Your Daily Poison - Pesticide Action Network UK

Exposure to spray-drift, pesticide particles
and vapour
‘The field next to my garden was being sprayed
with a tractor and boom with Round-up, and
there was a moderate wind blowing across my
land. I was working in the garden and noticed
the smell and taste of spray. I took photos, and
went to see the farm manager, who apologised
but said there was no risk: he said it was fine
spray, not real 'drift'. The fruit and veg in my
garden have been exposed, but the HSE will
not carry out a laboratory analysis and I cannot
afford to do so myself.’
Exposure to storage chemicals
‘I and my family live in a row of houses next to
fields and approximately twenty metres from a
potato store regularly fogged with
chlorpropham. Fans were installed without
ducts or filters in October 2001 so we are
regularly exposed. No notification is given
despite frequent requests. My wife has recently
been diagnosed with asthma: she has never
had it before. My brother in law in the same
row was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the
oesophagus since the fans were installed and
has now sadly died. The Health & Safety
Executive have inspected the site and
concluded that there was no risk to our health.
But in a previous case examined by the HSE’s
Pesticide Incident Appraisal Panel (ref 07/069,
November 1995) the Panel concluded that
exposure to chlorpropham was likely to have
caused the illness reported because
chloropham is known to have irritant
properties, including respiratory tract irritation
after inhalation. Now I am attempting to pursue
legal action.’
Harm to pets indicating risk to children
‘On 18th May 2004, Carmarthenshire County
Council roadmen cut grass and sprayed
chemicals around the bridges over the river Taf
in the small village of Llanfallteg. That evening,
as a local resident, I was walking my dog along
the road, and noticed that after we’d crossed a
bridge he began bumping into objects. When
we arrived home, I realised he had inflamed
eyes and appeared to be almost blind. The
following day I took him to the vet who
diagnosed chemical poisoning. I was informed
by the Council’s Highways Department staff
that the area had been sprayed with
‘Tordon22k’ (herbicide picloram) and ‘Touche’
(herbicides diuron and glyphosate). My dog
survived for a further two weeks, looking like a
rabbit suffering from myxomatosis, but then
had to be put down because of irreparable
damage to his eyes. I am really shocked that
these substances were being used with no
warnings. Supposing a child had used the
verge?’
Harm to domestic animals indicating risk to
human health
‘My ponies are in a field surrounded on two
sides by arable land on which sugar beet is
grown and sprayed frequently. One of the foals
developed a swollen throat and could not put
its head down to suckle properly. They were
spraying about a foot away from the edge of
our field. We are never notified of when they
are going to spray. Our oldest pony had to be
shot in April [2005], and the vet said it had
neurological problems. It has only ever had
such symptoms when grazed on that field.’
Exposure to orchard spraying
‘I live next to an orchard where pears and
apples are grown commercially. In the spring
they spray about once every two weeks. My
garden is about ten to twelve feet from the
boundary. I am concerned about the use of
organophosphate insecticides in orchards.’
Exposure to fumigants used in polytunnel
production
‘My whole community is at risk from the use of
methyl bromide in a nearby strawberry-growing
enterprise. Some of us have experienced
background flu symptoms and there are
considerable health risks from this chemical.’
Exposure to sulphuric acid
‘I foster two people with learning disabilities
who suffered burning sensations on their skin
and in their eyes when sulphuric acid was
used on the potato crop next to our garden
near Leven. Other members of my family and
our animals were also at risk. We were
supposed to be notified but were not.’
PEX was also contacted in 2004 and 2005 by
32 people reporting previous pesticide
exposures, for example:
◆ ‘About ten years ago I was made really ill
and was in bed for days after walking
where they were spraying acid on potatoes.
I don’t report the spraying because I don’t
want to antagonise the farmer.’
◆ ‘A few years ago I was walking down our
the second UK pesticide exposure report 7