4 ms·

Another reason to go organic.

by himom 8y ago

a_bonobo 8y ago
Most forms of organic farming still use pesticies, just different ones, with similar or worse health risks. >In head-to-head comparisons, natural pesticides don't fare any better than synthetic ones. When I compared the organic chemicals copper sulfate and pyrethrum to the top synthetics, chlorpyrifos and chlorothalonil, I found that not only were the organic ones more acutely toxic, studies have found that they are more chronically toxic as well, and have higher negative impacts on non-target species. My results match with other scientific comparisons. In their recommendations to Parliament in 1999, the Committee on European Communities noted that copper sulfate, in particular, was far more dangerous than the synthetic alternative. A review of their findings can be seen in the table on the right (from a recent review paper). Similarly, head to head comparisons have found that organic pesticides aren't better for the environment, either. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/pesticides-food-fears/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/pesticide...
- GW150914 8y ago
  Glyphosate is an herbicide, not a pesticide.
  - usaname 8y ago
    No herbicides, fungicides and insecticides are all pesticides.
    - GW150914 8y ago
      Sounds good, but the example given chlorpyrifos, is an insecticide. In context it was very clear that a mistake was made, and not by me.
adrr 8y ago
Organic pesticides are nasty stuff as well. "In 2010, a study was published detailing the progression of Parkinson's-like symptoms in mice following chronic intragastric ingestion of low doses of rotenone. The concentrations in the central nervous system were below detectable limits, yet still induced PD pathology.[31] In 2011, a US National Institutes of Health study showed a link between rotenone use and Parkinson's disease in farm workers." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotenone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotenone
- alexandercrohde 8y ago
  Rotenone is no longer an organic pesticide. [Even in America. It can only be used as a "fishkill"] source: http://npic.orst.edu/NPRO/# http://npic.orst.edu/NPRO/#
  - adrr 8y ago
    Only in Europe. Its still approved by the USDA. Source(failed petition to remove it): https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Rotenone%20proposal.pdf https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Rotenone%...
  - gowld 8y ago
    What does "organic" mean if a specific substance can become "not organic" without changing?
    - oasisbob 8y ago
      You have a point. I think "not organic" in this context is shorthand for "not allowed in organic agriculture." Scanning the reg, the USDA's list is titled "Prohibited Natural Substances."
    - pluma 8y ago
      If you think the term "organic" is silly: in German the word that's used means "biological".
- GW150914 8y ago

Another reason to go organic.

by himom 8y ago

Another reason to go organic.

Most forms of organic farming still use pesticies, just different ones, with similar or worse health risks. >In head-to-head comparisons, natural pesticides don't fare any better than synthetic ones. When I compared the organic chemicals copper sulfate and pyrethrum to the top synthetics, chlorpyrifos and chlorothalonil, I found that not only were the organic ones more acutely toxic, studies have found that they are more chronically toxic as well, and have higher negative impacts on non-target species. My results match with other scientific comparisons. In their recommendations to Parliament in 1999, the Committee on European Communities noted that copper sulfate, in particular, was far more dangerous than the synthetic alternative. A review of their findings can be seen in the table on the right (from a recent review paper). Similarly, head to head comparisons have found that organic pesticides aren't better for the environment, either. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/pesticides-food-fears/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/pesticide...

GW150914 8y ago
Glyphosate is an herbicide, not a pesticide.
- usaname 8y ago
  No herbicides, fungicides and insecticides are all pesticides.
  - GW150914 8y ago
    Sounds good, but the example given chlorpyrifos, is an insecticide. In context it was very clear that a mistake was made, and not by me.

adrr 8y ago

Organic pesticides are nasty stuff as well. "In 2010, a study was published detailing the progression of Parkinson's-like symptoms in mice following chronic intragastric ingestion of low doses of rotenone. The concentrations in the central nervous system were below detectable limits, yet still induced PD pathology.[31] In 2011, a US National Institutes of Health study showed a link between rotenone use and Parkinson's disease in farm workers." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotenone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotenone

alexandercrohde 8y ago
Rotenone is no longer an organic pesticide. [Even in America. It can only be used as a "fishkill"] source: http://npic.orst.edu/NPRO/# http://npic.orst.edu/NPRO/#
- adrr 8y ago
  Only in Europe. Its still approved by the USDA. Source(failed petition to remove it): https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Rotenone%20proposal.pdf https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Rotenone%...
- gowld 8y ago
  What does "organic" mean if a specific substance can become "not organic" without changing?
  - oasisbob 8y ago
    You have a point. I think "not organic" in this context is shorthand for "not allowed in organic agriculture." Scanning the reg, the USDA's list is titled "Prohibited Natural Substances."
  - pluma 8y ago
    If you think the term "organic" is silly: in German the word that's used means "biological".
GW150914 8y ago