BEYOND PESTICIDES

Take Action—EPA, Ban Atrazine! Making the Case for Emergency Action Aligned with the Recent Dacthal Decision While the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received accolades for its August 7, 2024, decision to ban the herbicide Dacthal (or DCPA—dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate), it also leaves many people asking, “Why Dacthal and not other very hazardous pesticides?” The weed killer atrazine—in the triazine chemical family—for example, poses similar elevated hazards to people and the environment, has proven to be impossible to contain, and has viable alternatives. Therefore, we need to challenge the agency to apply the same standard that removed Dacthal from the market to the long list of pesticides that are contributing to a health crisis, biodiversity collapse, and the climate emergency. 🌱 EPA must apply the standard of the Dacthal decision to atrazine and issue an emergency suspension and prohibit use of existing stocks. https://ow.ly/jUIq50T5phW ✨ Due to the importance of the Dacthal decision, we are providing an extended analysis on our Action page for those who wish to delve deep into the issue!

Daily News: Study Finds Pesticide Product Labels Fail to Convey Toxic Effects to Consumers The labeling requirements of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for pesticides fail to adequately communicate acute toxicity levels to the public, according to a team out of the University of Delaware, the University of Kentucky, Texas A&M University, and the University of Missouri System. Researchers conducted an incentivized field experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of pesticide labels using signal words as compared to two alternative visual designs: traffic light colors and skull intensity symbols. Using a “between-subjects” design, the study recruited 180 participants from the Southwest region of the U.S. and after the evaluation, the authors concluded that current labeling may result in “unintended adverse effects” because it does not “effectively communicate toxicity risks to consumers.” Signal words on pesticide labels, based on laboratory animal testing for determining lethal doses, are intended to protect users of the product from exposure that can kill through inhalation, skin absorption, and ingestion of the pesticide. However, the signal words do not warn about long-effects like cancer, neurological diseases, reproductive harm, as well as other adverse effects associated with pesticide exposure. #epa #pesticides #label #signal #toxicity #communication *** The study recommendation that policymakers could impact consumer safety through ”a comprehensive shift” in labeling policies, while addressing an important issue, does not address the inherent adverse impacts of toxic pesticides. BEYOND PESTICIDES notes that continued reliance perpetuates the trifecta of existential crises of human health threats, biodiversity collapse, and the climate emergency, in contrast is a precautionary approach—embodied in organic land management practices. 🎯 A truly protective strategy requires a transition from this chemical dependency to organic practices across food production, parks, playing fields, and all public spaces. Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/S4fG50T96Yv

Daily News: Carbon Markets Entrench Pesticide Use “Chemical Capture: The Power and Impact of the Pesticide Industry”—part of a Civil Eats investigative series—unpacks the troubling coordination between carbon markets, toxic pesticide products, and industrial agriculture to mutually reframe their business models under the guise of climate-smart agriculture. In recent years, powerful agribusiness corporations—including Corteva (chlorpyrifos) and Bayer/Monsanto (glyphosate)—have made progress in becoming leading providers of carbon markets based in the U.S., citing their pesticide products as tools for sustainable agricultural practices while “independent” carbon trading platforms, such as Indigo and Nora, have begun collaboration as an opportunity to expand their services. To enter Bayer’s carbon offset program, for example, farmers must input on-farm data to Climate FieldView, which “recommends planting protocols and offers product discounts.” Both organic and conventional farmers navigating the expansion of carbon offset tools remain concerned “that carbon markets would inadequately support a full range of beneficial soil management practices,” according to farmer interviews from Hamilton College, included in a report published last year in Nature. [See today's post to learn more!] #climate #carbonmarkets #pesticides #bayer #corteva As BEYOND PESTICIDES previously reported in 2021, the mechanisms of carbon markets, or the purchasing of carbon offsets, do not establish an end date for admittedly unacceptable materials and practices, nor do they ensure a transition to life-sustaining practices. https://ow.ly/KFZI50T7Gk6 🎯 Just as there are proposals to end production of the combustion engine and move to electric vehicles, we must demand that agriculture—across the board and on an expedited schedule—shift to organic practices, whose standards are already codified in federal law. 🌱 Image Credit: Art Page submission from Max Sano, “Maryland Farmland.” Click here to share your art and photos with Beyond Pesticides! https://ow.ly/9RkL50T7IcX Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/39j750T7Gk7

