women aged 35-70
undergoing surgery for newly diagnosed malignant breast carcinoma
and other carcinoma cases, in order to detect the influence of 16
organochlorine pesticides on cancer. The levels of pesticides were
higher in cancer case women than in controls for DDE, aldrin, lindane
and endosulfan-ether but they were not statistically significant.
But separate analysis of the results for leaner body weight women
showed a significant relationship between breast cancer risk and
the oestrogenicity due to bioaccumulated organohalogenated xenoestrogens
(alpha fraction). Among this group, women with highest levels of
estradiol equivalent in the alpha fraction had a 2.4 fold significantly
greater risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest levels.
This is the first demonstration of a significant relationship between
breast cancer risk and the oestrogenicity from organohalogens accumulated
in the body. Among the leaner postmenopausal women, the risk for
those with the highest alpha fraction of increased to 5.67. The
study reported that aldrin and lindane may increase the risk of
breast cancer and this relationship is biologically supported by
the oestrogenic properties of both pesticides. In Spain and several
European countries lindane is still allowed for specific agricultural
purposes and for treating head and body lice.
Exposure of women to organochlorine pesticides in southern
Spain
The largest area of intensive greenhouse horticulture in Europe
is located in southern Spain, characterised by intensive use of
pesticides, yet few studies exist of human exposure data. This study
looked at levels of 15 OC pesticides in the adipose tissue and blood
of 200 local women. Aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, lindane, methoxychlor,
endosulfans and DDT and its metabolites were found, with detectable
concentrations of p,p’-DDE found in 100% of samples. Endosulfans
I and II followed DDT metabolites in frequency, with total endosulfans
found in 78% of adipose samples and 96% of blood serum samples.
Lindane was recorded in over 50% of adipose and serum samples. DDT
was banned for agricultural use in 1977 yet it may still be used
for disease vector control in neighbouring countries and is allowed
in the manufacture of certain pesticides produced and used in Spain,
such as dicofol. The frequency of DDT in blood samples suggests
current exposure, from unknown sources. Lindane was used heavily
until very recently in agriculture, while endosulfan is still widely
used despite its prohibition in several European countries. The
authors draw attention to the endosulfan contamination issue due
to its high frequency in human tissues and reported oestrogenic
activity. Endosulfan is also often found as food residues. The results
reported suggest current exposure to OCs among women. The endocrine
disrupting activity reported for many of these OC pesticides warrants
a better understanding of exposure of infants.
Plastic greenhouse workers at serious risk
This study looked at profiles of exposure to organophosphate and
carbamates among greenhouse workers and local residents near Granada,
Spain. It found that only 25% of pesticide spray operators used
some form of personal protective equipment (PPE) during mixing or
loading of pesticides and only 58% used PPE when spraying inside
the greenhouses. None of the non-applicator workers, indirectly
exposed, used any form of PPE. The study looked at activity levels
of several esterase enzymes, in addition to the usual measure of
acetylcholinesterase inhibition to assess OP exposure. It suggests
that new esterases such as beta-G and paraoxonase, undergo significant
changes in people chronically exposed to different pesticides.
DDT recorded in Spanish rivers
A recent study by the Council for Higher Scientific Investigations
(CSIC) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona highlights the
existence of hazard black spots in Catalonian rivers, in which sediments
often contain excessive concentrations of heavy metals and organochlorines.
The levels of DDT in the river Besòs at Santa Coloma de Gramenet
stand out in particular, reaching 150 nanograms per gram (an area
is considered as highly contaminated when the levels are between
50 -400 ng/g) and in the Flix, where they reach levels of 1,400
ng/g. In Santa Coloma, which is as badly contaminated as the Ebro,
the pesticide DDT arises from agricultural use. The solution suggested
is not to dredge the river sediment, but to avoid any further contamination
by intensifying the control of discharges made to the river, and
improving the systems for purifying the water.
