(Beyond Pesticides, December 1, 2023) Even though researchers have noted since the 1970s that human fertility appears to be declining globally, doubt is still circulating that it is really happening and that pesticides could have anything to do with it. Very recently published studies, however, make it clear that, even without exact elucidation of the mechanisms by which pesticides damage male fertility, there is an unmistakable association of pesticides and many aspects of male reproductive health.

One of the new studies, a meta-analysis of 25 studies on the connection between pesticides and male reproductive problems, finds that men exposed to organophosphate (such as glyphosate and malathion) and carbamate (such as carbaryl and methiocarb) insecticides have lower sperm concentrations than the general population. This is especially true of men exposed in work settings. The senior author of the study, Melissa J. Perry,ScD of the George Mason University College of Public Health, told HealthNews, “The evidence available has reached a point that we must take regulatory action to reduce insecticide exposure.”

Human infertility is defined as “the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.” Most public attention regarding infertility focuses on women’s difficulties in getting pregnant, causing couples to resort to in vitro fertilization and surrogates. But about a third to half the time, a couple’s infertility results from problems with the male contribution. Men’s reproductive health is measured by total sperm count, sperm’s ability to move, the incidence of malformed sperm or reproductive organ structure, testosterone levels and other criteria.

The relationships between aspects of male reproductive health such as sperm count, fertility and testicular cancer are not perfectly understood, but they are known to be interrelated. Low sperm counts can not only indicate decreased fertility, but also correlate with other markers of declining male reproductive health, including testicular tumors and testosterone levels. In 2017 Shanna Swan, PhD of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and colleagues published a major review of changes in sperm count between 1973 and 2011. They found that sperm counts declined by 52.4 percent over their study period.

Swan et al. also noted that reduced sperm count is a strong predictor of overall disease and death risk. In other words, sperm count reflects influences on health that go far beyond reproduction, and also that reproductive health is created by proper hormone balance, which many pesticides are well known to disturb.

Dr. Swan and colleagues wrote that chemical exposures, including pesticides (especially the endocrine disrupters) are plausible bad actors in the sperm count decline, but also said “lifestyle factors” such as diet and smoking are likely factors. High body mass index (BMI) and obesity have also been associated with low sperm counts.

Obesity is often cited as a “lifestyle choice” causing the reproductive problems, unrelated to factors like pesticide exposures. This is something of a straw man, however, because obesity itself can be an outcome of such exposures. For example, a 2022 review found that two carbamate insecticides and eight organophosphate insecticides were “significantly associated with higher obesity prevalence,” suggesting that obesity and low sperm count may have a common cause rather than a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

Pesticides present an especially vexing problem in that they affect organisms through many different pathways, often simultaneously. For example, organophosphates notoriously damage neurotransmitters, but they have also been associated with poor semen quality in exposed factory workers. Similarly, carbamates interfere with neurotransmitters and are known for disrupting thyroid and steroid hormones and increasing the risk of both non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and dementia, but they have also been associated with chromosome damage in sperm. Far less scientific attention has been devoted to these chemicals’ effects on male reproduction than on their neurological ones, but the reproductive consequences may be even greater. For one thing, many pesticides, including organophosphates, can cross the placental barrier if the mother is exposed during pregnancy. Fetal exposures to organophosphates affect childhood cognition and coordination and predispose the child to develop cancer in later life.

But it gets worse. A father’s environmental exposures can alter not only his direct fertility but also his epigenetic patterns, and these can be passed from parent to child. Epigenetics are a suite of cell processes in which gene expression is controlled by molecules that block or open access to genes in the double DNA helix. In every cell of the body, this process continually operates to orchestrate the cell’s biochemistry and its relation to other cells and organs, but it does not change genes themselves. Epigenetic patterns are a kind of template or history of the habits and exposures of the parent, including smoking history, diet, pesticide exposures, alcohol and drug consumption, and social stress. Sperm are major contributors of epigenetic information passed from one generation to the next, and pesticides affect that information.

“It is becoming clear that epigenetic information can function as molecular memory of past environmental exposures and be passed from one generation to another via the germline,” according to the authors of a 2022 review by a pair of Georgetown University Medical Center and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center scholars. Descendants of an exposed male may have no direct exposure themselves but be paying for the inadvertent “sins” of their fathers—“sins” such as agricultural or factory work.

A 2023 update of the 2017 review of temporal trends in sperm count, also co-authored by Swan, expanded the geographical range of the study by including data on men in 53 countries on six continents to get a global picture rather than one focused on industrialized countries where data is more plentiful. They found “strong evidence” that sperm counts have declined globally. Disturbingly, the authors show that the downward trend in sperm counts has become steeper since 2000, accelerating beyond the already-worrisome rate seen in the 2017 meta-analysis. From 1972 to 1999, sperm count dropped by about one percent a year; since 2000, the rate has been about 2.6 percent.

The evidence has continued to mount that pesticides affect both male and female reproductive health, yet most of these chemicals remain on the market, contributing to the prospect of agricultural collapse and declining human population worldwide. There is no longer any time to waste. What Beyond Pesticides said in 2022 still holds: “As the human civilization grapples with a range of cascading crises, from climate change to the insect apocalypse and global biodiversity crisis, we may be missing the chance to address one of the most critical aspects to the continuation of humanity as we now know it.”

For more information on the fertility crisis, see Dr. Swan’s presentation to Beyond Pesticides’ 2021 National Pesticide Forum, Cultivating Healthy Communities, on Beyond Pesticides’ YouTube page.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Sources:

Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28981654/

Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis of samples collected globally in the 20th and 21st centuries
https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/29/2/157/6824414?login=false

Pesticides and Male Fertility: A Dangerous Crosstalk 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8707831/

Paternal Transmission of Stressed-Induced Pathologies
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217197/

Scientific Literature Review Again Connects Pesticides and Male Fertility Problem

Scientific Literature Review Again Connects Pesticides and Male Fertility Problems

Sperm counts worldwide are plummeting faster than we thought
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2022/11/sperm-counts-worldwide-are-plummeting-faster-than-we-thought

The Sperm-Count ‘Crisis’ Doesn’t Add Up
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/04/health/sperm-fertility-reproduction-crisis.html

(Beyond Pesticides, November 30, 2023) Scientists at Minami Kyushu University in Japan have made a groundbreaking discovery of a new biological control for a target insect. They have identified a virus in tobacco cutworms that kills males, creating all-female generations. The discovery was described in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences and The New York Times as evidence that multiple viruses have evolved to kill male insects.

This “male-killing” virus could be added to the growing attempts to control unwanted insects with biological, as distinguished from genetically engineered (GE) solutions. Efforts range from the introduction of natural predators, to radiation-based sterilization of insects, CRISPR-based genetic mutations, and other techniques. While the GE approach has run into controversy because of unanswered questions associated with their release into natural ecosystems, some approaches have also run into resistance problems. Nearly a decade ago, researchers found armyworm resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-incorporated genetically engineered (GE) maize in the southeastern region of the U.S., calling this evolution of insect resistance to a naturally occurring soil bacterium engineered into crops “a serious threat to the sustainability of this technology.”

The general population knows to avoid eating raw eggs because the bacteria salmonella, can live inside chicken eggs. Similarly, scientists have long known that microbes can live in insects’ eggs. One of the scientists, Daisuke Kageyama, PhD, explained that the Wolbachia bacteria, another male-killer, is propagated through females. Dr. Kageyama told the The New York Times, “Males are useless” because they cannot help propagate the microbe, so the bacteria prevents male eggs from hatching.

The scientists in Japan discovered the new male-killing virus in tobacco cutworms and called it SIMKV. The New York Times described the discovery of the virus as being very lucky that research technician Misato Terao stumbled upon the caterpillars while cleaning the greenhouse and placed them in Yoshinori Shintani’s lab. Even luckier was the temperature zone that enabled the virus to impact the resulting all-female generation of moths.

Anne Duplouy, PhD, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Helsinki specializing in the study of microbial symbionts in insects, suggests that there is a diminishing window of opportunity for humanity to glean insights from these microbes sensitive to temperature changes. Due to climate change, she said, “we are likely to be losing many of these interactions” before they can be documented.

The authors of the study believe the identification of this male-killing virus in insects has the potential to revolutionize methods for managing agricultural pests and disease-carrying insects. Conventional pest control approaches rely on the use of toxic pesticides, which can adversely affect the environment and human health.

Many scientists believe a “female-killer” virus could be a more ecologically friendly approach to pest control. However, these biological controls do not always consider the entirety of a systems-based organic approach that focuses on the root causes of pest problems. To see a more systematic approach to mosquito control, see the city of Boulder, Colorado’s mosquito management plan, which includes  Living with Mosquitoes and Ecological Mosquito Management.

As scientists delve deeper into the study of the relationships between mosquitos and the interactions of species in an ecosystem, there is the prospect of uncovering novel strategies for pest and disease control that are both more efficacious and less environmentally harmful.

The revelation of the male-killing virus in insects serves as a poignant reminder of the extraordinary biodiversity of life on Earth. As scientists persist in their exploration of biological control, they are bound to reveal many more captivating discoveries that will contribute to a better understanding of the natural world.

As The New York Times wrote in November 2018, “The Insect Apocalypse is Here.” Karen Lipps, PhD, and other scientists and researchers observed the consequences for ecosystems that experience the loss of one species and its cascading impact on other species. Dr. Lipps writes about the massive loss of frogs and other amphibians due to a fungus and its resulting increase in insect populations. This, in turn, decreased snake populations (which would have preyed on the frogs).

In industrial agriculture, the typical approach to addressing pest issues often involves prioritizing the destruction of a single “pest” using a pesticide as the primary solution. This practice results in a cascade of harmful effects throughout the food chain, impacting both prey and predator as they fall victim to the broad-spectrum pesticides. While it intuitively makes sense that pesticides can affect more than just their intended insect targets, the extent of this issue came to light through a study conducted by German researchers and published in PLOS One. Their findings, based on 27 years of trapping flying insects, reveals a staggering 75% decline in overall biomass during the study period.

To learn more about using biological control for your yard and outdoor pest problems, make sure the use of any pest management fits within a broader, structured, ecological approach to pest management. Use Beyond Pesticides ManageSafe webpage to assist your research on biological controls.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Source: Male-Killing Virus Is Discovered in Insects

(Beyond Pesticides, November 29, 2023) A study published in Environment International finds high pesticide exposure incidence associated with shingles, a varicella-zoster virus (the same highly contagious virus that causes chickenpox) that reactivates in the body after having chicken pox. Shingles is a painful condition with a blistering rash that can lead to vision and hearing loss, brain and lung inflammation, and even death if not treated. Since shingles manifest decades after initial exposure, and the association is strongest among individuals already hospitalized for pesticide-related illnesses, researchers find the long-term/chronic effects most concerning. Although dermal pesticide exposure can cause a range of adverse reactions, including dermatitis, allergic sensitization, and cancer, any route of exposure can exacerbate dermal manifestations through immune system response, causing virus-based skin reactions like shingles.

People encounter toxic chemicals daily. However, frequent use of pesticides, including the use of everyday products like cleaning supplies, personal care products, agricultural chemicals, fabrics, non-stick cookware, and general airborne pollution, exacerbate chemical exposure risks. Dermal exposure is the most common pesticide exposure route, composing 95 percent of all pesticide exposure incidents, and is a significant concern for occupational (work-related) health.

The study notes, “[The] findings of elevated shingles risk associated with acute, clinically relevant pesticide exposures also highlights potential long-term costs of unintentional high-level pesticide exposures, especially those contributing to poisoning, which is a global problem in agricultural settings.”

Using 22,753 licensed private pesticide applicators of 66 years and older with more than 12 consecutive months of Medicare hospital and outpatient coverage between 1999 and 2016, researchers identified patients who experience at least one shingles incident. Additionally, researchers gathered information on whether patients received medical care for pesticide-related illnesses and if they encountered high pesticide exposure events (HPEE) and poisoning. The results find that 2,396 pesticide applicators were diagnosed with shingles during the 1996 to 2016 timeframe, with higher shingles rates among patients hospitalized for pesticide-related illness, pesticide poisoning, and HPEE. Thus, these initial findings suggest acute, high-level, and medically significant effects of pesticide exposure can increase shingles risk in individuals years to decades following exposure.

The skin responds to numerous external stimuli that can change its morphological (shape/structure), physiological (function), and histological (tissue) properties. Some responses to external stimuli are typical, including skin exposure to sunlight (UV-light) for tanning or water for wrinkling. However, exposure to excessive stimuli, including environmental contaminants, can propagate adverse, permanent changes to the skin. Just as excessive exposure to UV rays can cause skin discoloration and cancer, prolonged dermal contact with disinfectants can cause many adverse reactions, including skin discoloration and cancer. One of the most predominant routes of pesticide exposure is dermal, and most disinfectants are potential skin irritants and sensitizers (allergens), suggesting that direct skin contact with these toxic chemicals and the adoption of proper application protocol is critical.

Most pesticides cause some form of acute skin irritation. Although certain pesticides are less harmful to dermal contact than others, many chemicals cause irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). ICD is a nonimmune response that manifests into localized skin inflammation by directly damaging the skin following toxic agent exposure. ACD is an immune response to skin contact with a dermal allergen that an individual is already allergic (sensitized) to, causing nonlocalized skin inflammation and systemic bodily response. However, chronic, cumulative exposure to more mild chemical irritants can elicit a skin reaction. As skin cancer has increased significantly over the past 50 years, many appropriately point to the link between sun exposure and the development of the disease. However, this research indicates that contact exposure to herbicides may be affecting risk. The authors point to studies finding links between skin adsorption of pesticides and exposure to UV radiation, as well as research that finds sunscreen itself may facilitate skin adsorption of pesticide residue.

This study is the first to demonstrate the occurrence of shingles associated with pesticide exposure. However, this study is not the first to establish pesticides’ relationship with immune system disorders related to the skin. A Dutch study found that infants exposed to dioxins (a pesticide byproduct) and PCBs have a higher incidence of recurrent chicken pox, while, as mentioned, is linked to shingles.

Although this study notes that the mechanism involved in shingles incidence is not well understood, studies, including this one, suggest immune system suppression is the main culprit. The immune system offers the best defense against viral infection, as the virus stimulates an innate and adaptive immune response to expel viral particles from the body. Innate immune responses are the first line of defense against viral infections, activating myeloid immunocytes (cells that mediate immune responses against pathogens). These mediating cells create antibodies that the complement system (a network of proteins that eliminate pathogens) enhances. Therefore, review researchers speculate that immunocytes and the complement system can restrict viral infections. However, coronavirus infections can suppress/delay interferon (INF) protein synthesis responsible for defending against viral infections, causing a lapse in the innate defense system. Similarly, an adaptive immune response involves various immune cells and antibodies essential to protect against coronavirus infections. Still, injury to cells responsible for safeguarding against viral infections can induce more severe disease progression.

The global rate of shingles over recent decades is increasing despite vaccine availability. Therefore, there is an urgent need to evaluate the effect pesticide exposure and use have on disease health outcomes. Although some practices and products can prevent vital infections, the continued use of toxic pesticides increases disease risk factors. Beyond Pesticides tracks the most recent studies related to pesticide exposure through our Pesticide Induced Diseases Database (PIDD). This database supports the clear need for strategic action to shift away from pesticide dependency. For more information on the multiple harms of pesticides, see PIDD pages on body burdens (including skin reactions and diseases), immune system disorders, cancer, and other conditions. 

Additionally, replacing pesticides with organic, nontoxic alternatives is crucial for safeguarding public health, particularly in communities vulnerable to pesticide toxicity. For more information on how organic is the right choice, see Beyond Pesticides’ webpage, Health Benefits of Organic Agriculture. Furthermore, visit Beyond Pesticides’ webpage on Disinfectants and Sanitizers and Least Toxic Control of Pests In the Home and Garden to learn more about safer, non-toxic pesticide alternatives. 

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Source: Environment International

(Beyond Pesticides, November 28, 2023) Final regulations implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) are expected to be issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in December, 2023. The legislation, which went into effect June 23, 2023 and applies to all workplaces with 15 or more employees, extends protection for pregnant workers for disability (including temporary or short-term disability) associated with childbirth, miscarriages, or related conditions. The legislation was passed as part of the 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill and signed into law by President Biden in December 2022.

With the elevated adverse impacts associated with pesticides and reproductive health, this law may be used to improve protections for farmworkers and other high-risk employees. One of the law’s key provisions is an anti-retaliation clause, that protects workers asking for “reasonable accommodation.” See short video on the law.  

However, there are barriers for pregnant farmworkers, as seen in California, where existing programs go further than the new federal law. California is part of a handful of states that offers a state disability Insurance (SDI) program. The SDI, which most employees pay into, provides short-term disability insurance and paid family leave—paying part of a worker’s wages when an employee needs to take time off from work.

