POISON PARKS: a Special Report by the Black Institute
A disturbing report from New York, USA, that details the impact on minority and low income communities of the disproportionate use of the pesticide glyphosate (aka Roundup) by city agencies in parks and playgrounds in economically disadvantaged areas. “When Black and Brown families … must bear the burden of toxic exposure at a higher rate than white families, there is no argument that can change the racist nature of the subject.” The Institute calls for a pesticide ban in parks and the immediate adoption of IPM measures. (January 2020)
See Beyond Pesticides News Blog of 7 Feb 2020 for their reporting, and the proposed bill before the New York City Council that would see far-reaching legislation that would implement pesticide-free parks.
Friends of the Earth: Pesticides and Soil Health Why Reducing Pesticide Use is Central to Regenerative Agriculture. June 2019
A well laid out brief that summarises the science on a critical principle of regenerative agriculture, that of minimising pesticides. How pesticides, among other things, harm soil health, disrupt soil communities, and increase bacterial populations. It explores the relationship between no-till farming and the increasing use of glyphosate, and makes a strong case for regenerative farming and the science that shows the way.
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New research finds common herbicides cause antibiotic resistance – Media Release from the University of Canterbury – 17 Nov 2017
New University of Canterbury research confirms that the active ingredients of the commonly used herbicides, RoundUp, Kamba and 2,4-D (glyphosate, dicamba and 2,4-D, respectively), each alone cause antibiotic resistance at concentrations well below label application rates. UC Molecular Biology and Genetics Professor Jack Heinemann, of the School of Biological Sciences, in UC’s College of Science, says the key finding of the research was that “bacteria respond to exposure to the herbicides by changing how susceptible they are to antibiotics used in human and animal medicine.” (17 November 2017)
Alternatives to Synthetic Chemical Herbicides. Meriel Watts, PAN Asia Pacific- 2017
A ‘new’ look at how weeds and non-crop plants could be managed, or viewed or even encouraged for their positive and beneficial attributes. Beautifully illustrated information on how to get away from the synthetic chemical herbicides which all have a range of adverse health and environmental effects, and replacing them with alternative management in not only crops but the built and natural environments.
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Public Health Concern: Why did the NZ EPA ignore the world authority on cancer? An Assessment of the August 2016 Environmental Protection Authority Review of glyphosate and cancer. A failure of Government Agencies to meet Statutory Obligations. July 2017
This scientific report examines and assesses in depth the New Zealand EPA’s actions in dismissing the findings of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC’s 17 international experts determined in 2015 that glyphosate and its formulations were an animal carcinogen and a probable human carcinogen. Instead of accepting the findings the EPA commissioned its own review from a NZ toxicologist who concluded that glyphosate was unlikely to cause cancer. The Report includes supporting statements from a number of distinguished academics and researchers who question EPA’s actions and processes.
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Glyphosate and cancer: Buying science. How industry strategized (and regulators colluded) in an attempt to save the world’s most widely used herbicide from a ban. March 2017
Detailed and fascinating report showing how changing rules in Europe’s pesticide regulations has threatened the survival of glyphosate herbicides and how Monsanto and other manufacturers have fought back. Concludes that “attempts by agencies and individuals to defend glyphosate and its formulations against evidence that they case cancer and damage DNA, are scientifically unsound and undermined by serious conflicts of interest”.
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The European Union (EU) glyphosate timeline – Greenpeace October 2017
Updated and fully linked timeline – (as of October 2017) – of the ongoing EU saga over the decision whether to renew, withdraw or extend the EU licence of glyphosate.
Remarks on Monsanto Delivered by Investigative Journalist Carey Gillam of USRTK – October 2017 – before a joint hearing of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Documents her twenty year pursuit of the truth about the Monsanto’s top selling chemical glyphosate. Using key examples, Gillam pulls no punches in telling the story of the “carefully calculated and choreographed deceit”of the company.
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Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food – January 2017
The Report is presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2017 and calls for a global legally binding treaty to regulate hazardous pesticides throughout their life cycle, taking into account human rights principles. The report concludes that while there is no shortage of legislation and non-binding guidelines, such instruments are failing to protect humans and the environment from hazardous pesticides, and generally fail to effectively apply the precautionary principle. It notes the pesticide industry wields extraordinary power over global agrochemical research, legislative initiatives and regulatory agendas, and that the latter are under strong pressure to prevent or reverse bans on hazardous pesticides.
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No, the UN has not given glyphosate a ‘clean bill of health’ –17 May 2016.
Informative and interesting Ecologist article by UK journalist and campaigner, Georgina Downs, centres on the misleading conclusions that were drawn from the findings of the UN Panel on Pesticides Residues about cancer risks from exposure to glyphosate – in food – not from exposure during and after applications of the chemical. Georgina, a long time (and famous) campaigner in the UK on pesticide dangers, thoroughly details the major flaws in the existing methods of exposure and risk assessment for pesticides which is more than relevant to New Zealand.
