Problem: Agricultural Chemical Pollution of Food and Water
Entent of Problem: Within the last 30 years, there has been an alarming increase in serious illnesses in the US, along with a marked decrease in life expectancy. The onset of serious illness is appearing in increasingly younger populations, and the the rate of chronic disease in the entire US population has been dramatically increasing with an estimated 25% of the U.S. population suffering from multiple chronic diseases, many relatively rare only 25 years ago.
Trend or Prognosis: The effects seem to be accelerating, and have been noted in many other countries as well, in particular in developed countries like Canada, Australia, England and Wales, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Why Is This Important? The impacts of this explosion in chronic conditions threatens quality of life and also has huge financial implications, as much of the every increasing healthcare costs are attibuted to chronic conditions.
Root Causes: Pollution by pesticides - and in particular use of herbicides in the growing of genetically modified crops - has been broadly implicated in a large number of independent scientific studies. Because these toxins kill non-GM crops, they are also used to dessicate (kill and dry) many cereal crops such as wheat, so that simply avoiding GMOs is no guarantee you and your family will not be exposed.[Download an .xls list with over 50 web links to studies here]
But these studies have come under attack by the purveyors of herbicides and pesticides, often with spurious and undocumented claims. Large numbers of scientists have formally objected to the muzzling of scientific journals and personal attacks on the independent scientists reporting findings not favorable to the chemical industry.
Much of the mainstream press seems unaware of the research findings. Government agencies charged with the responsibility of protecting the public have almost universally failed to pay attention to independent research, seeming instead to accept at face value the research funded and controlled by the chemical and agribiz companies. This has gone to the extent of government agencies in North America approving the use of 2,4D - the primary chemical in Agent Orange and a known carcinogen - to control superweeds in genetically modified crops. The term "regulatory capture" reflects the extent to which this occurs.
What MUST be Done? What Can We Do?
1. Insist on labeling of all foods containing genetically modified or genetically engineered products.
2. Insist that government agencies require thorough testing of both short and long term toxicities of products used on food crops.
3. Insist that such studies shall be fully independent of the companies promoting these products.
4. Insist that government agencies fully consider and replicate independent studies that have raised serious concerns.