Under the California program, farmworkers—regardless of citizenship status—who are exposed to pesticides can take time off during the pregnancy as a preventive measure if other accommodations are not available, receiving 70 percent of their wages to make up for lost income. In 2025, that number goes up to 90 percent for low-wage workers. In California, farmworkers who are exposed to pesticides can access SDI practically from the time they find out they are pregnant because of the risk pesticide exposure poses.   

A California initiative, Dar a Luz: Legal Rights for Farmworkers in Pregnancy and Postpartum, a collaboration  between Worklife Law and Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Community (CAUSE). The program raises awareness in the farmworker community, educating on workers’ rights under the law. In many cases, farmworkers’ health or the health of their fetus is at risk because of direct daily exposure to agricultural pesticides. 

By any measure, farmworkers and agricultural communities are among the least protected and least visible populations in the United States. In California, 97% of farmworkers are Latinx, 92% are Spanish-speaking, and over 90% are immigrants. California produces 1/3 of the nation’s vegetables and nearly 2/3 of the nation’s fruits and nuts and 90% of the strawberries grown in the U.S. Between 1/3 and 1/2 of all farmworkers in America reside in California, or roughly 500,000 – 800,000 farmworkers.  Approximately 75% of California’s farmworkers are undocumented.  “For too long, the experience of farmworker families and communities affected by pesticide exposure has been disregarded,” said Angel Garcia, co-director of the statewide coalition Californians for Pesticide Reform.  

Despite health risks, most pregnant farmworkers cannot afford to take unpaid time off, often working throughout their pregnancies and returning shortly after giving birth. The annual income for farmworkers is estimated to be just $25,000 to $30,000 a year, and the majority of workers are Latinx.

Disproportionate Pesticide Harm Is Racial Injustice and Systemic Racism

Currently, the average life expectancy for a farmworker is 49 years, compared to 78 for the general population. As Beyond Pesticides previously reported, Exposed and At Risk: Opportunities to Strengthen Enforcement of Pesticide Regulations for Farmworker Safety, by the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law and Graduate School, in partnership with the nonprofit advocacy group, Farmworker Justice, again highlights the systemic racism of our country’s pesticide policies. Our nation depends on farmworkers, yet, the occupational exposure to toxic pesticides by farmworkers is discounted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while study after study documents the disproportionate level of illness among farmworkers.

Many farmworkers are migrant workers, and are subject to conditions that would not be permitted for U.S. citizens. The U.S. is not a signatory to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, which would set a moral standard to treat migrant workers like workers who are citizens. To learn more about farmworker protection, please visit Beyond Pesticides’ Agricultural Justice page.

Take Action: Tell EPA to protect farmworkers. Please tell President Biden (through Secretary of State Blinken) to sign the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Tell EPA that we need strong Worker Protection Standards, and more fundamentally, EPA must base its pesticide risk assessments on the dangers to the most vulnerable people—farmworkers and their families. EPA must reverse its policy and require that risk assessments adopt a standard that protects farmworkers. Food production is not sustainable unless the workers who plant and harvest our food are safe in their place of employment.

Pregnant farmworkers and their families are better protected when we support organic agriculture and purchase organic food. Organic practices eliminates industrial agriculture’s reliance on petrochemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, protecting health and the environment .

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Sources: Pregnant farmworkers in California are eligible for paid time off — but many don’t know it exists

(Beyond Pesticides, November 27, 2023) The waters of the United States are again under attack by the U.S. Congress. After the chemical industry and pesticide users won a major victory in the U.S. Supreme Court that limits the definition of protected waterways in May, 2023, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation that would ease restrictions of pesticides that could contaminate the remaining waterways protected under the Clean Water Act. Capitol Hill watchers expect the bill’s supporters will try to attach it to the 2023 Farm Bill.

The legislation, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, HR 5089, was introduced in the House of by Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) in July. It would reverse a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirement to obtain a permit before spraying pesticides on or near waterways. This is a repeat of HR 953, which passed the House and failed to pass the Senate in 2017. The House had passed similar legislation in 2011 amending the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to eliminate provisions requiring pesticide applicators to obtain a permit to allow pesticides or their residues to enter waterways. CWA was adopted “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.”

Tell Congress that protection of the nation’s water should be strengthened, not weakened.

HR 5089, if enacted into law, would reverse a 2009 decision issued by the 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals, in the case of National Cotton Council et al. v. EPA, which held that pesticides applied to waterways should be considered pollutants under federal law and regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA), through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Prior to the decision, the EPA, under the Bush Administration, had allowed the weaker and more generalized standards under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to be followed. This allowed pesticides to be discharged into U.S. waterways without any federal oversight, as FIFRA does not require tracking such applications and assessing the adverse effects on local ecosystems.

To be clear, HR 5089 would:
(1) undermine federal authority to protect U.S. waters under the Clean Water Act,
(2) allow spraying of toxic chemicals into waterways without local and state oversight,
(3) contaminate drinking water sources and harm aquatic life, and
(4) not reduce claimed burdens to farmers, since there are currently no burdens.

Backers of the bill continually argue that the permit requirements place undue burdens on farmers, but in reality, the majority of pesticide applicators can obtain a permit with little restriction, and agricultural activities are exempt from the requirement. What the bill will actually do is take away Americans’ right to know what toxic chemicals are entering their waterways. “This bill takes away the public’s right to know about toxic pesticides we may be exposed to,” Mae Wu, senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council’s health program, said in a statement about the earlier bill, emailed to ThinkProgress. “It eliminates the current commonsense requirement that communities should have access to basic information about what’s being sprayed in waters that can pose risks for public health.”

If this bill passes, citizens will be forced to take innovative local actions to protect threatened waters. Already, nearly 2,000 waterways are impaired by pesticide contamination, and many more have simply not been tested. A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Park Service collaborative survey report finds a harmful mixture of pollutants, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, caffeine, methylparaben, algal toxins, and fecal and parasitic bacteria, in Pipestone Creek at Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota, U.S.— adding to evidence of widespread pesticide contamination in waterways across the U.S. Pesticide contamination in waterways is historically commonplace. Known pesticide water contaminants, such as  atrazine,  metolachlor, and  simazine, continue to be detected in streams more than 50 percent of the time, with fipronil being the pesticide most frequently found at levels of potential concern for aquatic organisms in urban streams. A 2018 report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reveals the year-round presence of neonicotinoids (neonics) in the Great Lakes – the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem. Neonics, which are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and pollinators, are prevalent in the tributaries of the Great Lakes with concentrations and detections increasing during planting season. In 2015, another USGS report found that neonicotinoid insecticides contaminate over half of urban and agricultural streams across the United States and Puerto Rico.

The 2021 U.S. Geological Services (USGS) study of pesticide contamination of rivers on the U.S. mainland finds that degradation of those rivers from pesticide pollution continues unabated. USGS scientists looked at data from 2013 to 2017 (inclusive) from rivers across the country and offered these top-level conclusions: “(1) pesticides persist in environments beyond the site of application and expected period of use, and (2) the potential toxicity of pesticides to aquatic life is pervasive in surface waters.” Ultimately, water quality and aquatic organisms and their ecosystems will be fully protected from pesticides only through a wholesale movement to organic land management practices.

Tell Congress that protection of the nation’s water should be strengthened, not weakened.

Letter to U.S. Representative and Senators

On July 28, Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) introduced in U.S. House of Representatives HR 5089, a bill that would reverse an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirement to obtain a permit before spraying pesticides on or near waterways. Titled The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, it is actually part of an effort to undermine the purpose of the Clean Water Act—”to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.” Please reject this bill either as standalone legislation or as a provision in the 2023 Farm Bill.

Passed in 1972, the Clean Water Act set bold goals for drinkable, swimmable waters in this country. Unfortunately, the “National Pollution Discharge Elimination System” has not made significant steps towards eliminating polluting discharges but has instead reinforced them. Even less progress has been made towards eliminating nonpoint source pollution, such as agricultural runoff.

Already, nearly 2,000 waterways are impaired by pesticide contamination, and many more have simply not been tested. A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Park Service collaborative survey report finds a harmful mixture of pollutants, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, caffeine, methylparaben, algal toxins, and fecal and parasitic bacteria, in Pipestone Creek at Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota, U.S.— adding to evidence of widespread pesticide contamination in waterways across the U.S. Pesticide contamination in waterways is historically commonplace. Known pesticide water contaminants continue to be detected in streams more than 50 percent of the time. A 2018 report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reveals the year-round presence of neonicotinoids (neonics), which are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and pollinators, in the Great Lakes – the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem, with concentrations and detections increasing during planting season. An earlier USGS report found that neonicotinoid insecticides contaminate over half of urban and agricultural streams across the United States and Puerto Rico.

HR 5089, if enacted into law, would reverse a 2009 decision issued by the 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals, in the case of National Cotton Council et al. v. EPA, which held that pesticides applied to waterways should be considered pollutants under federal law and regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA), through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Prior to the decision, the EPA, had allowed the weaker and more generalized standards under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to be followed. This allowed pesticides to be discharged into U.S. waterways without any federal oversight, as FIFRA does not require tracking such applications and assessing the adverse effects on local ecosystems.

To be clear, HR 5089 would:
(1) undermine federal authority to protect U.S. waters under the Clean Water Act,
(2) allow spraying of toxic chemicals into waterways without local and state oversight,
(3) contaminate drinking water sources and harm aquatic life, and
(4) not reduce claimed burdens to farmers, since there are currently no burdens.

Backers of the bill argue that the permit requirements place undue burdens on farmers, but the majority of pesticide applicators can obtain a permit with little restriction, and agricultural activities are exempt from the requirement. The bill will actually take away Americans’ right to know what toxic chemicals are entering their waterways, eliminating the current commonsense requirement that communities should have access to basic information about what’s being sprayed in waters that can pose risks for public health.

Please oppose HR 5089 and tell EPA to take stronger steps “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.”

Thank you.

(Beyond Pesticides, November 22, 2023) As a leading organization in advocating for organic and sustainable land management, Beyond Pesticides is honored to host the third and final webinar of the National Forum Series: Transformative Community-Based Change from the Ground Up on November 29, 2023, at 2 PM EST!

This event, focusing on managing parks and playing fields with organic practices and policies, invites concerned citizens, elected officials, and land managers to learn about effective strategies for implementing organic land management in their communities.

The panel discussion will highlight activists like Avery Kamila, who was instrumental in establishing Portland, Maine’s pioneering ordinance—the strongest local ordinance in the United States—that restricts the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers on both public and private properties, with few exceptions. This landmark ordinance establishes organic land care practices as the primary means to maintain properties within Portland’s city limits, including lawns, gardens, sports fields, parks, and playgrounds.

Kamila’s efforts, alongside other concerned citizens, led to significant policy changes in Portland, demonstrating the powerful impact of grassroots advocacy. While Maine is one of a handful of states that allow citizens and local governments the right to control their exposure to pesticides through local government pesticide regulation (known as ‘home rule’), many other advocates and local governments have enacted similar changes restricting pesticide use on public lands (like city parks and properties).

Beyond Pesticides invites you to join Avery Kamila and our renowned panelists below, who will walk through the practical steps for maintaining parks and playing fields without toxic chemicals. Their work has become a model for communities nationally and worldwide.

If you are concerned about pesticide use in your local community, don’t miss this important conversation! The webinar is designed to share practical, science-backed approaches to organic land management and is for all who want beautiful landscapes, parks, and playing fields without the reliance on petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Attendees will gain insights into:

• Model approaches to grassroots advocacy and public policy.
• Strategies for managing parks, playing fields, and landscapes without toxic chemicals.
• Practical steps that have been successful in various communities.
• The benefits of organic practices, including enhancing biodiversity and reducing carbon footprint.

If you are concerned about your health and that of your community, an elected official interested in effecting movement away from toxic chemical reliance, and/or a land manager/landscaper who works in parks and on playing fields and other landscapes—this conversation is for you! 

>>Click here to register and please spread the news this Thanksgiving!

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

(Beyond Pesticides, November 21, 2023) According to a study in the Scientific Reports Journal, plant-forward diets might increase exposure to pesticide residues compared to meat-heavy diets. However, a switch to organic plant-based options significantly reduces this risk, with a separate research study indicating that vegetarians and vegans—often favoring organic products—are generally less exposed to synthetic pesticides than omnivores. The study also corroborates other research emphasizing the environmental benefits of plant-based diets, advocating for policies that make organic plant-based foods more widely accessible and emphasizing their crucial role in enhancing both environmental and human health.  

Plant-based diets are increasingly popular—and with good reason. The intensification of animal agriculture is a major cause of deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and high water usage. In particular, Brazil accounts for one-third of global tropical deforestation, with 80% of this deforestation in the Amazon due to cattle ranching. Additionally, animal products like fish, eggs, and meat, responsible for about 83% of land use, supply only 37% of the global protein. Numerous studies suggest that reducing meat and animal product consumption can significantly mitigate environmental impacts, particularly regarding land use and greenhouse gas emissions. However, managed grazing in organic animal agriculture reduces many of the hazards associated with conventional management. This is especially relevant as the modern Western diet, heavy in animal products, is energy inefficient, especially in intensive production settings, where energy loss is prevalent throughout the food chain.  

However, the study finds that in spite of all the environmental benefits, a plant-based diet that is nutritionally equivalent to a conventional omnivore diet may increase the risk of pesticide residue exposure. The study finds that a plant-based diet leads to an increase in consumption of dried fruit, legumes, soy, whole grains, vegetables, and oil, which–while nutritionally adequate–corresponds with an increase in pesticide residue exposure since fruits, vegetables, legumes, and cereals exhibit the highest levels of pesticide residues.  

Using a sample of adults recruited on a voluntary basis from the general population, researchers collected this data using self-administered questionnaires during a time period of June 2014 to December 2014. The questionnaire included 264 food and beverage items in which participants reported the frequency of their consumption of conventionally and organically sourced products, with options ranging from “never” to “always.” The study employs stepwise optimization models to determine the maximum feasible plant food content within nutritional constraints. This involves calculating the energy intake from plant and animal sources, using validated recipes developed by dieticians, which accounts for the nature of the ingredients. 

Researchers also consider demographic factors such as age, education, and smoking status to ensure a thorough understanding of dietary habits and their implications. To assess the environmental impact of food production, the study analyzed data for 92 raw agricultural products. The study also included the development of a food contamination database sourced from the Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) in Stuttgart, which contains extensive data on pesticide residue levels in Europe from 2012 to 2015. It focuses on plant-based foods, both organic and conventional, excluding animal-origin foods. The database breaks down the plant-based food items into 442 ingredients, calculating mean contamination levels for various pesticides, including organophosphates and pyrethroids, as well as substances allowed in organic farming, like natural Pyrethrins and Spinosad. The study developed a synthetic indicator to evaluate exposure, weighted against the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). Additionally, the study accounts for the different nutritional requirements of men and women and evaluates the environmental impact of lacto-vegetarian diets, including the consumption of milk and the rearing of beef cattle. 

The study’s model on pesticide residue exposure indicates that increasing plant-based food consumption generally raises pesticide exposure. Overall, in all scenarios where plant consumption rises, exposure to pesticide residues increases. However, diets rich in organic plant-based foods show a significant reduction in synthetic pesticide exposure. An exception is Spinosad—a natural pesticide permitted in organic farming—which results in an increased exposure in organic diets. Despite this, pesticide exposure levels in organic diets remain much lower compared to conventional ones. Plant-based diets with conventionally-grown food consumption showed overall pesticide exposures six times higher than those with organically-grown food consumption. In all cases, specific pesticide exposures were lower with organic farming. 

Researchers note that despite the potential concerns about pesticide exposure in plant-based diets, the study also reveals a notable environmental benefit: a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Regardless of the agricultural methods used, adopting a plant-based diet led to a 65% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the environmental advantages of plant-based dietary choices. 

In addition to the significant environmental benefits of plant-forward diets, a 2021 study in the Food and Chemical Toxicology Journal highlights that vegetarians and vegans have lower exposure to synthetic pesticides compared to omnivores, with vegans experiencing the least exposure. This study finds that these groups are more inclined to choose organic produce, illustrating the dual benefits of plant-based diets for both the environment and human health. Recognizing the advantages of organic plant-based diets, the study calls for improved policies to enhance the accessibility of organic and synthetic-pesticide-free foods.  

Here at Beyond Pesticides, we are dedicated to making information about organic options widely available. We encourage those interested in incorporating more organic foods into their diet to visit our Eating with a Conscience webpage, which offers comprehensive information and practical steps for adopting a healthier lifestyle through organic choices. 

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides. 

Source: Environmental Pressures and Pesticide Exposure; Estimated Dietary Exposure to Pesticide Residues  

(Beyond Pesticides, November 20, 2023) At Beyond Pesticides, we are thankful to those working in their communities to protect the earth through their tireless efforts to effect the changes in land management required for a sustainable future. We are honored and thankful to work with and support those leading community campaigns that are foundational to the change necessary for a livable future. We recognize the difficult work of changing the status quo—dependency on practices and products that harm people and contaminate the ecosystems on which life depends—in the face of existential health, biodiversity, and climate crises.

