Just FYI, particularly since the group of pesticides, organophosphates, is the particular group which has been most often potentially linked with Parkinson's Disease. WT ************************************************* --------------------- Forwarded message: From: [log in to unmask] (PANNA InfoPubs) To: [log in to unmask] (Recipients of conference) Date: 96-06-27 07:50:12 EDT ===================================== P A N U P S *** Pesticide Action Network North America Updates Service http://www.panna.org/panna/ ===================================== Chinese Pesticide Poisonings and Production June 25, 1996 According to a recent report from the Chinese National Statistics Bureau, 48,377 pesticide poisoning cases were reported in 27 provinces in 1995, including 3,204 fatalities. The total number of poisonings increased 13% over 1994 figures. Three provinces, Jiangsu, Shandong and Anhui, accounted for 76% of total poisonings nationwide. The report indicates that organophosphate insecticides with high toxicity are a major threat to farmers' health in China. Poisonings are divided into two categories in the report: poisoning due to pest control and poisoning by accidents, which includes suicides and improper use of pesticides. In 1995, 90% of the 15,300 poisoning cases due to pest control were caused by insecticides, and 91% of these were organophosphates. Over 61% of the organophosphate poisonings were caused by parathion, methamidophos and omethoate. Some experts feel that the actual number of pesticide poisoning cases in China is much higher than those officially reported. The reporting system, which has been in operation for only four years, is still in need of improvement. Some areas of the country have not yet established a reporting system, and in other areas reporting is limited. Some estimate that poisoning incidents could be under-reported by 60% or more. The Chinese agrochemical industry continues to grow, producing 95,000 tonnes of pesticides in the first quarter of 1996. This represents 41% of the annual target of 230,000 tonnes set by the Chinese Ministry of Chemical Industry. China was a net exporter of insecticides in 1995 with export sales of US$109.3 million. In the same year, China was a net importer of herbicides, with sales valued at US$93.2 million. The Chinese government expects chemical sales to reach US$29.5 billion in 1996, up 8% from 1995. Zeneca Agrochemicals, a British multinational corporation, recently announced plans to double the size of its proposed herbicide plant in Nantong. Zeneca originally planned to invest US$60 million to build a 3,000 tonne capacity plant to manufacture paraquat (sold as Gramoxone); however the company now plans to increase the investment to US$80 million and to expand the plant's capacity to 6,000 tonnes. According to Zeneca officials, the proposed increase in production is due to growth in the market for paraquat in China and throughout Asia. Recent Chinese pesticide company advertisements in industry publications list a number of pesticides available in China for both domestic use and export, including many highly hazardous chemicals. Shenzhen Jiangshan Commerce and Industry Corporation based in Shenzhen, China sells Dirty Dozen pesticides DDT, lindane, parathion-ethyl, parathion-methyl, paraquat and pentachlorophenol, as well as the ozone- depleting fumigant methyl bromide. The CAC Chemical Company, Ltd., in Shanghai sells the insecticides carbofuran, dimethoate, malathion, monocrotophos and parathion-methyl; the herbicides atrazine and glyphosate; and a range of other pesticides. Sources: Agrow, May 3, April 19, and February 1, 1996; Pesticides News, June 1996. Contact: PANNA. =========================================================== | Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) | | | | Phone:(415) 541-9140 Fax:(415) 541-9253 | | Email: [log in to unmask] http://www.panna.org/panna/| | PANNA, 116 New Montgomery, #810, San Francisco, CA 94105 | | | |*To subscribe to PANUPS send email to [log in to unmask] | with the following text on one line: subscribe panups | | To unsubscribe send the following: unsubscribe panups | | | |*For basic information about PANNA, send an email message | | to [log in to unmask] | ===========================================================