Page 885 - 1970S

much more danger may be involved.
A scientific principie called .rynergism
results when two relatively harmless
chemicals are joined to produce a much
more harmfuJ effect. Preliminary studies
show that "the high death rate f rom the
combination of PB and Freon demon–
strated synergism between the two
chemicals that tripled the kiiling power
of PB when administered alone" ("Mix
With Care," Enviro11ment, January–
February, 1971, p. 40).
Among the diseases now linked witb
this chemical are heart malfunctions,
hepatoma (malignant tumors of the
liver), asphyxia, and miscellaneous
Jiver ailments. Asthmatics suffered a
particularly severe health hazard from
pyrethrins. But, as with DDVP and
lindane, "there have been no long-term
inhalation tests of animals exposed to
such aerosols ... PB and formulations
containing PB and other synthetic MDP
compounds must be tested for chronic
toxicity, including carcinogenicity (ca–
pability of producing cancer), mu–
tagemCity ( capability of producing
genetic changes), and teratogenicity
(capabi lity of producing birth defects),
before potential human bazards can be
assessed" ("Eye on Our Defenses," En–
vironment, April, 1971, pp. 44, 47).
Meanwhile, untested, potentially poi–
sonous pyrethrin home and garden
bug sprays are enjoying constant sale
and use. Before the results come in,
such chemicals may be long in testing.
Pyrethrum, said Dr. LaMont C. Cole in
Scientific American, "has frustrated the
analysis of the ablest organic chcmists."
"Of course, these chemicals mmt be
safe," answers dogmatic faith in Science
and Government, "if science tests them
and government approves them." But
we've shown how little testing has been
done by "science"; now take a brief
look at "government approval."
How the Government
"Approves"
Many people picture the government
as a see-all, know-all, father figure,
carefully providing our every need. But
the government has the same problems
any big corporation would have: per–
sonnel shortage, slipshod workmanship,
financia! woes, deadlines to meet.
The Food and Drug Administration
is a typically under-budgeted and over–
burdened agency. We assume they check
all foods and drugs for safety, but ac–
tually Iess than 0.1 percent of all food
in interstate commerce is actually in–
spected for pesticide residues !
The Pesticides Regulation Division
(PRO) of thc Dcpartment of Agricul–
ture is anothcr example. AH pesticides
sold in interstate commerce must first be
approved by the PRO (a branch of the
U.S.O.A.). With a huge number of
chemicals to check, limited safcty cri–
teria, and a built-in bias toward the
quick agricultura) use of each pesticide,
the PRO has been called by Con.fllmer
RepMts "a manufacturer's delight."
They explain why in this recent report:
"In accepting a product for registra–
tion, the PRO almost always rclies on
information provided by the manufac–
turer. Only if there have been reports
that a particular pesticide has resulted
in dcath or injury following il.r inlro–
dllclion on the markel will the PRD test
the product for safety" ( Consmner
Reports, November, 1970, p. 701).
Their job is not to evaluate whetber
there is a safer product on the market
that will do the job. Their criteria are
merely toxicity on insects and human
safety uwhen med as directed," al–
though a slight mistake could be very
injurious.
A furthcr problem, evident through–
out government, is the overlapping of
duties and authority. The Public Health
Service (PHS), more heaJth-oriented,
maintains a constant feud with the PRO
and FDA. for instance, last year the
PRO certified 252 pesticides over objec–
tions raised by the Public Health
Servíce.
On top of al! these other human
problems, most farmers or housewives
are not told which chemicals will work
best for them, in which quantities,
under what conditions, by an expert. In–
stcad, a salesman of many varied prod–
ucts tries to put as many chemicals into
his customers' hands as they will buy.
What YOU Can Do
If you are using home and garden
sprays extensively, don't underestimate
the danger you could be causing your–
self, your family, and your environment.
Dr. Emil Mrak, chairman of the De-
partment of Health, Education, and
Welfare advisory committee on pesti–
cides, said, "Much of the pesticide
contamination of our waters, believe it
or not, comes from the borne gardener
disposing of unused chemicals in the
toilet, runoff from his gardens and even
golf courses."
"But the bugs will take o,·er if we
quit spraying," say farmers and com–
mercial home gardeners alike. "Con–
sumers demand food that is attractive
and plentiful, not the moldy, worm–
riddcn specimens of pre-pesticicle days,"
answer the grocers, farmers and
wholesalers.
But the detractors are overltx•krng the
fact that sorne farmers raise top quality
produce without poisons and get top
prices because their produce is better.
Isn't there sorne nat11ral way bugs
could be combatted?
Probably not with monoculture. And
difficult with weak, sickly pi mts and
sick soil. No, not with stronger, viru–
lent, pesticide-resistant "super" insects
developing.
"Under primitive agricultttr,l l condi–
tions" wrote Rache! Carson, '•tb t: f armer
had few insect ¡noblems. The~c arose
with the intensification of agr : ulture –
the devotion of immense acrl s to a
single crop. Such a system set the stage
for explosive increascs in specdi(· insect
populations" (Silent Spring, p. 20) .
The point is that gro" ing ooe
crop in vast acreages is detrimental to
the soi l aod makes that crop fa r more
vulnerable to attack. This been
explained in past issues of T,. PLAIN
TRUTH.
lt is not the purpose of ti rt icle to
discuss proper farming m' ds but
mcrely to point out the poss l.~ngers
of garden and household pest !es.
But if you would like to w how
}'OU can change a farm or garden to safe
and sane natural methods, you can get
the whole story in our free rn' -k lct, The
World Crisis in Agrimlt111"e. It tells
what is wrong with modero agriculture
and discusses proper farmin¿! •actices.
Write for it and also study ou t avail–
able facts behind any househ(lld chem–
icals you may be using.
Think twice before using those con–
venient killers. When in d,;ubt -
OON'T! Why gamble? O