Decisions in communities that eliminate petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers are driven by the underlying science on chemical hazards to the environment and people. These decisions embrace the value of protecting the complex web of life.

In this spirit, we reprint a Thanksgiving Address and prayer (the Ohèn:ton Karihwatéhkwen) of the Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois Confederacy or Six Nations—Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora) that reflects their relationship to the Earth by giving thanks for life and the world around them. It is a prayer that is appropriate at any time, but especially on a holiday celebrating the abundance of the Earth’s gifts. 

As you read this prayer, please choose actions to protect our relationship with the natural world and her inhabitants. Beyond Pesticides thanks all of you for your support. 

Beyond Pesticides wishes you—our readers, network, and supporters—a healthy Thanksgiving and holiday season. We appreciate you joining us as we strive to elevate our voices for transformational change to protect health and the environment.

>>Click here to read a personal Thanksgiving appeal from Executive Director Jay Feldman and please consider supporting our programming at our secure site—bp-dc.org/give2023

The People  
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.  

Now our minds are one.  

The Earth Mother 
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.  

Now our minds are one. 

The Waters  
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.  

Now our minds are one.  

The Fish  
We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.  

Now our minds are one.  

The Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.   

Now our minds are one. 

The Food Plants 
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans, and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.  

Now our minds are one.  

The Medicine Herbs
Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.  

Now our minds are one.  

The Animals 
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.  

Now our minds are one. 

The Trees  
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.  

Now our minds are one.  

The Birds  
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds—from the smallest to the largest—we send our joyful greetings and thanks.  

 Now our minds are one.  

The Four Winds  
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.  

Now our minds are one.  

It is not too late to register for the National Forum! The last session will address “Transformative Community-Based Change from the Ground Up: Managing Parks and Playing Fields with Organic Practices and Policies” on November 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm EST. >>Speaker and registration information HERE.

This session is for all who want beautiful landscapes, parks, and playing fields without the reliance on petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. The subject matter is cross-cutting and will inform people concerned about their health and community health, elected officials (from town, city, county, regional, state to school boards) interested in moving away from toxic chemical reliance, and land managers and landscapers who work in parks and on playing fields and other landscapes.

Join Us on November 29, 2023 for our final session centered on grassroots action: Transformative Community-Based Change from the Ground Up: Managing Parks and Playing Fields with Organic Practices and Policies 

(Beyond Pesticides, November 17, 2023) Since the beginning of this fall and our first webinar in September, the aim of the National Forum Series has been and continues to be enabling a collective strategy to address the existential health, biodiversity, and climate threats and chart a path for a livable and sustainable future. We come together to empower effective action. You are part of the solution! 

Click here to register! 

Change is driven by grassroots action of local people, elected officials, and land managers. In this context, the third session of the National Forum will share model approaches to grassroots advocacy, public policy, and land management that teach and implement respect for nature and ecosystem services, such as the natural cycling of nitrogen and disease resistance—resulting in resilient plants, landscapes, parks and playing fields, and control the existential threats to health, biodiversity, and climate. The panelists in this session will focus on organic land management systems that do not utilize petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers but focus on building organic matter and biological life in the soil to nourish plants. The result—beautiful landscapes that are cost-effective to manage. 

While a key piece of the local strategy is achieving the public awareness that activates community members and decision makers to embrace the importance of ecosystems that support life, this session will focus on the “how-to” practical steps that have worked in dozens of communities across the country. The approach utilizes certified organic practices and materials defined in federal organic law, with a systems soil-building approach that enhances biodiversity. Panelists will explain the practical steps for maintaining parks and playing fields without toxic chemicals. Their work has become a model for communities nationally and worldwide. 

While the focus is on what municipalities (towns, cities, counties) and states can do since they are the largest landowners in their jurisdiction, the discussion can be applied to residents and homeowners who are managing lawns and gardens. The approaches to be discussed in this session define meaningful change based on the need for urgency to empower action with science, protect community health, local biodiversity, and ecosystems, and end disproportionate harm to people of color who, in many communities, are landscapers handling highly toxic pesticides. The strategies to be discussed result in positive effects well beyond the community’s or state’s border, as healthy soil life with organic practices that reject toxic petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers draws down and sequesters atmospheric carbon (mitigating the climate emergency). In addition, as we reduce demand for hazardous products, chemical manufacturing facilities that pollute fence line communities nearby are replaced with clean product production. 
 
What is happening at the grassroots is transformative in eliminating our dependency on toxic substances and adopting practices that improve public health and environmental quality. This is no longer viewed as a niche approach to land management, but a necessity in the face of studies showing that we are threatening, beyond planetary boundaries, the ecosystems on which life depends. The panelists are a testament to the fact that transformative change is possible and practical and that as we advance reform, it is no longer adequate to tinker with failed, undefined, “sustainable” or “regenerative” strategies. Rather we can eliminate the use of toxic materials starting from the ground up. This is done with methods that eliminate expensive petrochemical chemical pesticides and fertilizers with practices and materials that support natural soil biology that maintains ecological balance, cycles nutrients, and reduces water use, resulting in long-term cost savings. As more and more communities make the transition to organic land management and eliminate the release of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide) into the environment, our collective efforts will significantly mitigate the impact and cost of climate disasters, from flooding to fires. It should also be noted that costly synthetic turf playing fields, which are often touted as an environmentally friendly alternative, are reliant on polluting plastic (can contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances-PFAS) and toxic pesticides for bacteria, mold, and fungus, create contaminated water runoff, and cover over the natural environment, which is critical to preserving health and biodiversity, and averting climate disasters.

As a strategy and through this session, we are advancing common sense solutions with grassroots advocacy, armed with science, and practical management methods. In collaboration with community leaders, decision makers, and land managers, this session will help to move us forward.

This session is for all who want beautiful landscapes, parks, and playing fields without the reliance on petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. The subject matter is cross-cutting and will inform people concerned about their health and community health, elected officials (from town, city, county, regional, state to school boards) interested in effecting movement away from toxic chemical reliance, and land managers and landscapers who work in parks and on playing fields and other landscapes. 

Speakers 

Chip Osborne, founder and president, Osborne Organics, Cape Neddick, Maine. Mr. Osborne is a nationally renowned organic turfgrass expert and a professional horticulturist with 40 years experience, including 20 years in greenhouse production as the former owner and operator of Osborne Florist and Greenhouse in Marblehead, Massachusetts. As founder and president of Osborne Organics, he has over 20 years of experience in creating safe, sustainable, and healthy athletic fields and landscapes that are managed cost-effectively. Mr. Osborne has worked with municipalities, assisting in the development and management oversight and consultant for organically managed sports fields and parks in communities, school districts, and universities across the U.S. He has pioneered organic land management programs that both evaluate soil biology (the soil food web) and design strategies for building soil microbial life, which is critical to working with nature to break down organic matter as a natural food source for plants. His analysis and recommendations advise park managers in maintaining turf and landscapes without petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. As a part of his work, he evaluates compost for beneficial organisms to determine its value in a management program and measures the ability of the soil in his projects to sequester atmospheric carbon. He has served in elective office as the chair of Marblehead’s Recreation and Parks Commission for 20 years. As a wholesale and retail nurseryman, he has first-hand experience with the pesticides routinely used in the landscape industry. Personal experience led him to believe there must be a safer way to grow plants. His personal investigation, study of conventional and organic soil science practices, and hands-on experimentation led him to become one of the country’s leading experts on growing organic turf. Chip is a Beyond Pesticides board member.

Avery Kamila, co-founder, Portland Protectors, Portland, Maine. Ms. Kamila founded Portland Protectors to bring together Maine citizens to end the use and sale of synthetic lawncare pesticides and fertilizers in the coastal city. Portland Protectors says, “We strive to protect our kids, pets, bees, soil, and Casco Bay from these toxic chemicals, as they drift around neighborhoods and leach into the public water systems.” In 2018, the city of Portland passed an ordinance that, over five years, phased in restrictions “to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City and to conserve and protect the City’s waterways and natural resources by curtailing the use of pesticides and fertilizers for turf, landscape and outdoor pest management.”  The ordinance establishes organic land care methods as the primary means to care for and maintain public and private property in Portland, including lawns, gardens, athletic fields, parks, and playgrounds. Ms. Kamila was appointed to the city’s Landcare Management Advisory Committee, created by the City Council in the ordinance. As a result of its passage, Portland posts the following on its website: “Using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers harms pollinators and native species. These products cause excess chemicals to run off into our waterways, worsening water quality, increasing ocean acidification, creating algae blooms, and damaging marine life–which also impacts local fisheries and marine businesses.  Plus, pesticides and fertilizers have proven negative effects on our families.  Children are especially vulnerable to chemical exposure from lawn products when they play outside.  Pesticides and herbicides are also linked to cancer in dogs.  By switching to organic lawn and landscape care, we can ensure the health of our community and make our environment more resilient to climate impacts.”  

Ben Gratton, parks supervisor, Parks, Open Space, and Trails Department, Longmont Colorado.  A Colorado native and Colorado State University graduate, Mr. Gratton has been maintaining and transforming municipal landscapes across the Front Range for nearly 15 years. Using his degree in Landscape Horticulture, his work as a parks supervisor has helped the City of Longmont’s more than 600 acres become more sustainable with organic maintenance, turfgrass conversions, pollinator gardens, and reimagining traditional landscapes. Mr. Gratton has been managing pilot sites in Longmont, Colorado, as a part of Beyond Pesticides’ Parks for a Sustainable Future program. Of the program in Longmont, Mr. Gratton told the Longmont Leader, “Instead of using pesticides, Longmont, “selects turfgrass with more aggressive rhizomes — underground stems — to outcompete weed seeds, engages in more frequent core aeration and in overseeding to decrease weed pressure dramatically,” The city views the organic land management program as part of its overall sustainability efforts to reduce water use, protect air quality, and enhance its ecosystem. 

Make plans to attend the 40th National Forum, Forging a Future with Nature, on November 29, 2:00-4:00pm EST. Sign up here to receive a Zoom link, if you have not already signed up!

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

(Beyond Pesticides, November 16, 2023) A study published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation finds exposure to the insecticide chlorpyrifos and other organophosphates (OPs) has a positive association with the development of erectile dysfunction (ED). Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the difficulty of getting or keeping an erection. Despite occurring in males later in life (between 40 and 70 years), recent studies highlight this issue emerging among adolescents, highlighting possible hormone imbalances not associated with age. Scientists and health officials already associate pesticide exposure with a decrease in male fertility, including reduced sperm count, quality, and abnormal sperm development. Exposure to many pesticides also profoundly impacts the endocrine (hormone) system, including reproductive health.

Globally, ED is increasing, with over 300 million men expected to have ED by 2025. Although age and comorbid conditions (e.g., obesity, diabetes, and hypertension) play a role in ED prognosis, studies, including this one, suggest environmental contaminant exposure can also explain the increasing trend in ED. The study notes, “Future studies are warranted to corroborate these findings, determine clinical significance, and to investigate biological mechanisms underlying these associations.”

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers investigated urinary levels of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a metabolite of the most common OP insecticide chlorpyrifos. Researchers compared urinary levels to patients who experienced ED, responding to a questionnaire indicating if the individuals were “sometimes able” or “never able” to achieve an erection. A linear and logistic regression compared sociodemographic variables between chlorpyrifos exposure to identify risk factors for exposure and ED and analyze the relationship between TCPy and ED. Of the 671 male patients in the study, about 37 percent have ED, with smoking, diabetes, aging, identifying as Mexican–American, and physical inactivity having the highest association with ED prevalence. However, the study highlights the increased odds of ED among individuals exposed to chlorpyrifos, with the risk of ED rising with increased exposure to the chemical.

The presence of pesticides in the body has implications for human health, especially during vulnerable life stages, such as childhood, puberty, pregnancy, and old age. For instance, prepubescent exposure to pesticides can impair male reproduction through the interruption of testicular homeostasis and the development of reproductive Leydig cells and can have multigenerational effects. Furthermore, pesticide pollutants in groundwater, soils, household products, and chemical manufacturing by-products are on a growing list of culprits causing developmental abnormalities such as impaired sperm quality and impotence. Reproductive health can be compromised if males are exposed at various times in life, spanning from in utero up to adulthood. Erectile dysfunction is reported in one-third of the U.S. male population and has links to chemicals in the environment. Vinclozolin, a fungicide commonly used in agriculture, can contaminate food and water supplies, and laboratory tests found that some male offspring of animals exposed to vinclozolin during pregnancy displayed a complete lack of interest in females.

This study is one of the first to investigate the relationship between specific OPs and ED, focusing mainly on the biomarker for chlorpyrifos exposure (TCPy), rather than just general OP metabolite dialkylphosphates (DAPs). The study also highlights the mechanisms involved in developing ED, including inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme responsible for degrading acetylcholine at synapses and deregulating cholinergic pathways. Considering the cholinergic system is significantly involved in erectile function, the study suggests that dysregulation by OPs has a relationship with ED development. Oxidative stress can also play a role in cholinergic toxicity and is likely relevant to general population exposure levels. Additionally, OPs are known to impact smooth muscle pathways throughout the body, including the penis.

Another mechanism potentially involved in ED development is endocrine disruption, as many OPs are endocrine disruptors, binding directly to hormone receptors, like androgen, and decreasing androgenic properties from the adrenal glands and testes. Since androgen signaling can influence normal erections, OPs can potentially mitigate signaling through a lack of testosterone production.

Lastly, the study suggests the obesogenic properties of OPs can play a role in ED development. Independently, obesity is a risk factor for ED. However, OPs can accumulate within fatty (adipose) tissue. Thus, individuals with higher levels of fat stores have an increased risk of ED as concentrations of OP can be higher and remain in the body for longer.

Despite the findings of this study and many other related to health effects from chlorpyrifos exposure, the 8^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals vacated the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) 2021 decision to cancel all food tolerances for chlorpyrifos concluding that, “EPA is unable to conclude that the risk from aggregate exposure from the use of chlorpyrifos meets the safety standard of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Accordingly, EPA is revoking all tolerances for chlorpyrifos.” 

The prevalence of ED has been increasing over the decades, with men experiencing ED 10 to 15 years earlier than expected. Wildlife, laboratory, and epidemiologic studies show exposure to low-level environmental contaminants, such as pesticides and other chemicals, subtly undermines the ability to reproduce. Furthermore, studies regarding endocrine disruption reveal mechanisms that show how specific chemical toxicants can alter fertility. Therefore, advocates urge that policies strengthen pesticide regulations and increase research on the long-term impacts of pesticide exposure. Beyond Pesticides tracks the most recent studies related to pesticide exposure through our Pesticide Induced Diseases Database (PIDD). This database supports the clear need for strategic action to shift away from pesticide dependency. For more information on the multiple harms of pesticide exposure, see PIDD pages on Sexual and Reproductive Dysfunction, Birth/Fetal Effects, Endocrine Disruption, Cancer, Body Burdens, and other diseases.

The ubiquity of pesticides in the environment and food supply is concerning, as current measures restricting pesticide use and exposure do not adequately detect and assess total environmental chemical contaminants. For instance, 90 percent of Americans have at least one pesticide biomarker (including parent compound and breakdown products) in their body. However, one way to reduce human and environmental contamination from pesticides is to buy, grow, and support organic. Numerous studies find that levels of pesticides in urine significantly drop when switching to an all-organic diet. Furthermore, given the wide availability of non-pesticidal alternative strategies, families, from rural to urban, can apply these methods to promote a safe and healthy environment, especially among chemically vulnerable individuals or those with health conditions. For more information on how organic is the right choice for consumers and the farmworkers that grow our food, see the Beyond Pesticides webpage, Health Benefits of Organic Agriculture.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Source: Journal of Endocrinological Investigation

(Beyond Pesticides, November 15, 2023) A study previously published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) is drawing renewed attention to the gut microbiome in the scientific community. The study, involving a team including Demetrio Sierra-Mercado, PhD, of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, initially established a link between glyphosate exposure and increased anxiety and fear-related behavior in rats. Glyphosate, a widely-used herbicide, has been detected in trace amounts in fruits, vegetables, grains, and other food and beverages, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Originally deemed safe for humans due to the way it interacts with the shikimic acid pathway—a metabolic route that is absent in humans—glyphosate’s indirect effects on human health are now under scrutiny as the research linking it to anxiety-like behavior grows. 

Dr. Sierra-Mercado’s team is expanding on his previous research to take a closer look at the compound’s potential disruption of the gut microbiome, which plays a pivotal role in regulating both physical and mental health. His upcoming study, anticipated in August 2024, aims to delve into the intricate relationship between glyphosate exposure and the gut-brain axis, with a focus on how this may influence neurological and emotional health in humans. This investigation is critical as it prompts the world to rethink the initial toxicity assessments of glyphosate, accounting for a broader scope on the internal systems that the pesticide affects.  

