Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 14, 1993 TAG: 9303120047
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ZEAL FOR PESTICIDES MISPLACED IN COLUMN
Shame on the New River Current, and shame on extension agent Joe Hunnings! I always thought a column on gardening should not be in the "environment section." Now, Mr. Hunnings has gone from advice on growing healthy cucumbers to mouthpiece for the petro-chemical industry.The old arguments that everything is risky, so pesticides are safe, has been used for years. We all know the extension service is a cooperative effort working with Virginia Tech, who in turn is funded by pesticide manufacturers such as Monsanto, Ciba-Geigy, DuPont and others. So I see that you must defend research oriented toward where your bread is buttered.
Believe it or not, data based on a 1982 study may just be outdated. I would be glad to steer you to current information on the dangers of pesticides not distributed by the companies or think tanks that make money from pesticide sales.
You also did not mention the people who live near chemical manufacturing plants that suffer breathing disorders, illness and, in some cases, death due to pesticide manufacturing. Also, residues from manufacturing pesticides are hazardous waste. This means more communities are asked to host hazardous-waste dumps or incinerators. How much does risk to these communities factor into your comments concerning risk?
There are more than 6,000 herbicides and pesticides on the market today. Only hundreds are tested and have set standards. Does this seem safe to you? I will bet that when people were saying DDT was safe, there was someone like yourself saying it was only a "minimal" risk. What did we learn from that experience?
Homeowners and farmers saying no to the petro-chemical companies are finding that organic gardens are as good or superior to those using chemicals. And as the population deems that health and environmental risks are too great in using these chemicals, new businesses are popping up to provide alternatives.
I strongly urge the Current staff to provide alternative viewpoints when a column on gardening and landscaping turns political.
Pesticide use involves health issues, money and political power. I hope Mr. Hunnings will run an article on the benefits of organic gardening to balance out his one-sided editorial.
Pesticide and herbicide use has caused much illness, water contamination and farm-worker deaths and cancers. I hope some day Mr. Hunnings can meet some of these chemical victims and explain to them that their loss is just part of everyday "risk."\ Pete D. Castelli III\ Floyd
Castelli is the regional director of the Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste Inc.