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CANADA: Doctors Urge Reduced Pesticide Exposure ROGER WARD, CP 2004-04-24 03:12:01 TORONTO -- Ontario's family doctors are strongly urging Canadians to limit their exposure to pesticides after reviewing their "consistent" link with serious illnesses. The Ontario College of Family Physicians made the recommendation after analysing many studies linking pesticide exposure to cancer, reproductive problems, neurological diseases and other conditions, though at least one pesticide industry group objected to some findings released yesterday by the doctors' group. Dr. Donald Cole of the University of Toronto, a review author, couldn't say whether there is a safe level of exposure to avoid the risk of developing disease. "Pesticides, as in many chemicals, are widespread in our environment, so we can't really say," Cole said at a news conference. But he was convinced of a link between pesticide exposure and a variety of neurological disorders, including mental and emotional health problems, and diseases such as Parkinson's. Dr. Cathy Vakil of Queen's University in Kingston, another review author, said the links between pesticides and various forms of cancer are "compelling." "This review provides compelling evidence of a link between cancer and pesticide use both occupationally and with home use," she said. As a result, said the doctors, people should avoid exposure to pesticides "whenever and wherever possible," including using alternative methods of lawn and garden care and indoor pest control, and properly using personal protection equipment, including respirators, for home and occupational exposures. "Many of the health problems linked with pesticide use are serious and difficult to treat, so we are advocating reducing exposure to pesticides and prevention of harm," said college researcher Dr. Margaret Sanborn of McMaster University. The college paid particular attention to health concerns among children, though it noted there have been few studies on the long-term effects of pesticides on youngsters. The doctors found no clear link to harm to the fetus in pregnant women using the insect repellent DEET, which is commonly recommended to protect against mosquito bites and, potentially, West Nile virus. One pesticide industry group responded to the report by saying regulatory rulings and expert panel reviews have cleared the chemical 2,4-D. "The decisions of several regulatory agencies and expert panel reviews simply do not support the allegations that 2,4-D causes cancer or poses a risk to human health," said Donald Page, executive director of a task force representing chemical companies in Canada, the U.S., Australia and Argentina. "(The study) completely ignores decisions of authorities like the World Health Organization and recent studies by the U.S. National Cancer Institute," Page said. But he added, "Where we do find common ground (with Ontario physicians) is the need to improve our understanding of the actual exposure of children and other bystanders to domestic-use pesticides." SOURCE: CP / The London Free Press, Canada http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/04/24/434317.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn