The Tasmanian Greens today reiterated their intention to pursue election commitments related to cleaning up Tasmania’s waterways and drinking water supplies, following the weekend announcement about the contamination of the Flowerdale River with MCPA, as well as yesterday’s revelation by the Agricultural Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) that the herbicide 2,4-D is to be reviewed due to serious concerns about spray drift. [1,2]
Greens Water spokesperson Tim Morris MP said MCPA and 2,4-D are often used in conjunction with each other and have been detected with alarming regularity in waterways and drinking water supplies across northern and North West Tasmania in recent years, and it is now apparent that the national regulator, the APVMA, also has serious concerns about spray drift affecting neighbouring properties, crops and businesses.
Mr Morris also said that in 2007 2,4-D spray drift destroyed 15 years’ worth of work accumulated by successful horticulturalists Corrie and John Dudley of Elizabeth Town, and that the Dudleys have recently reported again smelling spray drift over their property and business and are now waiting to see if their breedstock has again been destroyed by the application of dangerous chemicals on a nearby property. [3]
“Toxic spray drift, chemical trespass onto neighbouring properties and businesses, and the contamination of Tasmania’s waterways and drinking water supplies is occurring with alarming regularity, and must cease. To this end, the Greens intend to vigorously pursue our election policies to introduce a Chemical Trespass Unit and a Water Quality Commissioner as a matter of priority,” said Mr Morris.
“MCPA and 2,4-D damage human health and are seriously toxic to plants and aquatic organisms. It is way past time that the application of dangerous poisons such as these is properly regulated, and that any breach is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
“The Dudleys of Elizabeth Town are again facing financial hardship and the ruination of their long-established business due to the use of dangerous chemicals by neighbours. Twice in 2007 was bad enough, but to face this prospect again in 2010 after re-building their business is heartbreaking for the Dudleys, and yet again exposes the Tasmanian Government’s utter failure to address this serious issue.”
“The Tasmanian Greens will be vigorously pursuing our policies to clean up Tasmania’s waterways and drinking water supplies, and we are calling on the Liberal and Labor party’s to acknowledge the importance of this human health issue, and to support the Greens’ move to regulate and control the application and use of dangerous poisons around the state,” said Mr Morris.
References:
[1] “Regulator to Tighten Controls to Limit 2,4-D Spray Drift Risk,” Media Release, Dr David Loschke, APVMA, 17 May 2010, http://www.apvma.gov.au/news_media/media_releases/2010/mr2010-08.php
[2] “Results of Latest Waterway Testing for Chemicals,” Media Release, Christian Goninon, Chemical Management Branch, DPIPWE, 14 May 2010, http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=29560
Download:
May18_Boom_Out_of_Tragedy_T_Morris_ATTACH.pdf
May18_Chemical_Trespass_Unit_Policy_Initiative_T_Morris_ATTACH2.pdf
May18_Water_Quality_Commissioner_Policy_Initiative_T_Morris_ATTACH3.pdf
[3] “Boom out of tragedy,” Gill Vowles, Sunday Tasmanian, 6 September 2009, p14
“Taking Chemical Trespass Seriously,” Policy Initiative, Greens Leader Nick McKim, released 22 February 2010
“Independent State Water Quality Commissioner Pledge,” Policy Initiative, Greens Leader Nick McKim, released 28 February 2010
Meanwhile … AFP in the SMH, Pesticide link to hyperactivity, HERE
Pesticide link to hyperactivity: study May 18, 2010
.Children exposed to higher levels of pesticide found on commercially grown fruit and vegetables in the United States were more likely to have attention deficit/hyper-activity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published on Monday.
Researchers in the United States and Canada studied data from 1139 children aged between eight and 15 and found children with higher residue levels of pesticides known as organophosphates were roughly twice as likely to have ADHD, the study in the journal Pediatrics found.
“The present study adds to the accumulating evidence linking higher levels of pesticide exposure to adverse developmental outcomes,” the study concluded.
Roughly 40 organophosphate pesticides are registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency for use in the United States, and about 33.11 million kilograms of the pesticides were used in agricultural and residential settings in 2001, figures cited in the study said.
Although residential pesticide use is common, the National Academy of Sciences found that the major source of exposure for infants and children comes through the diet, the study added.
According to a 2008 report cited by the study, detectable levels of pesticides were found in a range of vegetables. A sample of produce tested found 28 per cent of frozen blueberries, 20 per cent of celery and 25 per cent of strawberries contained traces of one organophospate, known as malathion.
Other types of pesticides were found in 27 per cent of green beans, 17 per cent of peaches and 8 per cent of broccoli.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 4.5 million children aged between five and 17 had been diagnosed with ADHD up to 2006. Between 3 and 7 per cent of school-aged children in the United States suffer from the condition, figures show.