Floods double DDT contamination in Italy’s Lake
Maggiore
Lake Maggiore has been subjected to heavy DDT pollution and some
of its fish species have insecticide content higher than Italian
and European limits. The source of contamination was a chemical
plant producing DDT, which closed in 1996. Assessment of POP contamination
after a heavy flooding in October 2000 showed that large quantities
of pollutants were transported into the lake from contaminated sediments
and soils. Insecticide pollution in 2001 reached levels 1.5 times
higher than before DDT production stopped in 1996. Flooding had
worsened the environmental situation which had been recovering slowly.
DDT levels in zebra mussels ranged from 2.0-4.5 microg/g fat, twice
the levels before the flood. Concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs
reached dangerous levels for the aquatic community. Fish consumption
is forbidden from Lake Maggiore since 1996 and this prohibition
will continue, given the recent increase in DDT contamination.
More evidence shows toxic chemicals impair health of
polar bears
Three new studies from Norway and Canada provide more evidence that
polar bears are contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
and pesticides and this contamination is linked to changes in the
hormone and immune system of the bears. Higher levels of PCBs and
pesticides in blood samples were related to lower levels of antibodies
and to cortisol and thyroid hormone level in the bears in the Norwegian
island of Svalbard. Reduced antibodies could leave the animals more
prone to infection while hormonal changes could affect development,
behaviour and reproduction.
Toxics put 22,000 polar bears at risk from infection, WWF-UK
Aral Sea human health catastrophe
A new study has found high levels of DNA damage that could explain
the abnormally high rates of cancer in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
around this highly polluted and rapidly shrinking inland sea. The
sea receives agrochemical pollution from the region’s important
cotton production and other pollutants. The region suffers the highest
child mortality rate in the former USSR and the world’s highest
incidence of cancer of the oesophagus, suffered by up to 80% of
cancer patients. New research provides further evidence for the
likely cause to be intensive use of insecticides and herbicides
on the cotton zone. Farmworkers studied exhibited DNA damage 5 times
the rate seen in the US, while the average Aral population damage
levels were 3.5 times higher than the US rate. There are concerns
that increased cancer risk could affect the next two generations.
Exposure to pesticide toxins is directly via inhalation of dust
from Aral Sea sediments as the sea dries out and via the food chain,
as toxins are taken up by animals and crops. The Uzbekistan government
denies it has a major health crisis.
Non-agricultural pesticide use soars in several European
countries
In contrast to sales of crop protection products, globally and in
Europe, industry figures show a sharp rise in sales of forestry,
amenity, timber, private company and individual public pest control
operations and public health usage products in the last four years.
France recorded a 31% increase in sales of non-crop pesticides between
1999 and 2003, followed by 22% in Spain, 13.5% in UK, 13.2% in Germany
and 8.9% in Italy. Over 60% of the non-crop market worldwide consists
of over-the-counter home and garden pesticides and other self-applied
products.
New market figures and projections for EU
The top six national agrochemical markets in the EU are France,
Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Poland. France accounts for 28% of
agrochemical sales in the enlarged EU and French growers spend almost
twice as much as other country growers on fungicides. Spain has
annual insecticide sales of 198 million ?, the largest national
market for insecticides. These account for 31% of Spanish agrochemical
sales.
The ten new Member States have a combined market of 750 million
?, representing 11% of EU sales. Poland forms the largest market
of the ten, with sales worth 309 million ?. The report predicts
that organic crop acreage of the new EU 10 will not exceed 5% of
total acreage by 2013.
Austrian sales increased in 2003
Figures from the Austrian chemical industry association FCIO show
a 13% increase in volume in 2003, from 2,694 tonnes of active ingredient
in 2002 to 3,048 t. The rise was mainly due to increased demand
for pesticides in early 2003, following destocking in 2002. Increased
purchases were seen only in fungicides, with farmers adopted cheaper,
higher volume fungicide treatments.