This research emerges as the impacts of glyphosate consumption become clearer with decades of accumulated studies. In recent years, numerous lawsuits have targeted Monsanto (now Bayer), producer of RoundUp, which contains glyphosate, alleging that the herbicide contributes to the plaintiffs’ cancers. Moreover, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the chemical as a probable carcinogen. Concurrently, research links the chemical to increased rates of toxic body burden, noting adolescents have higher bodily concentrations of glyphosate than adults. An article by Beyond Pesticides spotlights the study finding that over 90% of participants, including many child/parent pairs, had recent exposure to glyphosate, with children often showing up to four times the glyphosate levels of their parents. This corroborates evidence that children may be more vulnerable to the chemical’s risks. Additionally, an extensive 15-year study associates high rates of childhood blood cancers with children living in Brazil’s soy-growing areas–regions that rely on intensive glyphosate inputs. Therefore, comprehending the full spectrum of glyphosate’s effects on human health, from its potential carcinogenicity to its neurological and emotional ramifications, is crucial, advocates say.

As part of Dr. Sierra-Mercado’s revealing insights at the September 25 Keystone Science Lecture, part of the multi-day workshop and lecture series at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the extended research on glyphosate’s impact on behavior has gained substantial depth. In his lecture, Dr. Sierra-Mercado presented findings from his team’s rigorous investigation into the effects of prolonged oral exposure to glyphosate, a chemical the EPA has previously deemed safe for humans at a daily exposure rate of 2.0 mg/kg over a lifetime. The team administered glyphosate-contaminated water at the EPA’s accepted safe dose, with control rats receiving filtered drinking water. No initial behavioral changes were noted after four weeks of exposure, as determined by an open field test. However, the narrative changed with prolonged exposure. After 14 weeks, the rats displayed significant anxiety-like behaviors, with a pronounced decrease in time spent exploring novel objects and a marked increase in threat response to new stimuli, which could indicate heightened anxiety or negative anticipation. Additionally, Dr. Sierra-Mercado noted increased cellular activity in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain region associated with anxiety—a physiological marker that demonstrates glyphosate’s potential effect on neural pathways. Further highlighting the biological impact, a notable decrease in Lactobacillus in the feces was observed, pointing to glyphosate’s disruption of gut bacteria. This is significant due to the role of Lactobacillus in serotonin production, often referred to as the body’s “feel-good” hormone.

The research from Dr. Sierra-Mercado and his team demonstrates the intricate interplay between glyphosate consumption and the gut-brain axis, highlighting how even levels deemed safe can lead to anxiety-like behaviors and alter the delicate balance of gut microbiota. These disruptions may instigate a series of events culminating in emotional dysregulation, suggesting that if the research is applicable to all mammals, glyphosate’s safety must be reassessed in light of its broader biological impacts.

This study is the first of its kind to understand the connections between glyphosate exposure and gut health. It, along with an ongoing surge of new research into the impacts of pesticide exposure, highlights the significant gaps in the global scientific community’s understanding of these chemicals, particularly their long-term implications. The susceptibility of children to glyphosate, with their higher propensity for absorption and retention, is especially concerning. The possibility that even regulated levels of exposure may harbor unacknowledged dangers necessitates a more cautious approach to such chemicals.

Despite the mounting research and remaining uncertainties, EPA’s stance on glyphosate remains firm. The agency continues to classify the chemical as “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans,” authorizing its ongoing use. This stance is at odds with the advancing scientific conversation, indicating a concerning gap between science and regulation.  

Amidst these concerns, Beyond Pesticides encourages safer, organic alternatives and offers resources for those looking to reduce their exposure to glyphosate and other pesticides. The Beyond Pesticides website provides accessible information and tools for individuals and communities to make healthier choices and adopt organic land management practices. Visit to learn more and to join the movement towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Source: NIEHS; Effects of environmental contaminants on anxiety-like and fear behaviors, and gut-microbiota in rodents; Glyphosate increases anxiety-like behavior and threat response to novel neutral stimuli

(Beyond Pesticides, November 14, 2023) One of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) strongest tools for avoiding responsibility is delay—a tactic that kept cancellation of the neurotoxic pesticide chlorpyrifos at bay for 21 years—until May 2021, when a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, responded to a petition filed in 2007 by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Pesticide Action Network, and numerous other groups. The Ninth Circuit ordered the agency to quit lollygagging and acknowledge chlorpyrifos’s threat to human health, something the agency had acknowledged already. The Ninth Circuit instructed EPA to either revoke the “safe” tolerances the agency had set for chlorpyrifos’s residue in various foods or demonstrate that they are actually safe. Finally capitulating, EPA issued a final rule in August 2021 revoking all food tolerances for the neurotoxicant.

Tell your governor and mayor to adopt policies that support organic land management. 

This looked like progress until February 2022, when a different set of petitioners—pesticide companies, U.S. farmer groups, and other countries’ agricultural interests—filed an action in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. On November 3 of this year, a three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit reversed EPA’s decision, thereby neutralizing the Ninth Circuit’s opinion.

Chlorpyrifos, a member of the organophosphate chemical family that also contains chemical weapons, inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme crucial for transmitting nerve signals in humans. This function is very similar in other species, including insects, which means that the effects of chlorpyrifos on insects are similar to the effects on humans. It has long been evident that the residue tolerances for chlorpyrifos in food products were not protective of human health, especially for pregnant women, fetuses, and young children. EPA’s own 2016 Human Health Assessment found that 1-to-2-year-olds ingest 14,000 percent of the levels EPA deems safe.

Exposure to chlorpyrifos in the womb and in early childhood can lead to many cognitive problems, including lowered IQ, attention deficits, and learning disabilities. There is some evidence that organophosphate pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, can affect blood glucose, body weight, and lipid structures, meaning that the pesticide may also be an obesogen. A very recent study published on October 17 found an association between organophosphate metabolites and adult asthma. Beyond Pesticides covered this issue here.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that measurements of chlorpyrifos used to assess exposure levels may not capture its effects on the rapidly developing brain of a fetus. A 2012 EPA Scientific Advisory Panel–one of at least four EPA has convened on chlorpyrifos since 2007–also suggested that the damage to fetuses and children comes through a different pathway from the one blamed for neurotoxic effects in adults. Academic researchers have found at least one signaling pathway related to brain development that operates independently of the AchE mechanism, an issue even EPA acknowledged.

EPA has taken confusing positions on chlorpyrifos for decades. (See Beyond Pesticides’ commentary for a full summary.) The agency banned chlorpyrifos for residential uses in 2000. With each Human Health Risk Assessment—five of which were undertaken between 2008 and 2020—EPA admitted more harms from chlorpyrifos exposure. In 2015, during Barack Obama’s presidency, EPA proposed rescinding all the food tolerances, but that idea was upended as soon as Donald Trump’s EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, took office in early 2017. Two years later, EPA denied the petition filed in 2007 by the NRDC and others. Only under the order of the Ninth Circuit did EPA finally rescind all food tolerances in 2021.

The Ninth Circuit’s majority opinion (one judge dissented) recited a painful chronology of the agency’s refusal to confront chlorpyrifos’s toxicity over nearly two decades. The Ninth Circuit observed that “this Court issued multiple writs of mandamus requiring the EPA to move forward,” all ignored by the agency.

“Chlorpyrifos has been before this Court more than a half-dozen times,” the opinion states, yet “EPA has failed to act, requesting extension after extension….In short, the EPA has spent more than a decade assembling a record of chlorpyrifos’s ill effects and has repeatedly determined, based on that record, that it cannot conclude…that the present tolerances are causing no harm….Yet, rather than ban the pesticide or reduce the tolerances to levels that the EPA can find are reasonably certain to cause no harm, the EPA has sought to evade, through one delaying tactic after another, its plain statutory duties.”

In contrast, the Eighth Circuit’s opinion gives EPA yet another excuse for delay. The court’s championing of chlorpyrifos is also somewhat dissonant considering that in the U.S. there is only one chlorpyrifos manufacturer left, residential use is banned, and non-residential uses such as on golf courses have been declining. Further, California has banned all uses, as have Oregon, Hawaii, New York, and Maryland.

The opinion itself has a tone that is directly oppositional to the Ninth Circuit’s recitation of delays, emphasizing instead the purported pressure from the Ninth Circuit on EPA to decide quickly under pressure. The Eighth Circuit pushes back with rhetoric implying that the Ninth Circuit, NRDC, and its co-petitioners used onerous deadlines to browbeat EPA and prevent the agency from completing its scientific analysis and decision making, citing “[T]he short “window for issuing [a] rule” and the Ninth Circuit’s “directive not to engage in additional fact-finding or further delay….The EPA had to act quickly…Time eventually ran out. The environmental groups grew impatient.”

This rhetoric has no basis in fact. The reality is that EPA has delayed a dispositive decision for almost a generation.

Tell your governor and mayor to adopt policies that support organic land management. 

EPA’s motto, according to the Ninth Circuit, must be festina lente—that is, it has tried to cite the beneficial concept of measured and comprehensive analysis to cover up its procrastination. But in the short interval between EPA’s rule banning chlorpyrifos and the Eighth Circuit’s intervention, another principle has been demonstrated. Earthjustice Senior Attorney Patti Goldman noted in a press release that “[C]rops have been successfully grown in the two years since chlorpyrifos has been banned.” She added, “The need for any use of chlorpyrifos has been refuted.”

EPA’s decision making, delaying tactics, and contradictory policies are not confined to chlorpyrifos. “Chlorpyrifos, glyphosate, 2,4-D, atrazine, and many others are poster children for a failed regulatory system that props up chemical-intensive agriculture despite the availability of alternative organic practices not reliant on these toxic chemicals,” says Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides. “We have to end use of petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers and not just chase individual pesticides in an unending battle that allows the pesticide treadmill to continue destroying agriculture and harming farmworkers, farmers, and people generally.”

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Sources:

Opinion, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, No. 19-71979, EPA No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1005

https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/04/29/19-71979.pdf

Order Granting Petition for Review of an Order of the Environmental Protection Administration, No. 22-1422

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca8/22-1422/22-1422-2023-11-02.html

Chlorpyrifos; Tolerance Revocations – A Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 08/30/2021

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/08/30/2021-18091/chlorpyrifos-tolerance-revocations

In Shocking Decision, 8th Circuit Sends Chlorpyrifos Food Use Ban Back to EPA

https://earthjustice.org/press/2023/in-shocking-decision-8th-circuit-sends-chlorpyrifos-food-use-ban-back-to-epa

See also:

https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2021/05/federal-court-gives-epa-60-day-deadline-to-decide-the-fate-of-chlorpyrifos/

https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2021/08/commentary-are-children-agricultural-workers-and-the-food-supply-safe-with-the-chlorpyrifos-decision/ 

(Beyond Pesticides, November 13, 2023) The news of a federal Appeals Court’s reversal of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision in early November calls into question the value of the basic structures, processes, and authorities of pesticide law that the public has been told are protective of health and the environment. After decades of review and litigation, this reversal, especially on a highly neurotoxic insecticide like chlorpyrifos, identifies a fundamentally flawed system that does not protect the health of people, in this case, children’s brains.

>>Tell your governor and mayor to adopt policies that support organic land management. 

It was EPA’s finding that chlorpyrifos was destructive of the nervous system, particularly in children, and the functioning of the brain that led to an EPA-negotiated chemical company (Corteva/Dow Chemical) settlement in 1999 (took effect in 2000) that removed residential uses of chlorpyrifos from the market. The 2020 EPA decision, 21 years later, to stop agricultural uses followed another Appeals Court decision, departing from the agency’s usually long drawn-out negotiations that ultimately compromise health and the environment. EPA banned agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos in 2016 in the Obama Administration, but the decision was reversed by the Trump Administration in 2017. Because EPA’s decision was not negotiated but based on scientific facts showing unreasonable harm, the industry sued, which brings us to the current situation.

While litigation against EPA under current pesticide law is needed to call out the problems with inadequate protections, the fundamental inadequacies of the law ultimately need to be addressed. Realistically, however, the power of the chemical industry and its influence in the U.S. Congress has prevented the overhaul of the law that is required to eliminate chlorpyrifos and petrochemical pesticides in favor of organic land management or agricultural practices that are as productive and profitable as chemical-intensive practices.

Background. EPA’s action to cancel all agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos was a rare instance when the agency took protective action. Required by a 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in April 2021 to take action, EPA issued a final rule in August, 2021—in full effect February 28, 2022—after an earlier 9^th Circuit decision, concluding that “EPA is unable to conclude that the risk from aggregate exposure from the use of chlorpyrifos meets the safety standard of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Accordingly, EPA is revoking all tolerances for chlorpyrifos.” On November 3, the 8^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decided to vacate EPA’s 2021 decision to cancel all food tolerances for chlorpyrifos and sent it back to the agency.

History of Failure. In other cases, EPA has avoided such litigation by taking more limited action. When the industry challenges EPA, the agency almost invariably capitulates through a negotiation process. With the chemical paraquat, EPA allowed an industry umbrella group dubbed the Agricultural Handler Exposure Task Force to correct its data risks posed to workers, resulting in the agency changing its position within months. With the synthetic pyrethroid class of insecticides, EPA allowed an industry group to rework its methodology for addressing pyrethroid risks to children and followed the request of another industry group to allow the pyrethroids to be sprayed with smaller buffer zones during windier conditions. With the chemical glyphosate, despite overwhelming evidence of its carcinogenic properties, the agency has refused to acknowledge this risk, even after a federal court chastised its review process, and instead has acted on the behest of chemical manufacturers to stop glyphosate from being banned in other countries.

The examples of this pattern are numerous, including the recent EPA decision to cancel the deadly chlorinated hydrocarbon wood preservative, pentachlorophenol, with dioxin contaminants, among others (see Pesticide Gateway), after it watched countries around the world one-by-one ban its use under an international treaty—the Stockholm Convention, which was never ratified by the U.S. With a severely diminished market worldwide and difficultly setting up a manufacturing shop in the U.S. after a community and state uproar in South Carolina, the manufacturer withdrew—after 40-plus years of fighting and unthinkable cases of cancer. EPA then announced in March of this year that it was time to cancel the chemical.

And even when EPA suspends the registration of a pesticide, removal from use is very slow because existing stocks are generally allowed to be sold. For example, EPA suspended the registration of the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) (also widely known as Dacthal), effective August 22, 2023, leaving existing stocks (products containing DCPA manufactured before August 22) available on the market.

These examples and more demonstrate that the “whack-a-mole” approach cannot adequately protect against the dangers of pesticides. What is required are policies at every level of government that encourage the adoption of organic agriculture and land management practices.

Organic management practices build soil health, cycle nutrients naturally, enhance plant resiliency, reduce water use, and do not use petrochemical pesticides or fertilizers. The organic alternative is central to a commitment to both the elimination of practices and products that are petrochemical-based and the ability of organically managed soils to draw down (sequester) atmospheric carbon, which contributes to mitigating global warming and erratic temperatures.

States should adopt a strategy promoting natural and working lands as a critical yet currently underutilized sector in the fight against climate change. These lands can sequester and store carbon emissions, limit future carbon emissions into the atmosphere, protect people and nature from the impacts of climate change, and build resilience to future climate risks. Climate smart management of natural and working lands also improves public health and safety, secures our food and water supplies, and increases equity.

The strategy should define the state’s natural and working landscapes; describe how these lands can deliver on climate change goals; highlight priority nature-based climate solutions to address the climate crisis; explore opportunities for regional climate smart land management; identify options to track nature-based climate action and measure progress; and outline opportunities to scale climate smart land management across regions and sectors in the state. States should set a pesticide-free goal for state parks.

To be effective, the strategy must include ambitious targets focused on reduction of agricultural chemicals and support for organic agriculture. These measures also address other crises, including microbial support for ecosystem health and biodiversity. Industrial farming systems dependent on synthetic fertilizers and other chemical inputs must be replaced with organic systems that do not use chemicals in which animals and feed sources are fully integrated.

Many communities are already adopting organic land management in parks, playing fields, and other public lands. Beyond Pesticides partners with a major organic retailer, Natural Grocers, and organic food company, Stonyfield Organic, and dozens of communities in all regions of the country to see this vision come to life. Natural land care is becoming increasingly popular at the local level, with more and more communities looking to employ practices that protect workers, public health, pets, pollinators, and unique local environments that can be harmed by unnecessary pesticide use. At the same time, community leaders are increasingly challenged with staffing constraints and tight budgets. Beyond Pesticides’ Parks for a Sustainable Future program aims to bridge these gaps, allowing communities to pilot the transition to organic land care on two public sites.

Program pilot sites provide local land care officials the time needed to dial in new practices and work out any unexpected factors that may impede the move from conventional to organic land care.  They send a message to residents that the community is taking meaningful action to protect their health and environment at a lower cost to community coffers than a rapid, full-scale transition to organic land care that local pesticide reform policies are increasingly requiring. 

