Dalby cotton spraying a clear danger

Monday, 02 March 1998 10:00

"The concerns raised by Eco-Watch Dalby are the same valid concerns expresses repeatedly by communities across Australia where cotton is grown - aerial spray drift, contaminated water supplies, health problems and social impacts. It's high time regulators stopped treating thse issues as 'local anomolies' and tackle the problems with the industry fair and square with genuine community participation," said Jo Immig, Chemicals Campaigner with TEC.
 
"Towns are literally being held to ransom by the power of the cotton dollar. The true environmental and social 'costs' of the cotton industry are not being met by the industry but by the local people and environment," Jo Immig said.
 
"There is recent NSW EPA scientific evidence that toxic chemicals aerially applied to chemical fields drift up to 3.5km, and potentially further, from their point of application. The drift contaiminated drinking water and sensitive water bodies where it lingers and disrupts the ecosystem. The drift enters people's houses and lands on their washing and over their kids while they wait for the school bus."
 
"The cotton industry cries they are unfairly singled out but the cotton industry uses extensive quantities of toxic chemicals and monopolises natural resources such as water. Of the 2.5 million litres of active Endosulfan used annually in Australia, the cotton industry uses a whopping 70%," Ms Immig said.
 
"Regulators have been treating the industry with kid gloves; they must now face the undeniable fact that there are extensive environmental and social impacts from cotton growing. It's a farce, no other industry with this level of impact is left to regualte itself," Ms Immig concluded.