USA Food Quality, Awareness, and Activism

Scientists in Canada are reporting the development of a fast, inexpensive "dipstick" test to identify small amounts of pesticides that may exist in foods and beverages. Their paper-strip test is more practical than conventional pesticide tests, producing results in minutes rather than hours by means of an easy-to-read color-change, they say.  

Biologists determined that short-term, seasonal exposure to pesticides in rivers and basins may limit the growth and size of wild salmon populations. In addition to the widespread deterioration of salmon habitats, these findings suggest that exposure to commonly used pesticides may further inhibit the recovery of threatened or endangered populations.  

Chemical pesticides are among the tools farmers often use in managing insects dedicated to dining on our nation's harvest. Pesticides, unfortunately, are not without risk to those who labor in the fields and orchards, planting, tending and harvesting crops.  

A significant change in materials permitted for use in handling liquid pesticides goes into effect Jan. 1, according to the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  

Organic pesticides are a safe and effective way of freeing your garden from unwanted pests without having to use dangerous chemicals. Here is a tutorial on how to make your own organic pesticides spray.Contributor: Jennifer TolleyPublished: Dec 10, 2009  

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program (LHWMP) in King County are partnering to help farmers, landscapers, property managers and other businesses safely dispose of unwanted pesticides, including phased out, canceled and unwanted chemicals.  

People with higher levels of pesticide exposure are more likely to have suicidal thoughts according to new research. The agricultural pesticides commonly used in China are organophosphates which are in wide use in many lower income countries but have been banned in many Western nations.  

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue. Reportlinker Adds Pesticides Market Research http://www.reportlinker.com/p0152388/Reportlinker-Adds-Pesticides-Market-Research.html This review examines the global and CIS markets for pesticides and biopesticides. We describe their properties, types, production, application areas, trademarks, analogous products, etc. We...  

Green herb teas are habitually marketed as offering additional health benefits. But eight of ten popular brands contain chemicals that can be hazardous to health, according to a new analysis.  

Pesticides called organophosphates have been banned in many Western countries but are still widely used in the developing world. They can be very dangerous to people's physical health and there is also evidence that long-term, low-level exposure to them can also have effects on people's mental health. Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and Tongde Hospital, Zhejiang, China looked into the links between pesticide...  

A new study in China has found that people with higher levels of pesticide exposure are more likely to have suicidal thoughts. The study was carried out by Dr Robert Stewart from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London together with scientists from Tongde Hospital Zhejiang Province. The agricultural pesticides commonly used in China are organophosphates which are in wide use in many lower income countries but have been banned in...  

A new report by Charles Benbrook, chief scientist at the Organic Center, says that genetically engineered crops are forcing use of pesticides rapidly upwards. The report, titled "Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years" and principally informed by data from the USDA, finds that GE crops have caused an increase in the use of herbicide in the US of 383 million pounds over the 13 years GE crops have been...  

The doctor who conducted autopsies of Bhopal disaster victims killed when lethal gases leaked from the Union Carbide chemical plant in 1984 is now dying from exposure to the same pesticides.  

People all over the internet are voicing their concern that permethrin scabies treatments do not work, not only that but people are skeptical of putting pesticides and insecticides on their lawn nevermind their own skin. The medical community suggests that permethrin creams are not good for...  

In the late 70s, workers packaging the banana pesticide DBCP realized that they all had the same problem: They couldn't get their wives pregnant. After the chemical was shown to have caused sterility, the United States suspended use. Dole continued to spray it on bananas in Nicaragua until at least 1980. Banana workers made sterile by pesticides