>>Tell your governor and mayor to adopt policies that support organic land management. 

Sign up to be a Parks Advocate today to encourage your community to transition to organic land management. Plan on attending Session 3 of the National Forum, Transformative Community-Based Change from the Ground Up: Managing Parks and Playing Fields with Organic Practices and Policies, on November 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm Eastern. Speaker and registration information HERE. This session is for all who want beautiful landscapes, parks, and playing fields without the reliance on petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. The subject matter is cross-cutting and will inform people concerned about their health and community health, elected officials (from town, city, county, regional, state to school boards) interested in effecting movement away from toxic chemical reliance, and land managers and landscapers who work in parks and on playing fields and other landscapes.

Letter to Governor:

As shown by the recent court decision overturning EPA’s attempt to cancel agricultural uses of highly neurotoxic insecticide chlorpyrifos, the pesticide regulatory process is broken and cannot protect people or the environment from the dangers of their use. As a result, we need policies at the state and local level that move toward organic land management in agriculture, communities, and homes.

EPA’s action to cancel all agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos was a rare instance when the agency took protective action. Required by a 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in April 2021 to take action, EPA issued a final rule in August, 2021—in full effect February 28, 2022—after an earlier 9^th Circuit decision, concluding that, “EPA is unable to conclude that the risk from aggregate exposure from the use of chlorpyrifos meets the safety standard of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Accordingly, EPA is revoking all tolerances for chlorpyrifos.” On November 3, the 8^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decided to vacate EPA’s 2021 decision to cancel all food tolerances for chlorpyrifos and sent it back to the agency.

In other cases, EPA has avoided such litigation by taking more limited action. When the industry challenges EPA, the agency almost invariably capitulates, as in the case of paraquat, when EPA allowed an industry umbrella group dubbed the Agricultural Handler Exposure Task Force to correct its data risks posed to workers, resulting in the agency changing its position within months.

The examples of this pattern are numerous, and even when EPA suspends the registration of a pesticide, removal from use is very slow because existing stocks are generally allowed to be sold. For example, EPA suspended the registration of the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) (also widely known as Dacthal), effective August 22, 2023, leaving existing stocks (products containing DCPA manufactured before August 22) available on the market.

History shows the failure of the “whack-a-mole” approach to pesticide regulation.

States should adopt a strategy promoting natural and working lands as a critical yet currently underutilized sector in the fight against climate change. These lands can sequester and store carbon emissions, limit future carbon emissions into the atmosphere, protect people and nature from the impacts of climate change, and build resilience to future climate risks. Climate smart management of natural and working lands also improves public health and safety, secures our food and water supplies, and increases equity.

The strategy should define the state’s natural and working landscapes; describe how these lands can deliver on climate change goals; highlight priority nature-based climate solutions to address the climate crisis; explore opportunities for regional climate smart land management; identify options to track nature-based climate action and measure progress; and outline opportunities to scale climate smart land management across regions and sectors in the state. States should set a pesticide-free goal for state parks.

To be effective, the strategy must include ambitious targets focused on reduction of agricultural chemicals and support for organic agriculture. These measures also address other crises, including microbial support for ecosystem health and biodiversity. Industrial farming systems dependent on synthetic fertilizers and other chemical inputs must be replaced with organic systems that do not use chemicals in which animals and feed sources are fully integrated.

I urge you to take the lead in creating policies that move our state to organic agriculture and land management.

Thank you.

Letter to Mayor:

As shown by the recent court decision overturning EPA’s attempt to cancel agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos, the pesticide regulatory process is broken and cannot protect people or the environment from the dangers of their use. As a result, we need policies at the state and local level that move towards organic land management in agriculture, communities, and homes.

EPA’s action to cancel all agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos was a rare instance when the agency took protective action. Required by a 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in April 2021 to take action, EPA issued a final rule in August, 2021—in full effect February 28, 2022—after an earlier 9^th Circuit decision, concluding that, “EPA is unable to conclude that the risk from aggregate exposure from the use of chlorpyrifos meets the safety standard of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Accordingly, EPA is revoking all tolerances for chlorpyrifos.” On November 3, the 8^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decided to vacate EPA’s 2021 decision to cancel all food tolerances for chlorpyrifos and sent it back to the agency.

In other cases, EPA has avoided such litigation by taking more limited action. When the industry challenges EPA, the agency almost invariably capitulates, as in the case of paraquat, when EPA allowed an industry umbrella group dubbed the Agricultural Handler Exposure Task Force to correct its data risks posed to workers, resulting in the agency changing its position within months.

The examples of this pattern are numerous, and even when EPA suspends the registration of a pesticide, removal from use is very slow because existing stocks are generally allowed to be sold. For example, EPA suspended the registration of the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) (also widely known as Dacthal), effective August 22, 2023, leaving existing stocks (products containing DCPA manufactured before August 22) available on the market.

History shows the failure of the “whack-a-mole” approach to pesticide regulation.

Many communities are already adopting organic land management in parks, playing fields, and other public lands. Beyond Pesticides partnering with major retailers like Natural Grocers and Stonyfield Organic, and dozens of communities in all regions of the country to see this vision come to life. Natural land care is becoming increasingly popular at the local level, with more and more communities looking to employ practices that protect workers, public health, pets, pollinators, and unique local environments that can be harmed by unnecessary pesticide use. At the same time, community leaders are increasingly challenged with staffing constraints and tight budgets. Beyond Pesticides’ Parks for a Sustainable Future program aims to bridge these gaps, allowing communities to pilot the transition to organic land care on two public sites.

Program pilot sites provide local land care officials the time needed to dial in new practices and work out any unexpected factors that may impede the move from conventional to organic land care.  They send a message to residents that the community is taking meaningful action to protect their health and environment, at a lower cost to community coffers than a rapid, full-scale transition to organic land care that local pesticide reform policies are increasingly requiring. 

Please ensure that all land (parks, playgrounds, playing fields, etc.) in our area is managed with organic practices that eliminate fossil fuel-based toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Where these practices are in place, I would appreciate a report to the community. Where organic practices are not being utilized, I request that a plan be put in place to transition—as part of a community effort to protect health and biodiversity, and to fight the climate crisis. Now is the time that we must all join together to do our part to curtail petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers and sequester atmospheric carbon in the soil through effective organic practices.

Thank you.

(Beyond Pesticides, November 10, 2023) In a press conference this week just prior to Veteran’s Day, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough affirmed the federal government’s medical support for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during their service in the military under a law passed last year entitled The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, or PACT Act. The law, passed in August 2022, identifies specific diseases as “presumptive conditions” caused during specified military service. The passage of the law is a tribute to veterans and the public uproar just over one  year ago that demanded that the U.S. Congress recognize and treat diseases caused by toxic chemical exposure during military service.

The passage of the PACT Act in 2022 was controversial and first blocked by Republicans in the Senate, but public outrage and high profile support from comedian and activist Jon Stewart ultimately led to final passage. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said, “For too long, our nation’s veterans have faced an absurd indignity: They enlisted to serve our country, went abroad in good health, and came back home only to get sick from toxic exposure endured while in the line of duty.”

Those with presumptive conditions do not need to prove that their service caused the listed condition. Veterans only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.

The law recognizes the toxic exposure from smoke and fumes generated from open burn pits. In Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas of the Southwest Asia theater of military operations, open-air combustion of chemicals, tires, plastics, medical equipment and human waste in burn pits was a common practice, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration (VA). The Department of Defense says it has now closed out most burn pits and is planning to close the remainder. President Biden has attributed his son’s death from brain cancer in 2015 to his exposure to burn pits in Iraq.

According to the Veterans Administration, 20 burn pit and other toxic exposure presumptive conditions based on the PACT Act. This change expands benefits for Gulf War era and post-9/11 Veterans and includes the following cancers as “presumptive”: Brain cancer, Gastrointestinal cancer of any type, Glioblastoma, Head cancer of any type, Kidney cancer, Lymphoma of any type, Melanoma, Neck cancer of any type, Pancreatic cancer, Reproductive cancer of any type, and Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type. Additionally, these illnesses are now presumptive: Asthma that was diagnosed after service, Chronic bronchitis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Chronic rhinitis, Chronic sinusitis, Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis, Emphysema, ranulomatous disease, Interstitial lung disease (ILD), Pleuritis, Pulmonary fibrosis, and Sarcoidosis. The VA identifies specific areas of military service with time periods. The act includes other presumptive conditions, including, for example, exposure to Agent Orange (the mixture of herbicide 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T), used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War.

According to the VA, the PACT Act: 

• Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War and post-9/11 eras. 
• Adds 20 more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic exposures. 
• Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation. 
• Requires the VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care. 

Disability claims can be filed HERE.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

For more PACT and Toxic Exposure Information for Veterans, see: Veterans of Foreign War.

(Beyond Pesticides, November 9, 2023) Two-hundred-foot pesticide spray “buffer zones” around 4,028 U.S. elementary schools contiguous to crop fields—according to data evaluated by Environmental Working Group—are threatened by potential Farm Bill amendments now under consideration. Legislative language, if adopted, would take away (preempt) the authority of states and local jurisdictions to protect children and restrict agricultural pesticides used near schools.

Pesticide drift is a widespread problem throughout the U.S. that has attracted national attention in recent years because of crop damage caused by the weed killer dicamba in numerous midwestern states. In the face of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to mitigate drift hazards, states enact limits on when and how pesticides can be used, establish buffer zones around application sites, and in some cases, ban uses. In 2018, Arkansas banned dicamba use from mid-April through the end of October (and survived a Monsanto challenge to the ban. For a historical perspective on the drift issue, see Getting the Drift on Pesticide Trespass.

Children, in particular, face unique risks from pesticide and toxic chemical exposures. Due to their smaller body size, they absorb a higher relative amount of pesticides through the food they consume and the air they breathe. Additionally, children’s developing organ systems make them more vulnerable to the impacts of toxic exposure. Several authoritative bodies, including  EPA , the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Public Health Association, have all voiced concerns about the potential dangers that pesticides pose to children. Scientific evidence has shown that pesticide exposure can negatively impact a child’s neurological, respiratory, immune, and endocrine systems, even at low levels. Some pesticides, such as synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates, are known to cause or exacerbate asthma symptoms.

According to the EWG data, more than 30 states have adopted standards to restrict pesticides near schools. For example, in Alabama, aerial applications of pesticides are prohibited within 400 feet of school grounds, and, in Louisiana, aerial application is prohibited within 1000 feet of schools. At the local level, there are hundreds of ordinances to safeguard the public from pesticides. San Diego, California has an ordinance that restricts pesticides within 1/4 mile and (25 feet with a power sprayer) from daycares and elementary schools between 6 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday. Cleveland Heights, Ohio passed an ordinance to prohibit “cosmetic pesticides and herbicides on public grounds” which includes schools and daycare centers.

However, the ongoing battle to preserve the authority of local governments to protect people and the environment continues, with some states seeking to curtail local control. The debate between federal and state authority over pesticide regulations, exemplified by the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act, holds significant implications for public health, environmental protection, and state government authority.

Environmental activists and concerned citizens are emphasizing the importance of retaining the ability of states to inform their residents about product risks, including pesticides like glyphosate. Jay Feldman, the director of Beyond Pesticides said, “We are urging the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to draft a Farm Bill that does not undermine the authority of local communities striving to safeguard public health and the environment.” Mr. Feldman continues, “The proposed solution to protect children’s health, as well as mitigate threats to biodiversity and the climate, is the elimination of petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. Organic land management practices have gained recognition as the most effective alternative to chemical-intensive agriculture and land management.”

As the debate over pesticide regulation intensifies, the safety and well-being of children, environmental protection, and the authority of state governments across the United States hang in the balance. The outcome of the Farm Bill could have far-reaching implications for all stakeholders involved. Read more about the Farm Bill negotiations here.

In the absence of protective measures for children and communities, advocates play a crucial role in pushing for change. Enforcement of existing pesticide laws is often the most challenging phase of community-based efforts, requiring vigilant monitoring and public pressure. For help in passing or enforcing a pesticide policy in your child’s school, contact Beyond Pesticides at 202-543-5450 or by email at [email protected]. You can stay informed of developments through our Daily News Blog and our journal, Pesticides and You.

Take Action: Protect Local Authority to Limit Pesticides; Stop Congress from Preempting Local Ordinances

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Source: New EWG report finds toxic pesticide spray risks near thousands of elementary schools

(Beyond Pesticides, November 8, 2023) A study published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research finds organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are linked to an increased asthma prevalence. The study was released just before an 8^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals November 3 decision vacating EPA’s 2021 decision to cancel all food tolerances for chlorpyrifos and sending it back to the agency. (Required by a 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in April 2021 to take action, EPA issued a final rule in August, 2021—in full effect February 28, 2022—after an earlier 9^th Circuit decision, concluding that, “EPA is unable to conclude that the risk from aggregate exposure from the use of chlorpyrifos meets the safety standard of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Accordingly, EPA is revoking all tolerances for chlorpyrifos.” 

Using urinary metabolites of OPs, the study highlights that diethyl phosphate (DEP, the breakdown chemical of chlorpyrifos) has the strongest association with asthma. However, individual and combined exposure to all OPs have a significant link to respiratory disease. The respiratory system is essential to human survival, regulating gas exchange (oxygen-carbon dioxide) in the body to balance acid and base tissue cells for normal function. Damage to the respiratory system can cause several issues—from asthma and bronchitis to oxidative stress that triggers the development of extra-respiratory manifestations like rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

Organophosphorus pesticides have a wide range of biological uses—from insecticides to flame retardants—that make these chemicals ubiquitous, significantly contributing to ecosystem contamination. Furthermore, despite organophosphates having less bioaccumulation potential, residues are consistently present in human and animal blood, urine, tissues, and milk. Although research demonstrates that OPs are highly toxic, there remains an inadequate understanding of how OP exposure impacts body systems like the respiratory system. Therefore, the rise in respiratory illnesses and organophosphate use over the last three decades is highly concerning. In light of the recent court decision, the OP study is especially alarming and notes, “These findings underscore the importance of continued efforts to mitigate exposure to OP pesticides and improve respiratory health outcomes for the broader population.”

The study analyzes data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) projects conducted between 2003–2008, 2011–2012, and 2015–2018. Using multiple logistic regressions and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regressions, researchers examined the correlation between urinary OP metabolites dimethyl phosphate (DMP), diethyl phosphate (DEP), dimethyl phosphorothioate (DMTP), and diethyl phosphorothioate (DETP), and asthma prevalence among 9,316 U.S. adults, accounting for individual and combined exposure to OPs. The results find that 1,298 of the 9,316 adults in the study cohort have asthma, with a little over 50 percent female and an average age of 47. The metabolites DMP and DEP have the strongest association with asthma incidents, regardless of whether urinary OP concentrations contain an individual or mixture of metabolites. Moreover, DEP has the highest association with asthma occurrence, eliciting the most substantial effects on respiratory outcomes.

The connection between pesticides and associated respiratory risks is nothing new, as many studies link pesticide use and residue to various respiratory illnesses. Exposure to pesticides from residencies near pesticide processing plants, contact with pesticide-tainted clothes and tools, and households with improper storage and use of pesticides are at greater risk of respiratory illness, including asthma (ranking first) from chronic exposure and upper and lower airway obstruction from acute exposure. Studies find pesticide exposure can trigger asthma and the attacks, as exposure to insecticides before the age of five can increase the risk of asthma diagnosis, with toddlers twice as likely to become asthmatic. Furthermore, Significant disparities in asthma morbidity and mortality disproportionately impact low-income populations, people of color, and children living in inner cities.

Agricultural workers and their families are at the most significant risk from these health hazards. Working throughout one’s lifetime increases the risk of asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and other respiratory issues. A 2016 study linked an astounding 78 pesticides to allergic and non-allergic wheeze among male farmers. Agricultural work with toxic pesticides was associated with an increased risk of the potentially deadly diseases idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in a 2021 study and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a recent February 2022 report. Unsurprisingly, a comprehensive literature review published in 2020 finds pesticide exposure strongly correlated with the development of respiratory diseases.

Beyond Pesticides has reviewed the particular exposure risks farmworkers endure and health outcomes; for example, agricultural (and other) workers exposed to pesticides and other contaminants are at increased risk of developing a lung condition known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The risk of developing Farmer’s lung—a common allergic disease induced by inhaling biological dust and a contributor to respiratory morbidity among farmers— also increases with pesticide exposure. Thus, chronic inhalation of agriculture-related dust (e.g., particulates from grains, feed, soils, and biological aerosols from plant and animal matter that may harbor synthetic pesticide and fertilizer residues) can increase airway inflammatory diseases, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, and COPD. The particulates in dust play a part in disease development, but so, too, do the various microbiota that may be part of a dusty agricultural environment. A disruption of the homeostasis of the human microbiome (known as dysbiosis) can increase the risk of asthma and other respiratory diseases. In addition, pesticide exposures can alter the gut microbiome, which mediates a significant portion of the human immune response.