Daily News: Beyond Pesticides Rallies Public to Ban Weed Killer Atrazine with Standard EPA Used Earlier to Ban Dacthal In July, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was raising the allowable levels of the highly toxic weed killer atrazine in the nation’s waterways from the 2016 level of 3.4 to 9.7 micrograms per liter (µg/L), which scientists and environmental advocates say is a serious threat to aquatic plants, fish, invertebrates, and amphibians—in addition to people who use or eat food from waterways. Exposure to atrazine, manufactured by Syngenta, is widespread in the environment. It is the second most widely used herbicide in the U.S. after glyphosate (found in Roundup), but banned in the European Union in 2004 and in over 40 countries worldwide. Many organizations have called for the chemical to be banned in the U.S. and have joined in litigation against EPA. With EPA’s August 7 decision to ban the weed killer Dacthal (or DCPA–dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate), BEYOND PESTICIDES is rallying public support for the removal of atrazine from the market under the same standards of harm, inability to mitigate hazards, and the availability of alternatives. #atrazine #dacthal #standard #takeaction #ban #epa 📣 TAKE ACTION >> EPA must apply the standard of the Dacthal decision to atrazine and issue an emergency suspension and prohibit use of existing stocks. https://ow.ly/xCWu50T6wRI ➡️ For an extended analysis and to delve deep into the issue, please read today's Daily News Blog Post! https://ow.ly/CQPV50T6wRG

Daily News: Study of Pesticide Risk in Wild Bee Species Highlights EPA Risk Assessment Inadequacies Researchers calculating and comparing pesticide risk in 594 wild bee species—those associated with crops in North America—postulate that bees proposed for assessments "... may not accurately represent risk for those bee species facing the highest potential risk in agricultural contexts." University of Guelph | University of Ottawa In considering intrinsic and extrinsic factors that vary by species while determining potential harm to each from pesticide exposure, this study also highlights the inadequacies of the current risk assessment process used by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). [Current pesticide risk assessments, such as Tier I studies, primarily focus on honey bees such as Apis mellifera and do not often consider the varying sensitivity in wild bee species.] As the authors point out, efforts should be focused “on the subset of wild bee species likely experiencing the highest potential pesticide risk as a starting point for protection and conservation goals,” instead of a reliance on a single species where the majority of data collected is under laboratory settings that do not mirror real-world exposure. Since exposure to agricultural pesticides is one of the multiple interacting drivers of wild bee declines globally, representative risk assessments are imperative to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services and thus need to be thorough. #bees #pollinators #risk #wild #representation #pesticides 🐝 See more on EPA’s failure to protect bees here: https://ow.ly/7BCz50T5oRN 🌻 Image Credit: Art Page submission from Sara Grantham, “Sunflower Pollinators.” Click here to share your art and photos with BEYOND PESTICIDES! https://ow.ly/44zr50T5oRM Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/CxS750T5oRO

Daily News: Toxic Pesticides Increase Rates of Chronic Kidney Disease in Agricultural Communities A pesticide screening and analysis finds traces of the chemicals in the bloodstream of patients with “unexplained chronic kidney disease” (CKDu) from agricultural communities in Uttar Pradesh, India. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences | Babu Banarasi Das (BBD) University The findings, according to the authors, indicate "widespread exposure to pesticides among individuals in agricultural areas, with residues detected in both CKDu patients and controls.” Organophosphates (15), organochlorines (8), and pyrethroids (13) were identified as the main culprits, building on years of research pointing to adverse health impacts from pesticide bioaccumulation after acute and chronic exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that one in seven U.S. adults (or roughly 35.5 million people) have chronic kidney disease, with as many as nine in ten adults with the disease undiagnosed, based on 2023 data. The correlation between high rates and multigenerational use of pesticides for food, lawn care, and land management reinforces the calls of advocates, farmers, and medical providers to adopt a new approach rooted in organic principles. 🔬 To delve into the scientific literature on connections between kidney health and pesticide exposure, please see BEYOND PESTICIDES' Pesticide-Induced Disease Database entry on kidney function and disease. #kidneys #pesticides https://ow.ly/FXOT50T43W8 Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/hnlj50T43W5

Daily News: Review of Pesticide Residues in Human Urine, Lower Concentrations with Organic Diet A literature review exploring the levels of pesticide residues found in human urine samples—considering environmental exposure and dietary intake—confirms prior findings about the benefits of an organic diet, with lower concentrations of chemicals detected. 🔎 For context, please see BEYOND PESTICIDES' Daily News post from February 19, 2019—Corroborating Earlier Studies, a Reduction in Pesticide Residues in Consumers Found after Switching to an Organic Diet: https://ow.ly/tZkO50T38Jz By analyzing 72 scientific research studies published between 2001 and 2023, the authors from DTU - Technical University of Denmark assess routes of exposure and examine "... urinary concentrations and detection frequency of metabolites of organophosphates and pyrethroids, as well as herbicides such as 2,4-D and glyphosate.” The research identifies levels of pesticides or their metabolites as biomarkers detected in urine samples to gauge human exposure. Findings show that 3-Phenoxybenzoid acid, a nonspecific metabolite of certain pyrethroid insecticides, (3-PBA) is the primary metabolite detected in urine samples, included in 34% of the studies. A specific metabolite for the pyrethroid cypermethrin, known as DCCA was also commonly detected. Meanwhile, organic agricultural practices and eating an organic diet reveal evidence of reduced concentrations of metabolites, notably with 3-PBA, in urine samples. #organic #diet #health *** The path forward to protect human health, for ourselves and for disproportionately affected groups like farmworkers and their families, is by choosing organic. Under the Organic Foods Production Act, organic agriculture embodies an ecological approach to farming that does not rely on or permit toxic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, sewage sludge, or irradiation. ↪️ For more information on how to choose organic, please click here to access our Eating With a Conscience page: https://ow.ly/mGWp50T38JF Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/WglI50T38JI