Georgina Downs is a journalist and campaigner. She has lived next to regularly sprayed crop fields for more than 30 years and runs the UK Pesticides Campaign.
Georgina Down’s website: http://www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgina_Downs
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Questions in Parliament – Glyphosate products and POEA – August 2016
Minister for the Environment reveals that a banned EU product – polyoxyethylene tallowamine (POEA) is present in almost 90 products sold in New Zealand. The Minister says the EPA refuses to disclose the names of the products containing POEA because the composition of the formulations is commercially confidential.
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IARC – Q&A on Glyphosate – March 2016
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) publishes a clear Q&A on glyphosate that clarifies its findings in its 2015 Monograph. This includes that both pure glyphosate and its formulations are strongly genotoxic and cause cancer at levels below toxicity. It also clarifies that its findings are based on both laboratory work and “real life exposures” – like municipal weed-control workers in the UK.
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Abstract The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to prepare a statement on the co-formulant polyethoxylated (POE) tallowamine based on the toxicological evaluation of POE-tallowamine presented by the rapporteur Member State Germany in the context of the peer review of the active substance glyphosate required by Commission Regulation (EU) No 1141/2010 as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 380/2013 (the evaluation is presented for the section on mammalian toxicology). Missing information identified is listed. The context of the evaluation was that required by the European Commission in accordance with Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.
© European Food Safety Authority, 2015
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Glyphosate: No safe Level – October 2015
Detailed report commissioned by Green Party MP, Steffan Browning to bring together some of the peer reviewed evidence available to support the call for glyphosate-based herbicides to be removed from the immediate environment in NZ – in particular off the streets.
The Report details the lack of published peer reviewed science submitted independently of the pesticides industry to the NZ Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and notes that none of the studies in this Report have been reviewed by them. The report outlines evidence of just 12 major harm concerns relating to glyphosate-based herbicides, and as Browning notes, it is compelling and concerning.
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Use of glyphosate-based herbicides by Auckland Transport – Report from TAAF – Sept 2015
A short report by Ron Lopert the Chairperson of Tauranga City Council’s Toxic Agrichemical Advisory Forum adding their views for Auckland Transport Board members to consider when deciding the future use of glyphosate in their operations. The report details the facts around the flawed regulatory process that sanctions the use of glyphosate-based herbicides and fails to protect public interest. Outlines the need to adopt the prudent or precautionary avoidance principle in order to protect the public and the environment.
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Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility – Glyphosate Paper – March 2015
PSGR’S comprehensive paper details glyphosate-related adverse effects, looking at the human, animal and physical environment. They note that the detailed results and/or finding from studies and first-hand experience far from exhaust the material available. It provides reasons for a total ban on the use of glyphosate in New Zealand. An appendix also provides alternatives to the use of glyphosate-based herbicides. Read here
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Glyphosate – IARC Monograph – July 2015
After a systematic review and evaluation of the scientific evidence, the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) Monograph Working Group classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). This classification was the result of a year-long evaluation by leading independent experts without conflicts of interest, who reviewed all pertinent, publicly available scientific literature on the carcinogenicity of glyphosate. (media release)
The established procedures and criteria for the selection, evaluation, and integration of evidence used in developing a Monograph are provided in the Preamble to the IARC Monographs.
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This HRIA was commissioned by the Weed Management Advisory (WMA). The WMA sought an opinion on whether human rights are being violated by Auckland Transport (AT) continuing to expose some Auckland citizens to the adverse human health and environmental impacts of chemical sprays.
This authoritative and detailed Report provides AT and the WMA with a list of international human rights norms of concern in respect to AT’s road corridor vegetation control programme, outlines AT’s potential liabilities with respect to the programme and recommends measures AT should take to minimize those liabilities and meet its human rights obligations.
See here for WMA’s detailed response
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Glyphosate – Roundup Monograph
Glyphosate, commonly known by its original trade name Roundup (manufactured by Monsanto), is the world’s most widely used herbicide. This monograph provides fully referenced information and scientific evidence of this herbicide from its toxicological assessment to its human and environmental effects. November 2009. Read
Glyphosate: Addendum 2012 – To be read in conjunction with the November 2009 Monograph above. Read
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Investigation of Ailing Norfolk Pines at Mt Maunganui – tree decline linked to herbicide use. August 2014
Tauranga City Council commissioned this report as part of an investigation into the ailing Norfolk Pines at Marine Parade and Pilot Bay.
The comprehensive report, by arborists Paul Kenny and Gerald Collett, links the Norfolk trees’ decline to active ingredients found in some broadleaf herbicide formulas which were used to target weeds (most notably prickle-weed) in turf around and over the root zones of the trees. On the strong recommendations of the authors, Tauranga City Council will discontinue these chemicals where they could come into contact with the tree roots until sufficient research has been carried out to demonstrate that non-target tree species are not vulnerable. The authors further recommend that this advice is widely circulated to all NZ Councils, contractors and herbicide manufacturers and suppliers.
(Apologies – link no longer operative – we will try and obtain a copy of the report – WMA 2020)
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Weed Management Advisory 