Latest news with #PesticideActionNetwork
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
Swiss court to examine if Yavatmal farmers used Polo pesticide in 2017 poisoning cases
Nagpur: A civil court in Basel, Switzerland, has ruled that it will examine whether the Yavatmal farmers who lost their lives or fell ill due to the series of pesticide poisonings in 2017 actually used Polo, a pesticide manufactured by Syngenta, a Swiss agrochemical multinational. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The entire case hinges on the proceedings to determine whether the victims used Polo at all. It may be recalled that 22 farmers died due to accidental inhalation of pesticides during the cotton season of 2017, and scores fell ill. Polo, a diafenthiuron-based pesticide, was among the chemicals reported to have been used by the deceased farmers. However, the use of other pesticides, such as those containing monocrotophos, another chemical widely used on cotton crops, was also reported. The Maharashtra govt also formed a special investigative team (SIT) on the matter. This was followed by a major campaign on the safe way to use pesticides. The entire episode also exposed the vulnerability of farmhands during pesticide spraying. Wives of the farmers, two of whom died and one left with an eye defect, had filed three different suits in 2021 in a court at Basel, which is also the headquarters of Syngenta. They were supported by an NGO, Pesticide Action Network (PAN). The Swiss court also granted them free legal aid to carry out the litigation. A week ago, the Swiss court ruled that it would now limit its proceedings to examine whether Polo — the brand made by Syngenta — was used. A source said that once this issue is decided, further proceedings, if any, will be announced. The court is of the view that proceedings are needed to ascertain if the product alleged to have caused the death was used. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A negative answer to this would lead to a final decision. This means that the court has fixed the issue in the case. The litigation would further proceed to prove the point, said Devanand Pawar, a farm activist and convenor of the Maharashtra Action Group of Pesticide Poisoned People (MAPP). Meanwhile, Syngenta, in its response to the development, said the lawsuits filed relate to the incident that took place in India. The investigation by Indian authorities has not linked Syngenta or any of its products to it. Moreover, no case was filed in India. "We regret that the lawsuits were filed while none of the complaints and legal remedies available in India were pursued. It is important to note that no decision has yet been made by the civil court in Basel. The granting of free legal aid in 2022 was merely a provisional assumption of costs by the state. This does not in any way indicate the outcome of the legal proceedings," says Syngenta. The company also confirmed that the civil court in Basel-Stadt has limited the proceedings to the question of whether the product held responsible by the plaintiffs was actually used.
The Star
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Toxic chemicals found in food and wine
The report found there has been a 'sharp increase' in pesticide and chemical residues in wine bottled since 2010. — TNS A team of researchers has found 'alarmingly high' levels of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a so-called 'forever chemical', in dozens of organic and non-organic pastas, baked goods and breakfast cereals from Europe, as well as in wine. 'In conventional grain products, the average levels were so high that a health risk to children can no longer be ruled out,' said Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, an environmental chemist part of the Brussels-based Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe, which describes TFA as a 'product of PFAS pesticides and industrial chemicals.' Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, are thousands of long-lasting substances used in household and everyday products since the middle of the 20th century but which have been found to be difficult to remove from the environment and from human bodies. The latest research points to 'widespread contamination from PFAS (per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances) pesticides,' PAN Europe said, warning that TFA tends to build up in water and farmland. The amount of TFA in the food items was found to be three times that recorded in a similar study eight years ago, according to PAN Europe, which in April warned of 'dramatic rise' of TFA in wine. In a report covering wines from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain, PAN Europe found that while pre-1988 vintages do not contain any such contamination, there has been a 'sharp increase' in pesticide and chemical residues in wine bottled since 2010. Such a 'steep accumulation' should be 'a red flag that calls for decisive action,' according to Michael Müller, a professor of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry at the University of Freiburg. The European Chemicals Agency has warned that TFA 'may cause harm to the unborn child' and 'may impair fertility.' – dpa
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Dorothy Myers obituary
My friend and colleague Dorothy Myers, who has died aged 88, was a pioneering environmentalist. When she joined the Oxfam policy unit in Oxford in 1984, the organisation had just published David Bull's influential book Pesticides and the Third World Poor. Dorothy led Oxfam's input to teamwork with the global Pesticide Action Network (Pan) that challenged the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation to stop export of pesticides banned in industrialised countries to the developing world. While at Oxfam, she helped establish the Pesticides Trust (part of the global Pan, and now Pan UK), which promotes safe and sustainable alternatives to pesticides. Dorothy's research identified pesticides with deadly impacts in the global south and contributed to the Rotterdam Convention, an international treaty effective since 2004 that agrees responsibility for dangerous chemicals. Her last study at Oxfam, co-authored with Joan Davidson, on poverty and environmental degradation, was presented to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. After leaving Oxfam, she joined Pan UK in 1994 to establish an organic cotton project with African partners. She helped the project identify methods of