Entrant:  ER

 

What’s Bugging You?

 

It’s spring: the bees are buzzing just outside the door, the ants are invading the pantry, the caterpillars are munching in the flower beds, and fleas are having a field day on the cat.

Before reaching for the bug spray, consider this: the majority of insecticides in the U.S. belong to a family of compounds called organophosphate pesticides (OPs).  Over 40 of these poisons are registered in the U.S. and more than 400 commercial products containing them are available here. About 80 million pounds of OPs are used every year in the U.S.  Their scientific names (malathion, phosmet, diazinon, etc.) may not be familiar but many of the brands are common household items (Orthene, Ortho, Raid, Hartz, etc.).

OPs operate through a common toxic mechanism: they inhibit a nervous system enzyme (acetyl cholinesterase) and affect the nervous system.  Insects are not the only ones at risk.  Fish, birds, and mammals including humans need this enzyme to function normally.  In high doses, OPs can cause irreversible damage and even death.  Even at low doses, some of these pesticides are known or suspected of causing cancer, developmental, and reproductive damage, and can interfere with the normal role of hormones.

These chemicals are applied to crops including food, residential and commercial buildings, ornamental plants, and lawns.  Some pest control products for pets contain OPs.  For most of these uses, safer products exist that can be used as alternatives.

OPs can enter the body through the food you eat, the water you drink, and the air you breathe. The Center for Disease Control found widespread exposure of the whole U.S. population.  Of particular concern is that urine concentrations of OP-breakdown products are much higher in children than in adults.

New restrictions are being imposed on some pesticides, for example residential uses of two OPs, diazinon and chlorpyrifos (aka Dursban), are being phased out because of the health risks posed to children.  But the federal process is slow and many pesticides have yet to be evaluated.

What You Can Do

·     Don’t buy organophosphate pesticides.

·     Use non-chemical means of pest control, see

      www.panna.org/resources/advisor.dv.html for help.

·     Dispose of household pesticides safely at household hazardous waste collections.

·     Urge your friends, neighbors, and your children’s schools to use safer alternatives to organophosphate pesticides.

·     Buy organic food and clothing.

·     Inform yourself: detailed pesticide information is available at www.pesticideinfo.org.

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