Many researchers, including those on this study, suggest an increase in environmental pollutants like pesticides may be responsible for the influx of respiratory diseases. The risk of asthma is seasonal, with the spring having greater incidents due to the influx of pesticide use during this period. Moreover, those handling pesticides without protective equipment have a much greater risk of developing asthma after exposure. A University of California, Berkeley study found that the general exposure to organophosphates (not only chlorpyrifos) corresponds with a measurable decrease in lung function. Prolonged exposure (over 56 days) to the insecticide chlorpyrifos more than doubles the risk of developing lung cancer. 

This study assesses the impacts of OP compounds on individuals with asthma, highlighting the positive association between the presence of metabolites in urine and the occurrence of asthma. Although the study notes the mechanisms involved in OP-induced asthma are unclear, previous studies report OPs to inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, or AChE, impacting smooth muscles in the airway and nerves in the respiratory system. The suggestion of multiple mechanisms involved in OP-induced asthma highlights the significant influence OPs have on respiratory pathology. OPs are cholinesterase inhibitors, which means they bind to receptor sites for AChE, essential to standard nerve impulse transmission. In affixing to these receptor sites, cholinesterase inhibitors inactivate AChE and prevent the clearing of acetylcholine. The buildup of acetylcholine can lead to acute impacts, such as uncontrolled, rapid twitching of some muscles, paralyzed breathing, convulsions, and, in extreme cases, death. The compromise of neural transmission can have broad systemic impacts on the function of multiple body systems, including the respiratory system.

In the U.S., over 25 million people live with asthma. The increasing rate of respiratory pathology since the 1980s demonstrates a need for better environmental policies and protocols surrounding contaminants like pesticides. Considering respiratory diseases represent a significant health issue for agricultural workers—who often experience pesticide exposure at higher rates due to occupation—it is essential to understand the association between pesticide exposure and respiratory pathology or the study of causes and effects of respiratory diseases. Furthermore, with a new report finding an association between air pollution and higher death rates (9%) related to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), global leaders must eliminate excessive pesticide use to mitigate respiratory diseases’ impacts on human health. Policies should enforce stricter pesticide regulations and increase research on the long-term impacts of pesticide exposure. Beyond Pesticides tracks the most recent studies related to pesticide exposure through our Pesticide Induced Diseases Database (PIDD). This database supports the clear need for strategic action to shift away from pesticide dependency. For more information on the multiple harms of pesticides, see PIDD pages on asthma/respiratory effects and other diseases. Learn more about how inadequate pesticide use regulations, including organophosphates, can adversely affect human and environmental health; see Beyond Pesticides’ Pesticides and You article “Highly Destructive Pesticide Effects Unregulated.”

Beyond Pesticides advocates a precautionary approach to pest management in land management and agriculture by transiting to organic. Buying, growing, and supporting organic can help eliminate the extensive use of pesticides in the environment and from your diet. For more information on how organic is the right choice for consumers and the farmworkers who grow our food, see the Beyond Pesticides webpage, Health Benefits of Organic Agriculture. Removing pesticides from parks that disproportionately affect people of color in the community and as landscapers. Help convert your parks, playing fields, and schoolyards to organic land management through Beyond Pesticides’ Parks for a Sustainable Future program. 

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Source: Environmental Science and Pollution Research

(Beyond Pesticides, November 7, 2023) Two decades after the introduction of genetically engineered, herbicide-resistant crops and the consequential exponential growth in weed killers, Brazil is seeing an increase in childhood cancer. This is the conclusion reached in a comprehensive study spanning 15 years (2004-2019), “Agriculture Intensification and Childhood Cancer in Brazil,” published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in October. For the past 20 years, soybean herbicides have been killing and sickening children in the Cerrado and Amazon regions–where soybean cultivation is concentrated. The study reveals a link between an increase in soy cultivation and a spike in cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common cancer affecting children, among indirectly exposed populations. Researchers identify pesticide-contaminated drinking water as the driving force behind the increased cancer rates occurring downstream from soybean sites. 

In 2003, Brazil legalized its first official genetically modified (GM) crop, welcoming the era of GM soybeans and sparking a radical transformation in its agricultural landscape–for better or worse. The introduction of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soybean seed promised farmers an efficient and herbicide-resistant alternative to traditional crops. A significant shift occurred in the areas dedicated to soy cultivation in the Cerrado region, tripling from five million hectares in 2000 to 15 million hectares in 2019. In the Amazon, the increase was even more staggering, experiencing a 20-fold surge from 0.25 million hectares to five million hectares. With this expansion came an intensive application of pesticides. Brazil’s pesticide use per hectare soared to rates 2.3 times higher than the United States and three times higher than China. 

The research findings identify that a 10-percentage-point increase in soy cultivation area is associated with an additional 0.40 deaths out of 10,000 due to ALL for children 5 years of age and lower and an additional 0.21 deaths of children 10 years of age and lower per 10,000 population. The study finds “a strong and persistent relationship between the arrival of high-intensity agriculture in a region and adverse human health outcomes,” even after controlling for confounding factors. 

The study observes that having a pediatric oncology center within a day’s drive—defined as 100 km or less—dramatically lessens fatal outcomes. This is a glaring commentary on the vast inequality in health care access, particularly in countries still navigating the initial stages of agricultural development. These are often low-income and middle-income nations wrestling with instability, and the findings highlight a concerning disparity and lack of urgency for action.

The apathy toward the absence of access to safe environments, decent working conditions, and health care is starkly visible in what some have referred to as the double standards prevalent in global pesticide laws. Pesticides, deemed too toxic for use in the European Union, are freely exported around the globe and find a ready market in many countries that do not disclose product ingredients and warnings or regulatory restrictions in place that might reduce hazards. Similarly, those harmed by pesticides may not have access to health care. 

This discovery is highly relevant, especially for other emerging agrarian nations. Brazil has become a kind of prototype that agrochemical corporations, economists, and policymakers frequently reference.

Brazil’s metamorphosis into a large agricultural force has garnered attention and praise from economists and policymakers alike. The country’s economy witnessed a surge of over 40 percent between 2000 and 2010, largely attributed to the booming manufacturing sector. This transformation, with Brazil as a model, has been used to exemplify the potential of agrochemicals in boosting global food security.

Economists have highlighted the introduction of GM soy as a pivotal moment. It did not just boost agricultural productivity but also set off a chain reaction across the entire economy. Herbicide-resistant seeds, it was argued, would help Brazil move from an agricultural to a more industrial economy with higher incomes and more spending. Farmers no longer would have to engage in tedious field tilling, allowing farm laborers to find work in other areas and contributing to urban growth.

However, while Brazil is often showcased as a model of success, the study offers a cautionary perspective. It notes, “The combination of restricted oversight, limited healthcare access, a rapidly evolving agricultural production system, and a new chemical technology provides a cautionary tale to regions in similar stages of agricultural intensification.”

While many economists laude Brazil’s growth, not only are the health consequences becoming increasingly evident, but so are the environmental consequences of this rapid industrialization. The Amazon has been facing a series of catastrophic fires and deforestation incidents. The agricultural expansion that came with soybeans also resulted in forest clearing on an immense scale.

As agricultural intensification takes place, droughts are compounding the problem, leading to a noticeable drying of the Amazon River. The extended dry seasons over the past few decades have been taking a toll, making trees less resilient and severely affecting the region’s biodiversity. This drying and deforestation have repercussions beyond habitat destruction. In tropical rainforests like the Amazon, the nutrient-rich biomass is crucial for maintaining ecological balance. When this biomass is removed, the tropical soil—poor in nutrients—is unable to sustain life, leading to irreversible damage. 

So, while Brazil may be lauded for its economic leaps, the study prompts a critical reassessment. It emphasizes the need for careful consideration of development strategies, urging a nuanced approach that does not solely focus on economic gains, but also weighs the health and well-being of the population.

This story of Brazil is a call for a global rethinking of development models, urging a shift toward practices that are equitable, sustainable, and healthy. Any system that treats the lives of children as collateral is not one that should serve as a global archetype. As we rethink our approach to development models, the indiscriminate use of pesticides should be critically examined and left behind, along with other discriminatory practices like double standards for banned pesticides. Visit the Beyond Pesticides website for more information on how you can support and get involved with better practices for all of our futures. Eating with a Conscience explains why it is important to express your concerns with your purchasing power, protecting not only yourself but the workers and communities in which your food is grown.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides. 

Sources: Agricultural intensification and childhood cancer in Brazil; How a Genetically Modified Soybean Helped Modernize an Economy

(Beyond Pesticides, November 6, 2023) Communities discussing synthetic versus natural turf are faced with a number of issues that go to safety, environmental health, and cost. The chemicals used to manage synthetic turf for bacteria, mold, and fungus raise serious health issues and represent a threat that does not exist in organic land management. When all the synthetic turf issues are considered, including chemical use, maintenance, heat effects, water contamination and treatment, playability and safety, organic grass turf offers an approach that checks all the critical boxes for protecting health and the environment at a competitive price.

Hazards of synthetic (artificial) turf made news this fall following injuries to New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, among others. Following safety concern, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) issued a  call to end the use of synthetic turf and a return to natural turf. The FIFA World Cup soccer association requires a grass playing field. The players are not the only ones demanding grass fields. Fans of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift came out in full force in favor of the switch after the injury to Ms. Swift’s rumored boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Beyond sports injuries, concerns about environmental and health hazards are emerging as communities and school boards discuss the fields used for school and community sports.  This debate is taking place as communities are increasingly shifting the management of their playing fields and parks to organic practices, eliminating toxic pesticides and fertilizers, building soil biology to cycle nutrients naturally, increasing resiliency of turf, and decreasing water use.

Tell your Mayor* and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to make the switch to organic grass turf.

[*Our database may not include your Mayor through our one-click action. However, you may use our proposed language for sending a letter to your Mayor. Please cut-and-paste the text provided HERE and send in an email to your local Mayor’s office.]

Although manufacturers and advocates of artificial turf (who have created confusion by redefining “turf” to mean synthetic turf) tout its benefits, claiming improved safety and reduced environmental impact, among others, the facts contradict these claims.

Synthetic turf also causes injuries to high school athletes.

A groundbreaking study, The dark side of artificial greening: Plastic turfs as widespread pollutants of aquatic environments, has unearthed some disturbing revelations on the use of artificial turf. This comprehensive study, prominently featured in the Environmental Pollution (June 2023) journal, has cast a spotlight on the dire consequences of plastic fibers from artificial turf, which are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems.

River transport and stormwater runoff can carry plastics and microplastics into waterways. Once they make their way into the water, these fibers pose a menacing threat to marine life, leading to a host of health issues and, tragically, even mortality. The fibers also accumulate in sediments, compromising the overall health of aquatic ecosystems. The study authors indicate that plastic fields require enhanced waste management practices to staunch the plastic fibers from entering aquatic habitats.

A builder of sports facilities, American Athletic, states, “Beyond surface cleaning, the artificial turf should be sanitized weekly or monthly to protect the players’ and coaches’ health. This disinfection requires special solvents, cleansers, and anti-microbial products to remove invisible particles and bacterial growth. You should strive to sanitize the field after every game and throughout the school day if it’s used for physical education classes.”

Artificial fields can cost over $1 million for field installation, drainage system, and additional costs for water treatment for an approximately 10-year lifespan, not including the game-day and ongoing maintenance costs. Manufacturers also recommend watering the synthetic fields during hot weather because of the heat generated by the artificial material. Studies record maximum surface temperatures on synthetic fields during hot, sunny conditions averaging from 140° F to 170° F, while natural grass is rarely recorded to be above 100° F.

Organic management practices build soil health, cycle nutrients naturally, enhance turf resiliency, reduce water use, and do not use petrochemical pesticides or fertilizers. The organic alternative is central to a community’s discussion about its residents’ commitment to both the elimination of practices and products that are petrochemical-based and the ability of organically managed soils to draw down (sequester) atmospheric carbon, which contributes to mitigating global warming and erratic temperatures.

Sign up to be a Parks Advocate today to encourage your community to transition to organic land management. Plan on attending Session 3 of the National Forum, Transformative Community-Based Change from the Ground Up: Managing Parks and Playing Fields with Organic Practices and Policies, on November 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm Eastern. Speaker and registration information HERE. This session is for all who want beautiful landscapes, parks, and playing fields without the reliance on petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. The subject matter is cross-cutting and will inform people concerned about their health and community health, elected officials (from town, city, county, regional, state to school boards) interested in effecting movement away from toxic chemical reliance, and land managers and landscapers who work in parks and on playing fields and other landscapes.

Tell your Mayor* and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to make the switch to organic grass turf.

[*Our database may not include your Mayor through our one-click action. However, you may use our proposed language for sending a letter to your Mayor. Please cut-and-paste the text provided HERE and send in an email to your local Mayor’s office.]

Letter to mayor:

Following injuries to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers, and others, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is calling for a return to natural turf. The same issue arises with regard to playing fields for school and community sports. Besides the issue of safety for players, artificial turf is a source of environmental pollution that is difficult to mitigate.

Although manufacturers of artificial turf tout supposed benefits, claiming improved safety and reduced environmental impact, among others, there are reasons to believe otherwise. Although manufacturers and advocates of artificial turf tout its benefits, claiming improved safety and reduced environmental impact, among others, the facts contradict these claims.

Injuries to high profile professional football players have prompted the NFLPA to urge the NFL to follow the lead of the FIFA World Cup soccer championship, which requires a grass playing field.

Synthetic turf also causes injuries to young athletes.

A groundbreaking study, The dark side of artificial greening: Plastic turfs as widespread pollutants of aquatic environments, has unearthed some disturbing revelations on the use of artificial turf, which has become a pervasive fixture on sports fields and playgrounds. This comprehensive study, prominently featured in the Environmental Pollution (June 2023) journal, has cast a spotlight on the dire consequences of plastic fibers from artificial turf, which are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems.

River transport and stormwater runoff can carry plastics and microplastics into waterways. Once they make their way into the water, these fibers pose a menacing threat to marine life, leading to a host of health issues and, tragically, even mortality. The fibers also accumulate in sediments, compromising the overall health of aquatic ecosystems. Immediate intervention is needed to tackle artificial turf pollution, including enhanced waste management practices to staunch the plastic fibers from entering aquatic habitats.

Communities discussing synthetic versus natural turf are faced with issues that go to safety, environmental health, and cost. The chemicals used to manage synthetic turf for bacteria, mold, and fungus raise serious health issues and represent a threat that does not exist in organic land management. A builder of sports facilities, American Athletic, states, “Beyond surface cleaning, the artificial turf should be sanitized weekly or monthly to protect the players’ and coaches’ health. This disinfection requires special solvents, cleansers, and anti-microbial products to remove invisible particles and bacterial growth. You should strive to sanitize the field after every game and throughout the school day if it’s used for physical education classes.”

Artificial fields can cost over $1 million for both the field installation, drainage system, and any additional costs for water treatment for an approximately ten-year lifespan, not including the game-day and ongoing maintenance costs. Manufacturers also recommend watering the synthetic fields during hot weather because of the heat generated by the artificial material. Studies record maximum surface temperatures on synthetic fields during hot, sunny conditions averaging from 140° F to 170° F, while natural grass is rarely recorded to be above 100° F.

When all the synthetic turf issues are considered, including chemical use, maintenance, heat effects, water contamination and treatment, playability and safety, organic grass turf offers an improvement in every way. Organic management practices build soil health, cycle nutrients naturally, enhance turf resiliency, reduce water use, and do not use petrochemical pesticides or fertilizers.

Please ensure that our community’s playing fields are made of natural grass maintained organically.

Thank you.

Letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

I support the request of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) or a return to natural turf on playing fields. Besides the issue of safety for players, artificial turf is a source of environmental pollution that is difficult to mitigate.

Although manufacturers of artificial turf tout supposed benefits, claiming improved safety and reduced environmental impact, among others, there are reasons to believe otherwise. Although manufacturers and advocates of artificial turf tout its benefits, claiming improved safety and reduced environmental impact, among others, the facts contradict these claims.

Injuries to high profile professional football players have prompted the NFLPA to urge the NFL to follow the lead of the FIFA World Cup soccer association, which requires a grass playing field.

A groundbreaking study, The dark side of artificial greening: Plastic turfs as widespread pollutants of aquatic environments, has unearthed some disturbing revelations on the use of artificial turf, which has become a pervasive fixture on sports fields and playgrounds. This comprehensive study, prominently featured in the Environmental Pollution (June 2023) journal, has cast a spotlight on the dire consequences of plastic fibers from artificial turf, which are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems.

River transport and stormwater runoff can carry plastics and microplastics into waterways. Once they make their way into the water, these fibers pose a menacing threat to marine life, leading to a host of health issues and, tragically, even mortality. The fibers also accumulate in sediments, compromising the overall health of aquatic ecosystems. The authors of the study call for immediate intervention to tackle artificial turf pollution. The study authors indicate that plastic fields require enhanced waste management practices to staunch the plastic fibers from entering aquatic habitats.

