FAVORITE THINGS

PESTICIDE FACTS

• The EPA estimates that US sales of pesticides in 2000-2001 exceeded $11 billion dollars, thus representing over 2 billion pounds of pesticides being dumped on U.S. farm soil, homes, gardens, schools, golf courses and more. This number is about 7 pounds for every man, woman and child in the entire country.
• There are over 21,000 different pesticides on the U.S. market containing over 875 active compounds. Many of these have been proven to have health implications while the effects of others are still unknown.
• Lawn pesticides and herbicides can cause cancer, infertility, birth defects, developmental disorders, and will double the risk of canine lymphoma in dogs through exposure.
• Since 1945, total U.S. crop losses from insect damage have nearly doubled. During the same time, insecticide use has increased tenfold. Today, seventy-one known carcinogenic pesticides are sprayed on food crops. (In Harmony's report, "Pesticides: Losing Their Effectiveness")
• EPA estimates that there are approximately 20,000 physician diagnosed pesticide poisonings each year among agricultural workers. Of course, this does not account for those which are unreported.
• Pound for pound, children absorb a higher concentration of pesticides and herbicides than adults.
• According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, only 1% of all imported fruits and vegetables are tested by the Food and Drug Administration for illegal pesticide residues.
• The CDC has gone on record as stating, "Pesticides are toxic to life forms by their very design."