Environmental Justice
Action in Southern Africa
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Environmental Justice
Action in Southern Africa |
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What you need to know about Pesticides What are pesticides? A
pesticide is a poisonous chemical or mixture of chemicals that is produced or
manufactured for preventing, repelling, or killing any pest. Pests
are living organisms that occur where they are not wanted or that cause damage
to “Pesticides"
is a general term that includes insecticides (for insect control), herbicides
(for weed control), rodenticides (for rodent control), fungicides (for control
of plant disease fungi), miticides (for mite control), as well as wood
preservatives, disinfectants, products that control algae, etc. Where can pesticides be found?
All
of these common products may contain poisonous chemicals intended to kill pests:
Pesticides
can be found in large amounts on commercial farms. Some of these pesticides How can you get
exposed to pesticides?
Some
pesticides are more harmful than others. Pesticides can enter the body through:
What health problems
are associated with exposure to pesticides?
Pesticides
can cause harm to humans and animals because they are designed to kill or
otherwise adversely affect living organisms. Overseas studies have shown
that young children, have an increased risk of getting leukaemia or sarconomas
if they live in a home where pesticides are often used, either in the home or
garden. Childhood brain cancer has also been linked to the use of some
pesticides. Symptoms of short-term exposure to Long
term exposure to pesticides can lead to more serious and permanent damage
including: cancers, brain damage in children, lowered IQ, permanent kidney
damage, Most pesticides persist in
the environment for a long time and can continue to have harmful health effects
long after they have been applied. Other
problems with pesticides One
of the most notorious pesticides used to control pests is a chemical known as
DDT. DDT
and other pesticides kill many organisms besides pests. In applying chemicals to large areas, entire ecosystems are
affected. Some pests also become resistant (genetically) to some pesticides
making the pesticide useless. These pests pass their genes to later generations.
Therefore stronger pesticides are needed, continuing the cycle. Pesticides also
kill natural predators that may kill the pest population. Examples of pesticides
poisonings
The World Health Organisation estimates
that every year 20 000 people die worldwide from pesticide poisoning, out of an
estimated total of 3 million cases of pesticide poisoning which take place every
year worldwide. Only 10% of pesticides in use today have
been adequately tested for their health risks. Between
1962 and 1971 during the Vietnam War, U.S forces sprayed millions of gallons of
plant killing pesticides on Vietnam. One of the chemicals used, known as Agent
Orange, contained the very poisonous dioxin, TCDD. Vietnam estimates more than a
million of its people were exposed to the spraying, which it blames for tens of
thousands of birth defects including mental and physical handicaps. On
October 1999, at least 26 schoolchildren, some as young as four, died in a
remote Andean village after eating breakfast cereal apparently contaminated by
insecticide. Legal action was taken against the pesticide company, Bayer. On May 3, 1991, Anaversa, a pesticide
formulation plant exploded and burned in a densely populated area of Carboda, in
the state of Veracruz. Over 1300 residents were evacuated and 221 were treated
by the Red Cross for poisoning. Thirteen neighbours who lived or worked on the
block facing the blast site had died of diseases that suggested lethal
contamination. The first to die was a year old baby of leukemia. What
to do in the case of an accident:
How
to avoid exposure to pesticides In
the home: clean up food spills immediately; store foods attractive to pests
in sealed containers; block up any entry points for pests to enter the home; and
buy pesticide free foods; wash vegetables thoroughly before eating.
In
the garden: Use non-poisonous products;
pull weeds out by hand; use traps, parasites and natural predators such as
ladybugs; use compost and mulch to improve soil health and reduce the need for
pesticides and fertilizers; use plants that repel insects, for example basil,
chives, mint, garlic, marigolds, and chrysanthemums, when mixed in with other
plants, help keep pests away. Safe
susbstitutes A
number of non-toxic substances can be used to repel insects. Generally, they are herbs For
specific house pests, try these solutions:
For
more information contact groundWork |
crops or humans or
other animals. Examples include, insects, mice and other rodents, unwanted
plants (e.g. weeds), fungi and microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. 
may have expired or are no longer used by the farmer and could possibly leak out
of their old containers and drums that it is stored in. It is estimated that
many thousands of tons of expired pesticides are scattered throughout Africa.
Althougth banned
in many countries, DDT is still used in South Africa to control malaria
spreading mosquitoes. However, DDT is non-biodegradable and builds up the food
chain and has been linked to breast cancer!
or
spices that have a strong smell. Powdered chill pepper, garlic, peppermint, bay
leaves, cloves, citrus oil, lavender, rosemary, tobacco, peppercorns, and cedar
oil can repel various types of insects. 
and storage containers properly. Cover rubbish.
An
easy all-purpose garlic spray for repelling insects from plants in your
garden, can be made by mixing ½ cup of finely chopped garlic with 500ml
water. Let this mixture sit for an hour. Strain out the garlic, pour into a
spray bottle and spray your plants.