Daily News: Modes of Action of Persistent Pesticides Documented, with Ongoing Poisoning, Multigenerational Effects Residual exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) continues to raise alarms as researchers from France and Kazakhstan highlight differences and common behavioral reactions for three groups of OCPs—dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), and chlordecone (CLD)—in humans and animals by collecting data on their modes of action. Université de Lorraine | Institute of Genetics and Physiology | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University [A ‘mode of action’ is the chemical mechanism by which a chemical causes changes to an organism.] According to the authors, each pesticide, as well as its metabolites and isomers, accumulates differently and exhibits a range of abilities to disrupt natural biological processes in mammals. However, although each OCP exhibits different modes of action, their biological impacts exposed similarities. For example, all compounds were found to be endocrine disruptors, as well as play havoc with the nervous system. #organochlorine #ddt #pesticides #endocrinedisruption #modeofaction *** While multiple OCPs are no longer used worldwide, the poisonous legacy of their contamination persists. The continued use of fossil fuel-based pesticides and fertilizers contributes to a trifecta of existential crises: human illness exacerbated by pesticide exposure, the collapse of biodiversity, and the accelerating climate emergency. Grounded in preserving healthy ecosystems, organic practices offer a viable, necessary alternative that ensures food productivity and resilient land management while safeguarding our food, air, and water. The data supporting organic agriculture creates a compelling case for phasing out pesticides within the next decade. https://ow.ly/5bm150T2c3F ➡️ To learn more about the negative health effects of OCPs and follow the science, please see BEYOND PESTICIDES' Daily News archive here: https://ow.ly/YXeK50T2c49 Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/qesP50T2c4g

Daily News: Certified Organic Principles and Practices Embraced by Farmers and Consumers; Fed Standards Eroding As a local news outlet covers a local farm (Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community’s Farm at Willow Run) receiving organic certification, BEYOND PESTICIDES launches an action this week to “take back organic"—in response to prominent agricultural forces and industry interests attempting to weaken organic standards and blur the line between certified organic and “regenerative” practices that are not organic-certified. Rocktown Now quotes the farm manager, Nate Clark, saying, “This milestone demonstrates our dedication to providing high-quality, healthy food to our residents and community while also prioritizing environmental sustainability.” The article reports that as a certified organic farm with detailed records of the farm’s field and harvest activities and materials, subject to annual inspections, “VMRC is committed to regenerative farming practices that promote soil health, energy conservation and fair working conditions.” https://ow.ly/WOh850T1j9v “Regenerative” agriculture or land management that is not certified organic raises a series of questions about its lack of a standard definition that is enforceable under a compliance system. As a result, organic practitioners and advocates have taken the position that to make regenerative meaningful, it must require organic certification as a starting point. #organic #certifiedorganic #regenerative #takeaction ➡️ For more information, please see the Daily News post on the subject, “Regenerative” Agriculture Still Misses the Mark in Defining a Path to a Livable Future,“ which explores the departure from the underlying principles, standards, allowable substances, and enforcement of certified organic practices. https://ow.ly/B4m850T1isr 🌱TAKE ACTION >> Tell the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that organic agriculture must require practices that build soil and raise animals on pasture, so hydroponics and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) should not be certified. Tell Congress to support increased funding for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. https://ow.ly/HpeS50T1isT Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/sli950T1itw

Take Action: Organic Is Being Stolen, We Need to Take It Back! Organic agriculture in the United States started in the 1940s as a movement of concerned citizens, environmentalists, and farmers. As interest in organic food and farming grew after the release of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, public awareness of the dangers of toxic pesticides increased and the notion of building soil, which is foundational to organic and certified organic production to this day, replaced the reliance on toxic petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. While the foundation of organic is strong in rejecting materials and practices that are harmful to biological systems, there are ongoing efforts regarding organic standards and certification at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and large agricultural interests that have the effect, whether intentional or not, of undermining public trust in the organic label. #takeaction #organic #agriculture #soil #actionoftheweek 🌱 Tell USDA that organic agriculture must require practices that build soil and raise animals on pasture, so hydroponics and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) should not be certified. Tell Congress to support increased funding for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. https://ow.ly/n5Os50SZOsH