How living near a farm is bad for your health

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" Zeus " <info

How living near a farm is bad for your health

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 10:21:33 +0100

 

 

 

 

How living near a farm is bad for your health

by SEAN POULTER, Daily Mail 08:37am 22nd September 2005

 

 

 

Living near a farm could expose you to chemicals

Families living near farms could be in danger from the spraying of

pesticides and other chemicals, an official inquiry has concluded.

 

 

In a highly-critical report, the Royal Commission on Environmental

Pollution claims Government policies fail to protect the public.

 

It says people who have reported ill-health are likely to be suffering

the effects of chemical exposure.

 

Inquiry chairman Sir Tom Blundell says: " Government policy on exposure

of bystanders and local residents is currently inadequate. "

 

The report argues for a " precautionary approach " , including setting up

no-spray buffer zones around fields.

 

Its findings were last night welcomed by campaigners, who have linked

chemical spraying to blistering, swollen throats, weeping eyes, ME and

damage to the immune system.

 

Some have even claimed a connection to cancer.

 

Ministers and their advisers have previously suggested that claims of

poor health are " all in the mind " .

 

But they will be unable to ignore the findings of the Commission, for

its inquiry was commissioned by the rural affairs department Defra.

 

Pesticide problems

 

Sir Tom adds in his report: " No one can dispute that those individuals

who have reported ill health, which they claim is due to pesticides

being sprayed, are genuinely ill.

 

" Based on our personal examination of some of these cases and on our

current understanding of the effects that pesticides can have on the

body system, it is not implausible that there may be a link between

pesticide spraying and chronic ill health.

 

" We feel that the protection of the health of the British public needs

to be strengthened. "

 

The Commission questions the independence of the Pesticides Safetyate, which advises Ministers but receives 60 per cent of its

funding from the agro-chemical industry.

 

It calls for greater input on safety from the Department of Health -

and says farmers should warn residents before spraying. Serious gaps

exist in the Government's knowledge on safety, the Commission says.

 

More research is needed on symptoms which might be caused by pesticides.

 

Chemical drift

 

It calls for more information on whether chemicals drift into homes -

and says buffer zones of a minimum five metres should be created

around fields. The zones are demanded by safety campaigners - but last

night they said five metres would be " wholly inadequate " .

 

Georgina Downs, who gave evidence to the inquiry, said: " I remain at a

loss to understand how the Commission could have considered this to be

acceptable and protective. "

 

In the United States, seven states require buffer zones of up to 2.5

miles around schools.

 

Last June, Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael ruled out the need for

such zones.

 

The chief scientific adviser to Defra, Professor Howard Dalton, said

at the time: " The evidence we have to date indicates that there is no

perceivable ill health effects as a result of pesticide spraying.

 

" It is probably no more dangerous than walking across a street in London. "

 

The Crop Protection Association, which represents pesticide

manufacturers, said last night: " Our products are safe when used

correctly.

 

" The UK regulatory system is among the most robust and comprehensive

on the world. "

 

 

forwarded by

Zeus Information Service

Alternative Views on Health

www.zeusinfoservice.com

[Guest guest]

Buffer zones? How will buffer zones help if we ultimately have to EAT

the pesticide infested produce? The only alternative is organic

farming, safe for all; producers, users and consumers. We should no

longer try to fool ourselves by such arguements and start actively

campaigning for organic farming ONLY.

 

Regards,

Jagannath.

 

, " califpacific "

<califpacific@g...> wrote:

> It calls for more information on whether chemicals drift into homes -

> and says buffer zones of a minimum five metres should be created

> around fields.