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Green Party MPs Sue Kedgley and Catherine Delahunty expressed delight at today's decision by ERMA to ban the highly toxic insecticide endosulfan, effective from January 16th.
In September this year the Greens revealed that 18 councils were still spraying the hormone mimicking chemical on sports fields around New Zealand. The Councils were using endosulfan to kill earthworms. Worm casts allegedly cause balls to bounce and reduce the effectiveness of drainage under playing fields.
"During the ERMA reassessment process we discovered that this was just the tip of the iceberg. Private contractors were using it on bowling greens, croquette lawns, golf courses, and other private sports fields.
"We were unable to find out if it was also being used on school fields, as were ERMA, but this ban will certainly prevent any further such use," Ms Kedgley says.
Ms Delahunty says the Greens have also been very concerned about the ongoing problem of residues in produce, particularly tomatoes.
"Tomato eaters will soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief when this toxic chemical is gone from our food supply. It cannot be legally used after January 16th, although residues may still persist in the food for some months," Ms Delahunty says.
"Endosulfan has been linked to breast cancer, birth defects, behavioural conditions and Parkinson's disease as well as adverse effects on the central nervous system. Long term exposure has been linked to damage to the kidneys, liver and reproductive systems.
"Endosulfan is toxic to aquatic life; it does not break down, and is readily passed along the food chain. Levels in mammals at the top of the aquatic food chain, such as whales, dolphins and seals, are increasing.
"We also welcome ERMA's decision to very promptly prevent any further imports after January 16th to prevent stock build up, and to require that left over stocks be removed from farms within a year. This is a responsible attitude to take towards the problem of stockpiles of obsolete chemicals, and has not always been the case in New Zealand.
"However we are very concerned about how the remaining stock will be disposed off. It must be safely stored in an appropriate hazardous waste facility," Ms Delahunty says.
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Comments
Re Horticulture Dismayed By
Re Horticulture Dismayed By Endosulfan Timeframe Decision, posted on
Voxy.co.nz on 15 December 2008.
I am retired intelligence analyst, currently honorary Canadian observer
on the Pesticide Working Group with headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In our opinion, the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)
should be congratulated for its decision to ban endosulfan immediately,
instead of unconscionably and endlessly procrastinating.
We note that Green Party MPs Sue Kedgley and Catherine Delahunty were
very pleased by today's (15 December) ERMA's decision to ban endosulfan
effective from January 16th.
"Endosulfan has been linked to breast cancer, birth defects, behavioural
conditions and Parkinson's disease as well as adverse effects on the
central nervous system. Long term exposure has been linked to damage to
the kidneys, liver and reproductive systems.
"Endosulfan is toxic to aquatic life; it does not break down, and is
readily passed along the food chain. Levels in mammals at the top of
the aquatic food chain, such as whales, dolphins and seals, are
increasing."
The Greens say that in September of this year 18 councils in Zealand
were still spraying this hormone mimicking chemical on sport fields.
Absurdly, endosulfan was used to kill earthworms, which allegedly made
the ball bounce. It would seem that exposure to pesticides has also
affected our ability to reason. Where are the true priorities? Where is
common sense?
http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/greens-welcome-erma-decision-endosulfan/5...)
Asking for a five-year delay in banning this insecticide would be
unrealistic and unconscionable. Meanwhile, how many vulnerable people,
especially young children, may be sickened and die as a result of their
exposure to this toxic chemical?
I believe it is high time to set our priorities straight: health is more
important than profit. If human race is to survive, we should completely
change our mindset on the role and need for toxic chemicals, so as to
adjust to the realities of life and death on this planet.
For example, in recent years bees, the canary in the mine, have been
dying en masse. We are told that with the extinction of bees, human race
would last at most for four years. Using chemicals responsibly might
somewhat reduce, but never eliminates their toxic effect.
Out of approximately 80,000 chemicals, 80% have never been tested
(Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Newsworld program "The Disappearing
Male": Series Doc Zone). Vital decisions are often made on the basis of
the self-serving and unreliable industry data.
Because of the unsatisfactory experience in using IPM (Integrated Pest
Management) in urban Canada, it was nicknamed "Increased Pesticide
Marketing".
Kazimiera J. Cottam, PhD
83-21 Midland Crescent
Nepean, ON K2H 8P6 Canada
613-726-1596