Artificial fields can cost over $1 million for both the field installation, drainage system, and any additional costs for water treatment for an approximately ten-year lifespan, not including the game-day and ongoing maintenance costs. Manufacturers also recommend watering the synthetic fields during hot weather because of the heat generated by the artificial material. Studies record maximum surface temperatures on synthetic fields during hot, sunny conditions averaging from 140° F to 170° F, while natural grass is rarely recorded to be above 100° F.

The chemicals used to manage synthetic turf for bacteria, mold, and fungus raise serious health issues and represent a threat that does not exist in organic land management. A builder of sports facilities, American Athletic, states, “Beyond surface cleaning, the artificial turf should be sanitized weekly or monthly to protect the players’ and coaches’ health. This disinfection requires special solvents, cleansers, and anti-microbial products to remove invisible particles and bacterial growth. You should strive to sanitize the field after every game and throughout the school day if it’s used for physical education classes.”

When all the synthetic turf issues are considered, including chemical use, maintenance, heat effects, water contamination and treatment, playability and safety, organic grass turf offers an approach that checks all the critical boxes for protecting health and the environment at a competitive price. Organic management practices build soil health, cycle nutrients naturally, enhance turf resiliency, reduce water use, and do not use petrochemical pesticides or fertilizers. While FIFA guidelines for grass turf do not mandate organic management, they provide a standard for construction and maintenance to which organic practices can be applied.

Therefore, I request that you require NFL playing fields to be grass turf that is transitioned to organic management.

Thank you.

(Beyond Pesticides, November 3, 2023) California joined 10 other states that have laws partially restricting use of bee-toxic neonicotinoid (neonic) insecticides with the enactment of CA AB 363 into law in October, 2023.  California’s new law will ban over-the-counter sales of lawn and garden neonics by 2025, limiting their use to licensed pesticide applicators. The legislation gives the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA EPA) until June 30, 2029 to take broader action on neonics, if it determines restrictions are necessary. CA 363 will take neonics out of the hands of homeowners, while allowing lawn care companies to continue use. The California law falls short of the strongest state laws in Nevada, New Jersey, and Maine that eliminate all outdoor (nonagricultural) uses of these chemicals, even by lawn care companies. In June, 2023 Nevada became the third state to ban lawn and garden uses of neonics, while Colorado prohibited homeowner use of land and garden neonic products, similar to laws in Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont.  Minnesota recently banned neonic use on state lands and granted its home-rule subdivisions the authority to ban “pollinator-lethal pesticides” (those with bee warning labels) under its state law preempting local authority to restrict pesticides. All of these state-level restrictions pale in comparison to the robust protections currently implemented in the European Union (EU), where the EU has banned neonicotinoid pesticide use on all outdoor areas, allowing use only in enclosed greenhouses. 

Advocates view as positive the 11 states acting on neonics and asserting their authority in the absence of action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but see the legislative action as falling short, given the escalating and devastating health, biodiversity, and climate crises that are linked to neonicotinoids and other petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. Evaluating individual hazardous pesticides has been dubbed a process of the “whack-a-mole.” Professor and author David Goulson, PhD, who studies the enormity of the pollinator and biodiversity crisis, recently spoke at Beyond Pesticides’ September National Forum Series, and urged a rejection of this “whack a mole” approach in favor of a systemic change to stop all pesticide and synthetic chemical use. The solution, he said, can be found in a systems approach like organic land management; it is effective and will safeguard pollinators, food production, wildlife, water quality, and the environment, while reducing risks to human health.

Beyond Pesticides advocates for the transition from chemical dependency to organic land management in food production, and in parks, playing fields, and all recreational and public spaces. “We urge elected officials nationwide to see the looming biodiversity collapse as reason for broader action to eliminate petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers with organic systems that are effective and cost competitive,” said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides. “Each ban or partial regulation of a particular pesticide, each bit of research demonstrating harms — these represent small, incremental advances on a pesticide problem that is vast in scope and requires a shift to organic,” says Mr. Feldman.

Neonics more toxic than DDT

Dr. Goulson, author of Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse (2021), spoke to the role of toxic neonics during Beyond Pesticides’ National Forum Series on September 14, 2023. He said, “One of the properties of neonicotinoids is that they are phenomenally toxic… you certainly heard of DDT. Imidacloprid … is much, much more toxic than other insecticides that went before. It takes just four nanograms per billion of a gram to kill a bee compared to DDT,” making imidacloprid and this new generation of insecticides about 7,000 times more poisonous to a honey bee than DDT. “That means that a teaspoon of imidacloprid would be enough to kill one and a quarter billion honey bees. So the fact that we are applying hundreds of tons of these chemicals to the landscape is quite concerning.”

Treated seeds loophole remains (CA 1042 and NY Birds and Bees Protection Act)

California Governor Gavin Newsom declined to sign into law AB 1042, which could have made a modest step toward addressing the neonic-treated seeds loophole that allows neonic-coated seed to go unregulated by either EPA or state regulatory agencies, despite proven deadly effects and well documented harm to biodiversity, human health, and widespread contamination of groundwater and surface waters. The New York State Assembly passed a similar bill (A03226), the Birds and Bees Protection Act, that awaits NY Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature. The NY bill would ban neonicotinoid use on outdoor ornamental plants and turf, with a general exemption for agriculture, except for treated seeds. The coated seed provision of the act would be suspended if the Commissioner of Agriculture determines that neonic-free seeds are not commercially available. With chemical companies controlling the seed market, the effectiveness of this provision remains to be seen. A phaseout of treated seeds would incentive and help grow the neonic-free seed market. The bill would leave the most widely used neonicotinoid, imidacloprid, as well as thiamethoxam or acetamiprid, on the market until July 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, the intensive use of neonics as seed treatments continues despite a stark lack of efficacy. EPA itself (in 2014) reported that “seed treatments with neonicotinoid insecticides provide little or no overall benefit in controlling insects or improving yield or quality in soybean production.” (See the detailed EPA letter on the underlying research here.) Research in 2019, as reported by Beyond Pesticides, found that neonic-treated soybeans provide negligible benefits to farmers in terms of yield and overall economic benefit. EPA ought, in its neonic registrations and re-registrations, to evaluate whether pesticide compounds — especially those with such demonstrated harms as neonics cause—are necessary and effective before introducing them into the environment or allowing their continued deployment.

Minnesota took a small step regulating pesticide-treated seeds, including neonicotinoid coated seeds, and their disposal, after treated seeds were used in ethanol production, creating toxic waste with disastrous consequences. Because of a regulatory loophole, EPA does not monitor or otherwise regulate treated seed use and disposal. In the absence of any federal regulation, Minnesota laws HF1317/ SF1339  will now direct state officials to develop rules and consumer guidelines for the proper use and disposal of “waste” pesticide-treated seeds.

Because the use of neonics is widespread, from agriculture to parks, playing fields, to lawns, public exposure is dramatically high. As reported in January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites half the U.S. population encountering at least one type of neonic daily, with children ages three to five having the highest exposure risk. Health impacts of exposure to neonics can include neurotoxicity, reproductive anomalies, hepatic and renal damage, and an increase in gene expression linked to hormone-dependent breast cancer… mounting evidence over the past years shows that chronic exposure to sublethal (low) levels of pesticides can cause neurotoxic effects or exacerbate preexisting chemical damage to the nervous system. The impacts of pesticides on the nervous system, including the brain, are hazardous, especially for chronically exposed individuals (e.g., farmworkers) or during critical windows of vulnerability and development (e.g., childhood, pregnancy).

Pollinator losses have broad implications for reducing the global production of nuts, fruits, and vegetables by 3-5%, and this loss of healthy, nutrient-dense food is resulting in over 425,000 excess deaths each year, according to research published in December 2022 in Environmental Health Perspectives. According to researchers, “Today’s estimated health impacts of insufficient pollination would be comparable to other major global risk factors: those attributable to substance use disorders, interpersonal violence, or prostate cancer.”

The availability of nontoxic alternative materials and practices, as are used in organic management, raises questions about EPA’s determination that neonic use is “reasonable” for registered crops under federal pesticide law, given competitive productivity and profitability without it. Beyond Pesticides advocates for organic land and agriculture management as precautionary approach to pest prevention and management. Buying, growing, and supporting organic can help eliminate the extensive use of pesticides in the environment and from your diet. For more information on why organic is the right choice for consumers and the farmworkers who grow our food, see Beyond Pesticides webpage, Health Benefits of Organic Agriculture.

You can eliminate neonics and all toxic pesticides used in your community by working with Beyond Pesticides and it Parks for a Sustainable Future program. See also Tools for Change. For nuts-and-bolts information on strategy and implementation of organic land management, attend Beyond Pesticides National Forum Series session 3 online on November 29, 2023 at 2pm Eastern—Transformative Community-Based Change from the Ground Up: Managing Parks and Playing Fields with Organic Practices and Policies.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Sources: Neonicotinoid insecticides: Failing to come to grips with a predictable environmental disaster, American Bird Conservancy, June 2023; Environmental Health Perspectives; States Make Way for Pesticide Reform; EPA Report on Neonics Proves US Has ‘Five-Alarm Fire’ on Its Hands, Green Groups Say; Thinking Holistically When Making Land Management Decisions

(Beyond Pesticides, November 1, 2023) A study published in Environmental Health Perspective finds the risk of acute childhood leukemia (AL), specifically acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), slightly increases with exposure to pesticides (i.e., insecticides and herbicides) from uses on vines, a crop subject to intensive pesticide use. Within 1 kilometer [km] of vineyards, the risk of ALL among children increases in areas with a higher density of vines. Although medical advancements in disease survival are more common nowadays, childhood AL remains the secondary cause of child mortality following physical injury. Furthermore, childhood leukemia survivors can suffer from chronic or long-term health complications that may be life-threatening.

The etiology or cause of childhood AL involves the interaction of multiple components, including lifestyle and genetics; emerging evidence indicates that environmental contaminants (e.g., pesticides, air pollution, solvents, diet, etc.) play a role in disease. Pesticide contamination is widespread in all ecosystems, and chemical compounds can accumulate in human tissues, resulting in chronic health effects. Children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of pesticide exposure as their developing bodies cannot adequately combat exposure effects. Already, studies find low levels of pesticide exposure during pregnancy or childhood cause adverse health effects, from metabolic disorders to mental and physical disabilities. Moreover, several studies demonstrate an association between environmental or occupational pesticide exposure and the risk of childhood cancer, specifically focusing on leukemia.

Acute leukemia is the most common type of childhood cancer, accounting for one of three cancer cases in children ages 0 to 14. Although the disease is rare, incidents have been steadily increasing among adolescents over the last 30 years. Therefore, studies like these highlight the importance of understanding how pesticide use can increase the risk of latent diseases (e.g., cancers) among vulnerable populations, such as children/infants/fetuses.

Using national registry-based GEOCAP study data, researchers evaluate acute leukemia cases of children under 15 years who received the diagnosis between 2006 and 2013. Land use maps provided geographical information indicating the proximity of children living near vineyards (200 meters (m), 500m, 1000m) and the density of vines within the 1000m area. To estimate the odds ratios for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and myeloid (AML) subtypes, the study employed a logistic regression model, with sensitivity analyses considering geocoding uncertainty, the density of other crops, and potential demographic and environmental confounders. Of the children with AL, about 10 percent were viable for the study, residing within 1000m of vineyards. Although proximity to vines has little association with AL, the density of vines within the area is associated with ALL. Thus, the results suggest that pesticide use is more prevalent among dense areas of vines regardless of proximity to vines. For instance, if a child lives 200m from vines in a less vine-dense area, they will experience less risk of AL compared to a child living 1000m from vines in a heavily vine-dense area. 

Environmental contaminants like pesticides are ubiquitous in the environment, with 90 percent of Americans having at least one pesticide compound in their body. This bodily contamination affects human health, especially during vulnerable life stages like childhood, puberty, pregnancy, and old age. Many studies indicate prenatal and early-life exposure to environmental toxicants increases disease susceptibility. The scientific connection between pesticides and associated cancer risks is nothing new. Several studies link pesticide use and residues to various cancers, with 66 percent related to environmental factors, especially in occupations of high chemical use. In addition to the robust link between agricultural practices and pesticide-related illnesses, over 63 percent of commonly used lawn pesticides and 70 percent of commonly used school pesticides have links to cancer. U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute also finds many cancer-causing substances are endocrine disruptors. Globally, cancer is one of the leading causes of death, with over 8 million people succumbing to the disease every year. The International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) predicts new cancer cases to rise 67.4% by 2030.

This study is one of the few nationwide GIS-based studies assessing childhood leukemia risk among individuals living near grape vines used for viticulture, addressing the question of AL risk among children living close to viticultural areas in France for the first time. However, previous studies find that maternal exposure to pesticides during gestation results in a more elevated leukemia risk for children than childhood (postnatal) exposure. Whether pesticide exposure is occupational or mixed, parental exposure to pesticides has the highest association with AL risk, including paternal (father) exposure. Exposure to pesticides during pregnancy increases the risk of developing AL and ALL. Infant leukemia incidents depend on maternal pesticide exposure during pregnancy, with a higher risk for acute lymphoblastic and the highest risk for infant acute myeloid leukemia.

Although pesticide products are subject to an extensive toxicological assessment before registration, current regulatory guideline studies fail to assess genotoxicity and carcinogenicity in utero that induces infant leukemia incidents. For instance, studies have long demonstrated that childhood and in-utero exposure to the U.S.-banned insecticide DDT increases the risk of developing breast cancer later in life. Moreover, a 2021 study finds previous maternal exposure to the chemical compound during pregnancy can increase the risk of breast cancer and cardiometabolic disorders (e.g., heart disease, obesity, diabetes) up to three successive generations. Even household cleaners, many of which are pesticides, can increase nephroblastoma (kidney cancer) and brain tumor risk in children. Children are more susceptible to the toxic effect of pesticide exposure as their endocrine and metabolic systems cannot adequately detoxify and excrete chemical compounds. Moreover, pesticides can hinder childhood development, making children more vulnerable to acute health effects like asthma/respiratory issues, gut dysbiosis, cardiovascular diseases, and other physical and mental birth abnormalities. Therefore, it is essential to understand how external stimuli—like environmental pollution from pesticides—can drive cancer development to avoid exposure and lessen potential cancer risks.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Hence, studies concerning pesticides and cancer help future epidemiologic research understand the underlying mechanisms that cause the disease. There is a severe deficiency in understanding the etiology of pesticide-induced diseases, including predictable lag time between chemical exposure, health impacts, and epidemiologic data. Therefore, advocates maintain that lawmakers and regulators should take a more precautionary approach before introducing these chemicals into the environment. With far too many diseases in the U.S. associated with pesticide exposure, eliminating pesticide use is critical to safeguarding public health and addressing cost burdens for local communities. Beyond Pesticides’ Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database (PIDD) is a vital resource for additional scientific literature that documents elevated cancer rates and other chronic diseases and illnesses among people exposed to pesticides. This database supports the clear need for strategic action to shift away from pesticide dependency. For more information on pesticide exposure’s multiple harms, see PIDD pages on leukemia and other cancers, birth/fetal defects, endocrine disruption, and other diseases.

One way to reduce human and environmental contamination from pesticides is by buying, growing, and supporting organic land management. Organic agriculture has many health and environmental benefits, which curtail the need for chemical-intensive agricultural practices. Numerous studies find that pesticide metabolites in urine drop considerably when switching to an all-organic diet. Furthermore, given the wide availability of non-pesticidal alternative strategies, families and agricultural industry workers can apply these methods to promote a safe and healthy environment, especially among chemically vulnerable individuals. For more information on how organic is the right choice for consumers and the farmworkers that grow our food, see the Beyond Pesticides webpage, Health Benefits of Organic Agriculture.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Source: Environmental Health Perspective 

(Beyond Pesticides, November 1, 2023) As communities consider maintenance and renovation of their playing fields, it is not uncommon for synthetic (or artificial) turf to come up as an alternative to natural grass. Promoters of synthetic turf argue that it provides a solution to climate change, reduces water use and maintenance costs, and allows for year-round play. But is this true? Is synthetic turf an environmentally responsible alternative to its organic grass counterpart? An established and growing body of scientific evidence is demonstrating environmental and health risks with synthetic turf. In addition, there is growing concern for the safety of those playing on artificial grass, which has led to a call from the National Football League’s (NFL) Players Association to utilize natural grass on all 30 NFL stadiums after New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in September and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s mid-game ankle injury.