pest management that would safeguard health and reward farmers financially for growing organic cotton. Many thousands of farmers still benefit. Dr Abou Thiam, the former regional coordinator of Pan Africa, recalled how Dorothy was 'always available and always helpful' and'provided outstanding service to many peoples, farmers, communities and organisations in Africa'. Dorothy was thoughtful and strategic, with a great ability to turn abstract concepts into action. Friends around the world also remember her great sense of fun. Born in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, she was the daughter of Amy (nee Hinton) and Frank Halliman, both teachers, and went to Middlesbrough high school for girls. She gained a degree in geography from LSE in 1959, then joined her parents, who were teaching in Kenya. Working in Nairobi's town planning department from 1960, she highlighted the need for essential services in rapidly growing shantytowns. Dorothy met the environmentalist Norman Myers in Kenya and they married in 1965. In the late 60s they built up a wildlife photographic business, which supported them through a spell in California while Norman studied for a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1972 they returned to Nairobi, where Dorothy became involved in local environmental action. In 1974, now with two young children, she helped establish the Environment Liaison Centre International, the local link to the Nairobi-based UN Environment Programme. The family returned to the UK in 1982 and settled in Oxford, where Dorothy began her work with Oxfam. Dorothy separated from Norman in 1992. Launching a new challenge, she ran an English language summer school for foreign students, remembered fondly by many who worked there, which she continued for many summers while at Pan UK. Always able to effortlessly fit more into life, Dorothy loved music, art and gardening, and being surrounded by nature. After retiring in 2001 she bought a house near Limoux, France, where friends and family valued entertaining discussions. Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Malindi and Mara, and grandchildren, Juliette and Alex.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Toxic pesticide found in tampons, say British NGOs
A report co-authored by several British non-governmental organisations (NGOs) warns of the presence of glyphosate in over a dozen brands of menstrual tampons. This finding is all the more worrying given that glyphosate is far from being the only harmful substance found in women's sanitary protection products. Manufacturers of tampons, pads and other menstrual protection products still have a long way to go to protect the health of menstruating people. The new report has revealed the presence of glyphosate in around 15 brands of tampons sold in the United Kingdom. According to their investigation, concentrations of this pesticide (considered a probable human carcinogen) can be as high as 0.004 mg/kg ... 40 times the legal limit for drinking water in the UK! One of the hypotheses put forward to explain how these substances end up in products designed for period protection is that glyphosate may have been present in certain weedkillers used in cotton fields. In light of these findings, the NGOs behind the survey recommend that a regulatory system be put in place, along with a testing process to ensure that menstrual hygiene products are free of pesticides. 'Women, girls and people who menstruate use an average of 11,000 disposable menstrual products throughout their life. 'Despite the prolific use of these products, the potential health impacts of the chemicals and pesticides that they can contain remains largely unexamined,' says the executive summary, available on the website of Pesticide Action Network, a UK NGO that co-authored the report. NGOs and scientists have been warning us about the toxic composition of menstrual products for several years now. In July 2024, an American study revealed the presence of several heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and vanadium) in 24 brands of tampons sold in Europe and the United States. Other studies were previously conducted, particularly in France. In 2019, the magazine 60 Millions de Consommateurs sounded the alarm in a comparative test carried out to check for the presence of chemical compounds in menstrual products. The results reported the presence of residues of several harmful substances, such as phthalates, dioxins and ... glyphosate. – AFP Relaxnews
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Toxic 'forever chemical' showing up in European food and wine
A team of researchers has found "alarmingly high" levels of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a so-called forever chemical, in dozens of organic and non-organic pastas, baked goods and breakfast cereals from Europe, as well as in wine. "In conventional grain products, the average levels were so high that a health risk to children can no longer be ruled out," said Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, an environmental chemist part of the Brussels-based Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe, which describes TFA as a "product of PFAS pesticides and industrial chemicals." Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, are thousands of long-lasting substances used in household and everyday products since the middle of the 20th century but which have been found to be difficult to remove from the environment and from human bodies. The latest research points to 'widespread contamination from PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) pesticides," PAN Europe said, warning that TFA tends to build up in water and farmland. The amount of TFA in the food items was found to be three times that recorded in a similar study eight years ago, according to PAN Europe, which in April warned of "dramatic rise" of TFA in wine. In a report covering wines from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain, PAN Europe found that while pre-1988 vintages do not contain any such contamination, there has been a "sharp increase" in pesticide and chemical residues in wine bottled since 2010. Such a "steep accumulation" should be "a red flag that calls for decisive action," according to Michael Müller, a professor of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry at the University of Freiburg. The European Chemicals Agency has warned that TFA "may cause harm to the unborn child" and "may impair fertility."
