Protect Farmers From Brain Damaging Chemicals

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Long-term exposure to pesticides is linked to serious mental and physical issues. Sign the petition to protect farmers!

Protect Farmers From Brain Damaging Chemicals

Farmers around the world are at risk.

Scientific research now links long-term use of pesticides and herbicides to higher rates of depression and suicide. Evidence also suggests that pesticide poisoning, a heavy dose in a short amount of time, doubles the risk of depression1.

There is no national data on whether farmers and their workers are more prone to depression, but some research suggests that the chemicals that farmers and their workers spread on fields may alter some of these brain chemicals2.

The studies suggest that chronic exposure to low levels over time may raise the risk of depression and suicide. Most regulatory agencies aren’t tracking these cases, instead basing their work on acute high level exposure.1.

One of the most dangerous categories of agricultural chemicals on the market today, Organophosphates are a class of pesticides developed as nerve agents in World War II. Sarin gas is one of these chemicals, more widely known for its use in chemical warfare3.

After the war, these chemicals were adapted for commercial pesticide use. Organophosphates became some of the most widely used pesticides in the U.S. during the “Green Revolution” of the 1950s and 1960s, and now applied to over 65% of the total insecticide-treated agricultural crops4.

Organophosphates are used on fruits, nuts, vegetables, wheat, alfalfa, corn, and soy, as well as many foods eaten by children like apples, pears, berries, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, and peas5.

Even brief exposure to organophosphates can cause acute pesticide poisoning, interfering with nerve impulses in the body. This type of poisoning can lead to symptoms from nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness to seizures, paralysis, and even death in some instances6.

The reported incidents show just a small percentage of the whole, and many pesticide poisonings go unreported because of inadequate reporting systems, fear of retaliation from employers and reluctance to seek medical treatment7.

Current environmental regulations do not fully protect workers who are exposed to low levels of pesticides over time.

Farmers and their families and workers shouldn’t have to choose between using a chemical for the good of their farm, or protecting their own health and the environment.

Sign the petition and ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to revoke tolerances and cancel registrations for food uses of organophosphates!

More on this issue:

  1. Brian Bienkowski, Scientific American (6 October 2014), "High Rates of Suicide, Depression Linked to Farmers’ Use of Pesticides."
  2. Greentumble (15 June 2016), "Harmful Chemicals Used in Agriculture."
  3. United Farm Workers, United Farm Workers Foundation, Earthjustice, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Farmworker Association of Florida, Farmworker Justice, GreenLatinos, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, League of United Latin American Citizens, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Pesticide Action Network North America, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, Earth Justice, (18 November 2021), "Petition to Revoke Food Tolerances and Cancel Registrations for Harmful Organophosphate Uses."
  4. Comprehensive Sampling and Sample Preparation, Science Direct (2012), "Organophosphorus Pesticide."
  5. Francesca Holme, Beti Thompson, Sarah Holte, Eric M. Vigoren, Noah Espinoza, Angela Ulrich, William Griffith, and Elaine M. Faustman, Environmental Research (May 2016), "The role of diet in children’s exposure to organophosphate pesticides."
  6. Erika L. Robb; Mari B. Baker, StatPearls (1 May 2022), "Organophosphate Toxicity."
  7. Carmen Freire, Sergio Koifman, International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health (17 Feb 2013), "Pesticides, depression and suicide: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence."

The Petition

To the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency,

Farmers and their families and workers shouldn't have to choose between using a chemical for the good of their farm, or protecting their own health and the environment. Sadly, they are forced to every day that harmful organophosphates are left on the market.

Even brief exposure to organophosphates can cause acute pesticide poisoning, interfering with nerve impulses in the body. This type of poisoning can lead to symptoms from nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness to seizures, paralysis, and even death in some instances.

Current environmental regulations address acute pesticide poisoning events, but do not fully protect workers who are exposed to low levels of pesticides over time. Further, the reported incidents a show just a small percentage of the whole. Many pesticide poisonings go unreported because of inadequate reporting systems, fear of retaliation from employers, and reluctance to seek medical treatment

I implore you to take action for the health of our farmers and their families and revoke all tolerances and cancel all associated registrations for food uses of organophosphates.

Sincerely,

DEV MODE ACTIVE. BRAND: gg