Synthetic turf playing fields are reliant on polluting plastic (can contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances-PFAS) and toxic pesticides for managing bacteria, mold and fungus, create contaminated water runoff, and cover over the natural environment, which is critical to preserving health and biodiversity, and averting climate disasters. Artificial fields can cost over $1 million for both the field installation, drainage system, and any additional costs for water treatment for an approximately ten-year lifespan, not including the game-day and ongoing maintenance costs. Manufacturers also recommend watering the synthetic field during the hottest time period because of the heat generated by the artificial material. The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) writes on synthetic turf: “[T]he high surface-level temperatures recorded on these fields compared to natural turf have been well-documented. Since grass leaves release water vapor (or transpire) and the evaporation of that water vapor leads to cooling, grass fields rarely get above 100° F. [Synthetic] Turf fields, in comparison, regularly rise well above 100° F. Penn State University’s Center for Sports Surface Research conducted studies comparing surface temperatures of synthetic turfs composed of various fiber and infill colors/materials and found that the maximum surface temperatures during hot, sunny conditions averaged from 140° F to 170° F. The high surface-level temperatures on synthetic fields can lead to dehydration, burns and blisters if exposed skin comes into contact with the hot surface, as well as heat stroke.” Restricted play is advised when temperatures exceed 80° F.

Synthetic turf is widespread across the United States. According to a multi-federal-agency presentation, there were 12,000-13,000 synthetic turf fields in the U.S. in 2019, with 1,200 – 1,500 new installations each year. Based on estimates, the global artificial turf market was valued at $8.1 billion in 2021, and it is expected to reach over $12 billion by 2027. Many of these fields have recycled tire crumb rubber, and a small fraction use coconut-based alternatives. According to Dan Bond, the president and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council, “Over 90 percent of those fields have crumb rubber infill, and the other infills — the coconut, the EPDM, the virgin rubber, thermoplastics — are 1 to 2 percent.” Mr. Bond elaborated in an article by Athletic Business, “It’s a very small market share. It’s growing, but it certainly is not going to overtake crumb rubber in five years.” Typically produced from discarded tires, crumb rubber has been shown to contain carcinogens and heavy metals.

A groundbreaking study, The dark side of artificial greening: Plastic turfs as widespread pollutants of aquatic environments, has unearthed some disturbing revelations on the use of artificial turf, which has become a pervasive fixture on sports fields and playgrounds. This comprehensive study, prominently featured in the Environmental Pollution (June 2023) journal, has cast a spotlight on the dire consequences of plastic fibers from artificial turf, which are wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems.

The study has uncovered multiple entry points, such as river transport and stormwater runoff, where plastics and microplastics can enter watersheds. Once they make their way into the water, these fibers pose a menacing threat to marine life, leading to a host of health issues and, tragically, even mortality. These fibers also accumulate in sediments, compromising the overall health of aquatic ecosystems.

The authors of the study call for immediate intervention to tackle artificial turf pollution. The study authors indicate that plastic fields require enhanced waste management practices to staunch the plastic fibers from entering aquatic habitats. The results of this study serve as a call to policymakers, sports organizations, and the general public.

Communities discussing synthetic versus natural turf are faced with a number of issues that go to safety, environmental health, and cost. The chemicals used to manage synthetic turf for bacteria, mold, and fungus raise serious health issues and represent a threat that does not exist in organic land management. A builder of sports facilities, American Athletic, states, “Beyond surface cleaning, the artificial turf should be sanitized weekly or monthly to protect the players’ and coaches’ health. This disinfection requires special solvents, cleansers, and anti-microbial products to remove invisible particles and bacterial growth. You should strive to sanitize the field after every game and throughout the school day if it’s used for physical education classes.”

When all the synthetic turf issues are considered, including chemical use, maintenance, heat effects, water contamination and treatment, playability and safety, organic turf offers an approach that checks all the critical boxes for protecting health and the environment at a competitive price. Organic management practices build soil health, cycle nutrients naturally, enhance turf resiliency, reduce water use, and do not use petrochemical pesticides or fertilizers. The organic alternative is central to a community’s discussion about its residents commitment to both the elimination of practices and products that are petrochemical-based and the ability of organically managed soils to draw down (sequester) atmospheric carbon, which contributes to mitigating global warming and erratic temperatures.

Learn more about how easy it is to create non-plastic and organic turf care. Prevent plastics from entering your local community with toxic and unsafe astroturf and artificial grass. Sign up to be a Parks Advocate today to encourage your community to transition to organic land management. Plan on attending Session 3 of the National Forum, Transformative Community-Based Change from the Ground Up: Managing Parks and Playing Fields with Organic Practices and Policies, on November 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm Eastern. Speaker and registration information HERE. This session is for all who want beautiful landscapes, parks, and playing fields without the reliance on petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. The subject matter is cross-cutting and will inform people concerned about their health and community health, elected officials (from town, city, county, regional, state to school boards) interested in effecting movement away from toxic chemical reliance, and land managers and landscapers who work in parks and on playing fields and other landscapes.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.

Source: The dark side of artificial greening: Plastic turfs as widespread pollutants of aquatic environments

(Beyond Pesticides, October 31, 2023) With cooler weather setting in and people heading indoors and closing windows, the issue of COVID-19 transmission escalates, as do concerns about toxic chemicals filling the indoor ambient air. As a recent segment of 60 Minutes (October 29, 2023) stresses, COVID-19 spreads elevated public concern and understanding about the importance of ventilation, filtration, and air exchange to indoor air quality. Unfortunately, the concerns about indoor air are not limited to COVID-19 as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) invade most spaces where people live and work. These invisible toxic substances can be found in common household products, furniture, mattresses, and more, including pesticides in and around the house. Recognizing the risks associated with VOCs and the potentially hazardous off-gassing process is crucial for protecting public health. 

VOCs are a group of chemicals that can easily vaporize into the air at room temperature. These compounds are found in many everyday items, including furniture, cleaning products, pesticides, cosmetics, and even air fresheners. Some household products, particularly pesticides, can introduce their own set of risks in addition to the risks they pose due to their VOC content. VOCs can range from harmless to harmful, and their presence can have a significant impact on indoor air quality. VOCs encompass a wide range of chemicals, including formaldehyde, polyurethane foam, phthalates, acetone, and benzene. 

VOC ingredients in pesticide products are typically withheld from product labels, hidden under the general category of “inerts” or “other” in the ingredients panel. Manufacturers claim the ingredients to be proprietary and are not required to be disclosed to the consumer under federal pesticide law because the companies argue that they are not in the product formulation to attack the target pest. However, the undisclosed pesticide ingredients may cause adverse biological or chemical activity. This issue has sparked controversy, as advocates have unsuccessfully attempted to change U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, which regulates pesticides in the United States. 

While VOC exposure is not a new issue, there is a renewed sense of urgency to improve indoor air quality following notable studies by Joe Allen, PhD, of Harvard University, and Linsey Marr, PhD, of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, which have highlighted the pivotal role of subpar indoor air ventilation systems in increasing the spread of COVID-19. Namely, the studies found that the aerosolized particles containing the virus were able to spread throughout indoor rooms and increase infection rates without proper air exchange rates. In a demonstration by Dr. Marr, she visualized how exhaled breath traveled in all directions in a room with stagnant air flow, leading to the increased airborne transmission of COVID and other airborne illnesses. Then, she showed how exhaled breath traveled upwards in a uniform path inside a properly ventilated room, showing how the risk of spread decreases significantly under these conditions.

These findings are significant in the context of harmful VOCs in indoor spaces. As most indoor spaces meet bare minimum requirements of air circulation and refresh rates, places like living spaces and school classrooms are especially susceptible to locking in and spreading harmful VOCs and illnesses alike. 

Poor ventilation indoors can exacerbate symptoms of VOC Exposure. Short-term exposure symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Prolonged exposure to harmful VOCs can result in more severe health problems, including damage to the kidney, liver, and central nervous system. Some VOCs are classified as carcinogens, increasing the risk of conditions like lung cancer.

These effects are exacerbated by a process called off-gassing, which is of critical concern when it comes to VOCs and furniture. It refers to the process by which materials containing VOCs release these chemicals into the air over time. Off-gassing is particularly prevalent in new furniture, as the VOCs have not yet been released, leading to higher emission rates.

The primary sources of off-gassing in homes are plywood and wood furniture (which often contain formaldehyde), electronic devices, mattresses, carpets, couches, paint, and construction materials found in newly built homes. Plywood and wood furniture are especially significant contributors to off-gassing because they are highly porous, absorbing substantial amounts of VOCs. This high porosity results in a prolonged release of these harmful compounds into the indoor environment, making them notable culprits in diminishing indoor air quality.

The off-gassing process is especially concerning, given EPA has expressed concerns about VOCs due to their potential health impacts. According to information on the EPA’s website, a study called the “Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study,” which was completed in 1985, discovered that approximately a dozen common organic pollutants were 2 to 5 times more concentrated inside homes compared to outdoor environments. This held true regardless of whether the homes were situated in rural or highly industrial areas. The TEAM studies also revealed that when people use products containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to high levels of pollutants. Even after the activity is finished, these elevated concentrations can persist in the air. The New York State Department of Health also addresses this issue in its publication titled “Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Commonly Used Products.”

The widespread presence of these harmful chemicals in furniture and other household goods can be traced back to California’s old flame retardant regulations. In 1975, California implemented a regulation requiring all upholstered furniture in the state to contain flame-retardant chemicals. As California was a substantial market, manufacturers opted to adopt these standards for furniture sold nationwide, which led to the pervasive use of these toxic chemicals.

The chemicals used in flame retardants have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, neurobehavioral function issues, and adverse effects on fetal development. Eventually, this regulation was revised under the California flammability standard, SB 1019, passed in 2014, which allowed furniture manufacturers to cease using harmful flame retardant chemicals in polyurethane foam, offering a safer option for consumers. Furniture manufactured after January 1, 2015, is less likely to contain these harmful flame retardants, while products purchased between 1975 and 2014 may expose families to these toxic chemicals.

However, other harmful VOCs are still present in furniture and other household items. Newborns and infants are especially vulnerable to the effects of the resulting off-gassing, as their developing bodies are more sensitive to environmental toxins. Mattresses and baby items can emit harmful VOCs, potentially affecting the health and well-being of children. Parents should exercise caution when choosing products for their nurseries and opt for those labeled with Greenguard certifications, which indicate low or no levels of hazardous VOCs.

Despite the well-documented adverse effects of certain VOCs that permeate household products, EPA refrains from implementing regulations concerning these chemicals within the home. This is in stark contrast to their oversight of outdoor air quality, where VOCs are regulated. EPA maintains that its jurisdiction does not extend to indoor air quality and it regulates only under section 183(e) of the Clean Air Act (Act), while states have plans approved by the agency.

EPA explicitly notes that “[E]ven if we had the authority to regulate indoor air quality, it would be difficult to regulate household (or other) products because we have no authority to collect information on the chemical content of products in the marketplace (nor does any Federal Agency).”

In fact, EPA has a history of approving harmful aerosol air sanitizer pesticides for use against COVID-19 and other bacteria and viruses. In October 2022, the EPA approved 32 varieties of a new pesticide for air sanitizers. The formulation contained 14% dipropylene glycol, with the other 86% of the formulation not specified. This action, while intended to decrease pathogens in indoor air, failed to do so by not taking into account that disinfectants and sanitizers emit VOCs and negatively affect the immune system, thus reducing resistance to disease. Instead of exercising jurisdiction over improving indoor air ventilation, the EPA turned to harmful pesticides once again, putting people with preexisting conditions, the elderly, and children at elevated risk from exposure. 

Therefore, given the lack of protective action from government agencies, it is crucial to make informed choices and protect your family. Consider these steps when shopping for furniture and household items:

1. Check Labels: With pressed-wood products, look for furniture items that meet ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) or no added formaldehyde (NAF) standards. Products labeled as “Zero VOC” and “Low VOC” are also safer choices.
2. Look for organic furniture and mattresses that are certified free from VOCs and flame retardants. With mattresses, check if materials meet the Global Organic Textile Standard.
3. Increase Ventilation: Proper ventilation can help reduce indoor air pollution. Ensure your living space is well-ventilated, particularly when introducing new furniture or items.
4. Filter Your Air: Air purifiers with activated carbon filters can help remove VOCs from the air, improving indoor air quality.
5. Choose Safer Alternatives: When possible, opt for solid wood furniture, used furniture that has had time to air out, and electronic devices with low VOC emissions.

If you discover that you own products containing harmful VOCs or flame retardants and wish to dispose of them responsibly, consider disposing of them at hazardous waste facilities or contacting manufacturers. Some manufacturers offer take-back programs for their products, which can be an environmentally responsible way to dispose of old items.

With increased awareness, informed consumer choices, and the proper disposal of harmful products, individuals can reduce their exposure to these toxins, creating safer and healthier living environments for themselves and their families. The power to protect well-being begins with understanding the hidden dangers within one’s own home.

For more information on harmful toxins in the home and to stay updated on other toxic chemicals and pesticides, please visit the Beyond Pesticides website. 

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides. 

Source: EWG, What Are VOCs?

(Beyond Pesticides, October 30, 2023) TAKE ACTION. It is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. And so it goes with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to register a new genetically engineered pesticide for the Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB); this time with a pesticide that has not been fully evaluated for its adverse effects to people and the environment. [Submit a public comment before comment period ends today, October 30, 2023.]

Chemical-intensive agriculture has failed to control CPB since resistance to DDT was identified in 1952 and has continued with every family of pesticides since then. CPB has been dubbed the billion-dollar-bug because of the investment in failed attempts of chemical manufacturers to control the insect, the profits generated by chemical companies despite this failure, and the resulting losses for chemical-intensive farmers—not to mention government expenditures for the registration of chemicals that have short efficacy, pollution costs associated with chemical production and use, and lost ecosystem services. But, EPA is at it again, registering a new novel pesticide active ingredient, Ledprona, which raises the stakes on potential harm. The only winners in this ongoing failure are the chemical manufacturers that continue to reap huge economic benefits from the sale of their highly toxic pesticides. Meanwhile, according to research published in Molecular Biology and Evolution (2022) and hundreds of other scientific articles over the years, “This is the case with insect “super-pests,” which repeatedly evolve insecticide resistance even as they are faced with completely novel insecticides, thus perpetuating the arms race that defines the pesticide treadmill.” And yet, EPA is still at it, despite the success of alternative strategies with organic management systems.

Take Action: Tell EPA not to register Ledprona without complete data supporting its safety.

While researchers and the chemical industry keep trying to develop new “silver-bullet” chemicals for controlling CPB, EPA has ignored methods of agricultural management that work without reliance on toxic chemicals. Advocates say that this newest proposed pesticide exemplifies the worst of EPA’s pesticide registration program, governed by its Office of Pesticide Programs, because there are alternative methods and the risks of Ledprona have not been found to be “reasonable”—even under a weak federal pesticide law, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

The University of Minnesota Extension, in its publication “Organic management recommendations for Colorado potato beetle,” describes the range of methods that are integrated into an organic systems approach not reliant on pesticides. It includes crop rotation, early maturing varieties, mulching systems and habitat for natural enemies like ladybugs and parasitic wasps, trapping, and a naturally occurring soil bacterium.

FIFRA requires that EPA register a pesticide only if it determines that the pesticide “will perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.” EPA admits that it is basing its proposed registration decision solely on data the registrant GreenLight Biosciences submitted to fulfill requirements for its prior application for an experimental use permit (EUP), without any additional data. However, there are far fewer data requirements for approval of an EUP than are required for a full registration.

Ledprona’s use of RNAi makes it unique and unlike any other insecticide sprayed on fields. The use of new technology makes it especially imperative to examine all required data for any potential unintended consequences. Since these novel pesticides may be applied by plane, EPA must thoroughly assess the real-world impacts of pesticide drift. This technology, which penetrates plant tissues and leaves traces in the soil, can cause widespread indiscriminate poisoning—as has been seen with bees, butterflies, birds, and the larger catastrophic decline of insect populations, called the “insect apocalypse.” The effects, especially on threatened and endangered species like the American burying beetle, Hungerford’s crawling water beetle, the Northeastern beach tiger beetle, and the Puritan tiger beetle, must be evaluated. These species are found near potato production areas close to where the Experimental Trials were being conducted and could be direct casualties of this new biopesticide.

In addition, researchers from the U.S. and Switzerland have published findings, a beginning assessment of how the use of this new category of pesticides—RNAi, delivered in double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules—might impact soils and nontarget microorganisms in the soil. The coauthors (Kimberly M. Parker, PhD, et al.) note that, “The ecological risk assessment of these emerging pesticides necessitates an understanding of the fate of dsRNA molecules in receiving environments, among which agricultural soils are most important.” Their research has continued, finding that “Due to the ability of DOM (dissolved organic matter) to both bind and suppress the enzymatic degradation of RNA, RNA biodegradation may be slowed in environmental systems with high DOM concentrations, which may increase its persistence.”

Beyond Pesticides is advising the public to Tell EPA not to register Ledprona without complete data supporting its safety.

All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides. 

Sources. Molecular Biology and Evolution (2022), Science Daily, EPA Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0271.