Jul 10, 2006

New Act Could Ban Dangerous Pesticides

Pesticide manufacturers have often fought regulation on the grounds that there is often no "conclusive" proof that their products harm human or environmental health. But when it comes to human health, surely extensive evidence should be enough. And the evidence is indeed extensive. According to a recent paper published in the Annals of Neurology, for example, exposure to pesticides - even at low levels - can increase a person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease by 70 percent.

Unlike some legislation that sounds good on paper, but is rendered ineffective due to political loopholes (the Species At Risk Act comes to mind), this legislation looks like it should do exactly as it was intended - help keep some of the worst poisons out of our food chain, our water supplies and our bodies.