Herbicide sales slump in Norway
Norway’s Food Safety Authority reported a 16% decline in tonnage
of active ingredient in 2003, compared with 2002, to a figure of
688.5t. In fact, only herbicide usage dropped, by almost 29%, while
tonnage of insecticides, fungicides and other pesticides used increased.
This decline in herbicides was probably due to unusually high use
of the herbicide glyphosate in 2002. The report notes that large
fluctuations in annual sales are often observed in Norway, partly
as a reaction to changing pesticide tax systems.
Future of pesticide market in Cyprus looks poor
Following Accession to the EU, the Cyprus Crop Protection Association
sees bleak prospects for agrochemical sales. Under the EU incentive
scheme for non-use of herbicides, which provides a subsidy of 160-170
per ha, Cypriot farmers have already cut herbicide use by 10%.
The agrochemical industry is also struggling to combat illegal pesticide
sales, following media reports of poisonings of cats and dogs. The
CCPA has launched a public awareness campaign on the dangers of
illegal use.
Monsanto aims to launch GM turf for vineyards in Spain
Aurora Gold, a low-growing turf for vineyards has been developed
by Monsanto and Turfseed companies. The grass is resistant to low
application rates of Roundup Plus (glyphosate) and only needs to
be sprayed twice a year, to cut down on the main expense in grapevine
cultivation. Aurora Gold has already been launched in the US, was
introduced to Italy in 2002 and is now under the second year of
trials in Spain. Monsanto says the grass will help combat soil erosion,
reduce labour, improve vine quality and reduce management time and
costs.
Belgian Green MEP writes book on pesticides and European
law
Paul Lannoye, former Member of the European Parliament, has co-authored
a useful illustrated book in French entitled The Pesticide Menace:
Does Europe Protect Us? It includes summaries on pesticides and
health hazards, current and forthcoming legislation and full versions
of Parliament questions and resolutions in relation to the precautionary
principle, pesticide evaluation and the proposed Thematic Strategy.
There are also sections on the dangers of GMOs and on what consumers
can do to protect their health and environment.
UK usage statistics now searchable on line
The Central Science Laboratory has now puts its pesticide usage
surveys data from 1990 onwards on a searchable website. The data
is collected by the Pesticide Usage Survey Teams at the Central
Science Laboratory and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency.
The options allow you to access the data in a number of different
formats, including area treated, amount applied or amount applied
per hectare for pesticide group or individual active ingredient,
for different crops, in table or graph format. For example, for
lettuce and other leafy salads, the percentage treated with fungicides
of the total area cultivated has increased steadily from 40% in
1990 to almost 90% by 2003. During 1999-2002, over 30% of lettuce
acreage was treated three times with fungicides.
New book reviews pesticide epidemiological studies
on children
Written by two physicians, this book in French reviews the literature
on congenital abnormalities and childhood cancers linked to pesticides.
It describes exposure routes, the different disorders of the reproductive
organs, childhood cancers, persistence of pesticide residues in
the home and concentrations found in children’s bodies, as
well as programmes for prevention.
Apercu sur l’epidemiologie des pesticides. Dr Jacques
Sténuit and Dr Marie-Louise Van Hammée. 2004 Book
content and Chapter 2 on Immunotoxicity of Pesticides and PCBs and
Chap. 4 Pesticides and Children can be downloaded from the Belgian
NGO pesticide coalition website
3. News from PAN Europe partners
French network for pesticide use reduction launched
The first meeting of this new network, coordinated by PAN Europe
partner MDRGF, took place on 30 October 2004. 70 organisations and
umbrella organizations have joined the network, representing more
than 250 organisations throughout France, bringing together environmental
NGOs, farmers unions and consumers organisations. It aims at increasing
the pressure on the authorities in favour of pesticides use reduction.
This coordination is a major breakthrough in France- a significant
coordinated answer from civil society to the important pesticide
problem in this country. The network will serve as a powerful echo
for PAN Europe’s PURE campaign in Europe’s biggest national
user of pesticides and which still has no national reduction plan.
