The results of the first
part of an inquiry by a French NGO, Generations Futures into everyday exposure to
endocrine-disrupting pesticides was released on March 20, 2013. The findings of the inquiry is as under:
Endocrine disrupting pesticides: Endocrine disruptors are substances that are foreign
to the human body and which can have harmful effects on the human organism or
on that of his or her descendants by disturbing the hormone signalling system.
These substances are most likely to have negative effects on the fetus and the
young child. Numerous pesticides are proven, or strongly suspected, to be
endocrine disruptors.
To demonstrate the urgency of preventative action on endocrine
disrupting chemicals, Generations Futures has developed a series of reports
based on analyses and in-depth surveys showing the omnipresence of many
endocrine disrupting chemicals in our environment, which creates a very
significant exposure for the population. This series of reports is called
EXPPERT.
A targeted report: EXPPERT 1 shows that we are exposed on a daily basis
to two families of endocrine disrupting (ED) insecticides: organophosphates and
pyrethroids. This exposure may be through food (EXPPERT 1 addresses ED
pesticide contamination of cereal-based products) but also through household
insecticides, which may be impregnated in bedding and other textiles, used in
the garden, or used for human or animal treatments (such as flea, tick and mite
treatments).
· Among
the cereal-based food products, 75% of samples analysed contain pesticide
residues - of which all contain one or several organophosphate or pyrethroid
substances.
· Among
the non-food products, 108 of the 181 commercially-available items studied in
this report contained – at the time of the test – one or more organophosphate
or pyrethroid substances.
Organophosphate and pyrethroid substances are
suspected of disrupting the endocrine system.
Results
Biscuits with fillings - Pirymiphos methyl and piperonyl
butoxide (PBO)
Chocolate cereal - Pirymiphos methyl and PBO
Soft bread – Cypermethrine, pirymiphos methyl and PBO
Brioches - Chlorpyrifos methyl, pirymiphos methyl and PBO
Croissants - chlorpyrifos methyl, pirymiphos methyl and PBO
Durum wheat pasta - chlorpyrifos methyl, pirymiphos methyl and PBO
Spray for houseplants against bugs – Pyrethrine and PBO
Anti-flea textile spray – Bifenthrine
Anti-flea lotion - Malathion
Anti-moth tablets - PBO
“Natural” (sic) insecticide spray – Deltamethrine and cypermethrine
Anti-mite mattress treatment - Permethrine
“Essential oil” (sic) anti-mite tablets - Permethrine
Home insecticide powder – Deltamethrine and PBO
Outdoor insect powder - Bifenthrine
Anti-tick and anti-mosquito dog collar – Deltamethrine
Anti-parasite spray - Bioallethrine and PBO
Garden insecticides – Deltamethrine and Cypermethrine
“We
need to act urgently – starting today – to reduce public exposure to endocrine
disrupting substances as much as possible. The European Parliament has made
this exact same call for action by adopting the Westlund report on the
protection of public health from exposure to endocrine disruptors on 14 March
2013,” says Francois Veillerette, Generations Futures spokesperson.
“Our
report allows a clear understanding of the ubiquitous exposure to endocrine
disrupting insecticides. Its ultimate aim is to create awareness among our
politicians of the urgency of preventative action in this area. We will
officially present this report, and those that follow, to the committee working
on the future national strategy on endocrine disruptors during a meeting on 22
March 2013 as well as to various relevant ministers. Our objective is to ensure
that in future no human body or animal organism contains endocrine disrupting
chemicals in order to protect the health of children yet to be born,” he
concludes.
Note: Tests
on the following products showed they contain residues of pesticides: Wholemeal
flour BN biscuits with strawberry filling, Belvita breakfast biscuits, Chocapic
cereal, Special K cereal, wholemeal bread from the supermarket Carrefour,
Harris soft bread, Panzani spaghetti, Pasquier croissants, Doowap brioches with
chocolate bits.
Post a Comment