Behind the dialogue
Hi uncle! Still a bit crazy?
Switching to a healthier lifestyle also means asking governments for better protection from harmful chemicals
• Pesticides
Around 471 different pesticide substances are currently used in the European Union, including at least 45 substances, according to EU classification, that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction, or which may have endocrine disrupting properties. More than 140,000 tonnes of synthetic pesticides are applied to EU food crops each year - equivalent to 280 grams of pesticides per European citizen. Almost half (45.7%) of food items tested are shown to contain pesticide residues, including 5% - one item in 20 - at levels above EU legal limits. While fruits and vegetables are most likely to be contaminated with pesticides, cereals, processed foods and baby foods are also often affected.
• Reference
Pesticides Action Network Europe website: http://www.pan-europe.info/Issues/index.html, HEAL website - Pesticides section: http://www.env-health.org/r/68 , and MDRGF website http://www.mdrgf.org (in French)
Reference for specific figures are as follows:
- 471 different pesticide substances currently used in the EU
REFERENCE: ‘European Agriculture of the Future: The Role of Plant Protection Products – Economic Impacts’, Nomisma, Jan 2008 (No on-line copy available only pdf on request.)
- 45 chemicals classified as CMR or EDCs
REFERENCE: ‘List of substances potentially affected by the Commission’s proposed approvals criteria’ PAN Europe, February 2008. http://www.pan-europe.info/Resources/Policy/List_of_CMR12ED_plus_list_of_CMR3.pdf
- 140,000 tonnes of synthetic pesticides applied to EU food crops
Reference : ‘The use of plant protection products in the European Union: Data 1992-2003’, Eurostat Statistical Books, European Commission (2007) http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-76-06-669/EN/KS-76-06-669-EN.PDF
- 280 grams per person
Reference : PAN Europe has calculated that by applying 140,000 tonnes of synthetic pesticides to crops in the EU, where the population totals approximately 500 million people, this represents pesticide use of roughly 280 grams per head.
• What can you do yourself?
• Organic life
an organic lifestyle means not only eating organic food but also choosing to avoid synthetic chemicals and becoming aware of your environment and your health. Organic food is produced using methods that avoid the use of man-made fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives. An organic life means healthy and sustainable consumption, such as eating and buying locallyproduced food, choosing consumer, cleaning and gardening products that contain the least hazardous chemicals, and reducing energy consumption to avoid further air pollution
and climate change.
• Reference
http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/pesticides/pesticidesglossary/
http://www.naturalorganiclifestyle.com/
http://www.womensheartfoundation.org/content/Newsletter/ArchivedArticles/2005-12-OrganicLifestyle.asp
• What can you do yourself?
|