The Network will set up a website, newsletter and information database,
as well as coordinating lobby actions.
Agro-Eko Forum unites Slovakian NGOs
The Centre for Environmental Public Advocacy‘s project “Towards
food quality and sustainable agriculture” aims to raise political
pressure for sustainable agriculture and food quality and to bring
together NGOs working in agriculture and environmental issues. The
Agro-Eko Forum, unifying 15 Slovakian NGOs, was set up in Spring
2004 to coordinate work on biodiversity, organic farming, animal
welfare, GMOs, pesticides, etc. and work with schools, general public,
consumers - through farmers, food processors – to politicians
and agriculture ministry representatives. The Forum has now succeeded
in becoming a full member of the national Monitoring Committee for
the Rural Development Plan and is creating a new action plan for
organic farming in Slovakia.
WECF visits obsolete pesticide time-bomb in Ukraine
On 27 October, 7 weeks after an FAO warning concerning pesticide-waste
time- bombs, Women in Europe for a Common Future team and its Mama-86
partners were confronted with a part of the estimated 19, 500 tons
of ageing chemicals during a project visit in the Ukraine. In Nizhin
oblast an obsolete pesticide stockpile exists 3 km from our project
village Bobryk. The storage building was partly demolished as bricks
and roof tiles had been removed by "new-house-builders".
Old, broken bags with hazardous chemicals were affected by rain
and humidity, labels or inscription have become unreadable. The
building was filled with a penetrating and irritating smell. On
the other side of the building are corroded reservoirs. In rural
areas such as Nizhin, communities often don't have sufficient funds
to provide basic needs like drinking water or adequate health care.
No financial resources are available to treat polluted groundwater.
The economic situation is getting worse and unemployment is very
high and growing. These rural communities need support on where
to get assistance and financial support to locate, identify and
remove obsolete stockpiles safely. WECF is campaigning for international
financial support and assistance for clean-up operations, to prevent
further damage to public health and environment.
2005 HCH & Pesticides Forum on POPs & Obsoletes
in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
The International HCH and Pesticides Association (IHPA) announces
the 8th International HCH and Pesticides Forum for Central European
and EECCA (Eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asia) countries,
to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria from 26-28 May 2005. The theme is
environmentally sound management (ESM) practices on cleaning up
obsolete stockpiles of pesticides for Central European and EECCA
countries. The forum will discuss national and regional strategies,
actions plans and financial resources for elimination of POPs and
obsolete pesticides, including exchange of technologies and experiences
for inventory, risk assessment, environmentally sound management,
storage and destruction of obsolete pesticides and contaminated
soils, and includes a field visit. Information and registration
details can be found at http://www.hchforum.com/index.php
Consumer guide on why to choose organic cotton
PAN UK’s organic cotton project Moral Fibre has published
an easy-to-read, illustrated booklet aimed at consumers and the
general public on the hazards of pesticides used in conventional
cotton production and why choosing to buy organic cotton benefits
farmers as well as consumers. It includes links to several companies
now selling organic and fairly traded cotton clothing and cotton
items in the UK. Some of these companies also sell to other European
locations via their websites. The consumer guide will be posted
on the Moral Fibre website or can be ordered by post. Company information
is now available.
New poster on pesticide contamination in your food
PAN UK has produced a graphic new poster illustrating how much of
our food is contaminated with pesticides. A PDF version can be viewed
on-line at http://www.pan-uk.org/poster.htm
along with references and sources for the information. Hard copies
are available in A3 and A2 size copies- see the PAN UK home page
for details of how to order. www.pan-uk.org
The PAN Europe Newsletter is compiled by Stephanie Williamson,
PAN-E Coordinator, Eurolink Centre, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ,
UK Tel +44 (0)20 7274 8995, Fax +44 (0)20 7274 9084.
Contributions are welcome from PAN Europe network members and individuals.
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