Our greetings note to you this month is brief due to this month's newsletter being unusually long because we have a lot of news to share -- some really good news and then some... well not-so-good news, especially regarding our current EPA. We think this month's news is important for you to know, and we will follow up in next month's newsletter on actions you can take to address the bad news. FYI, if you don't already, for more extensive coverage of pesticide-related news and tips, consider following us on Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter.
May you all stay safe and healthy, during these challenging times.
The Smart on Pesticides Coalition
Please help support our work to protect our babies, bees, and the Bay!
Vote With Your Wallet, Vote With Your Fork! GO Organic! Where to shop, how to go organic in all you do--even on a budget!Learn How
Organic farming reduces reliance on pesticides and promotes public health in ridding our shelves of unhealthy products that are more likely to end up harming low-income families.Read More
A frightening trend at the expense of animal welfare and environmental health. Is meat ruining the planet?In 2017, EPA reported that agriculture contributed nearly 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and livestock accounted for a full third of that. Read More
Ten simple ways to clean green from our friends at Green America:Read More
YES! EPA bans all food crop uses of chorpyrifos -- finally! The Maryland Smart on Pesticide Coalition celebrates this long-overdue decision to protect the health of millions of children, farmworkers, and rural families across our nation! Read More
A movement to pass environmental rights amendments, also known as green amendments, is gaining steam in state legislatures across the country and particularly in the Chesapeake Bay region.Read More
Montreal unveils new bylaw banning all pesticides. "Our goal is to make Montreal free of pesticides," Mayor Valérie Plante said. Montreal will be the first Canadian city to go this far--looking for takers amongst our Maryland cities. Read More
Disheartening news...
Bee-harming neonicotinoids detected in many foods such as honey for human consumption. The risks to humans of chronic exposure to specific neonicotinoids and the possible effects of exposure to combinations of neonicotinoids, are as yet largely unknown. Read More
Researchers have identified almost 300 chemicals in everything from hair dye to pesticides that can increase levels of breast cancer-contributing hormones. Read More
Foxes guarding the hen houses... disconcerting news about the current EPA
Two top public health experts declare: To get rid of high-risk pesticides, insulate the EPA from politics: "Many of the problems plaguing our food and agricultural system persist because politicians, regulators, and business leaders routinely ignore, twist, and undermine science." Read More
Over the last decade, pesticide registrants have gained a worrisome level of influence over EPA pesticide risk assessments: Registrants have learned from experience that if they fight long and hard enough, they can pressure the EPA to stall decisions. Read More
Whistleblowers speak out about the Environmental Protection Agency's practice of routinely approving dangerous chemicals.Read More
PANNA's take:Much as the chemical industry likes to complain about regulation, the fact is that the regulatory process in the U.S. is captured by corporate interests. "As those of us who work on pesticide issues know well, industry's influence at EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs is an extreme case in point." Read More
EPA says it won't end aerial spraying of a common weedkiller, reversing a restriction recommended during the Trump administration. The move on the herbicide paraquat is an unusual example of Biden administration taking a softer approach than the Trump administration. Read More
Other concerning news
Study finds link between glyphosate exposure and pregnancy length - women exposed to the toxic pesticide were more likely to have shorter pregnancies, which can increase babies' risk of long-term health problems. Read More
Organic? Natural? Eco-friendly? Not... companies using highly toxic pesticides are looking to cash in on consumers' desire for environmentally friendly options. How to avoid greenwashing and harmful pesticides in lawn care. Read More
Seresto toxic pesticide pet collars that release small amounts of pesticide onto the fur of cats and dogs for months at a time have been the subject of 75,000 EPA incident reports, including at least 1,698 pet deathssince their introduction to the market nine years ago.
A study published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science bolsters alarm about the role that agricultural pesticides play in what scientists have dubbed the "bugpocalypse" and led authors to call for stricter regulations across the U.S. Read More
New research finds that any amount of toxic neonicotinoid pesticides--no matter how small--can be harmful to bees. Read More
The use of pesticides and other major environmental pressures are putting pollinators and pollination itself under threat. Read More
Sorry to bug you even more, but scientists are sounding the alarm on a suspected "insect apocalypse."Read More
Xerces has adopted a multi-pronged approach to bumble bee conservation. Read More
According to the EPA's National Rivers and Streams Assessment, only 26% of the country's waterways are considered to be in good condition for fish; for macroinvertebrates, it's only 30%. Agriculture is a major water pollution culprit, thanks to runoff from fertilizers and pesticides, increased erosion and development. Read More
At a time when interest in regenerative agriculture is growing, a new study looks at the way pesticides can devastate soil species that foster plant health and sequester carbon.Read More
How our food system affects climate change--the way we produce and consume food is inextricably connected to the earth's changing climate.Read More
Farmers of color face numerous inequities that continue to shape the agricultural landscape in the U.S., where less than 2% of farmland is BIPOC farmer-owned and communities of color face greater rates of food inaccessibility.Read More
Today, immigrants produce the majority of our food, from farm to processing plant to restaurants and grocery stores. Wages are low, conditions are often harsh or dangerous, and immigrants not legally allowed to work in the US are often afraid to report abuses for fear of deportation. Read More
The vast majority of golf courses are notorious for their heavy use of pesticides, enormous consumption of water, and other negative environmental impacts. Read More
Author and photographer, Catherine Zimmerman combines her expertise in photography, storytelling, environmental issues, horticulture and organic practices to offer meadowscaping as an alternative to reduce lawn.Read More
Silent Winteris about the silent spread of toxic chemicals in our daily lives and their role in the growing prevalence of illnesses such as cancer, chronic fatigue, diabetes, asthma, digestive issues, depression, dementia, and others. You can purchase the book at Algora Publishing.
And if you missed these reads last month
Environmental News Service founder and chief scientist of Environmental Health Sciences, Pete Meyers' new book sheds light on human and environmental impacts from widely used herbicides, offering a potential antidote to the industry playbook downplaying their harm. Read More
Toxic Legacy" What are we leaving our grandchildren? There are few people who have studied the cancer-causing pesticide glyphosate as Stephanie Seneff, PhD. has.Read More
Please help support our work to protect our babies, bees, and the Bay!
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