Notification a vital step in reducing people pollution

Friday, 23 December 2005 21:31

The Environmental Working Group and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have both released comprehensive studies on the levels of pollutants found in humans. The EWG study found their study group to contain an average of 91 compounds within their body, 76 of these chemicals have been linked to causing cancer.

These studies are a indication of the dramatic increase in chemical loads within our modern day lives. Everyday we are taking in a range of chemicals that may be effecting our health and reproductive success.

Both of the studies revealed high levels of pesticides and herbicides within the test subjects. The EWG study found on average seven different metabolites from the highly toxic organophosphate group and ten metabolites from the now banned group, organochlorides. The CDCP study found detectable levels of metabolites from a range of herbicides and pesticides.

The CDCP report acknowledges that one of the key exposure routes to pesticides and herbicides is "by living near application sites."

Notification of pesticide spraying activities is a simple step in allowing the community to make informed decisions about their exposure to chemicals within their environment.

TEC has campaigned for regulations to be developed to ensure the onus of responsibility for notification falls to the pesticide applicator, rather than place the onus on the public to seek out information about chemical releases in their vicinity.

The first regulation enacted has been in New South Wales and applies to public places; sensitive sites adjacent to public spaces and common areas shared by residents.
Pesticides Amendment(Notification) Regulation.