Five myths about pesticides
The Austrian "Kronen Zeitung" clears up five myths about the use of pesticides in agriculture. With regard to toxicity, what the doctor Paracelsus knew still applies today: The dose makes the poison.
Monday, February 14, 2022
The subject of pesticides is repeatedly taken up in the media. It is often suggested that the use of pesticides pollutes drinking water and is harmful to human health. But other myths also persist. The "Kronen Zeitung" debunks the following five myths:
1. Only agriculture uses pesticides
That's wrong. Pesticides are pest control agents and are also used in other industries. Pesticides also include, for example, disinfectants against viruses and bacteria, ant or rat baits, wood preservatives against fungal infestation, chlorine for drinking water treatment or anti-algae agents in swimming pools. Crop protection products are a subgroup of pesticides and protect crops from fungal attack, rot and harmful insects.
2. Pesticides contaminate groundwater
This claim cannot be backed up with facts either. With regard to Austria, the "Kronen Zeitung" writes that the pollution of the groundwater has decreased significantly since the 1990s. Only 0.5 percent of around 180,000 examinations exceeded the precautionary value. Accordingly, the Austrian drinking water is of excellent quality and can be enjoyed without hesitation.
3. Residues in food slowly poison
There is also no evidence that pesticide residues in food are harmful to health. Pesticide residue limit values apply to foodstuffs, which are set in such a way that they do not damage human health even if consumed for a lifetime. Only 2.5 percent of the foods examined by the Agency for Food Safety (AGES) exceeded the maximum permissible value.
4. Conventional agriculture is spraying more and more
The opposite is true. The use of pesticides on Austrian fields has fallen by 19 percent since 2015.
5. Pesticides are prohibited in organic farming
That's not correct. Organic farms also use pesticides. 43 percent of the plant protection products sold in Austria are also approved for use in organic farming. After all, fungal diseases, harmful insects and weeds do not stop at organic farms. Due to climate change, the growing conditions for farmers are increasingly deteriorating. They will therefore continue to be dependent on pesticides in the future. Proper use based on the principle of “as much as necessary, as little as possible” remains important.
Sources
Related articles
Why a lack of resources is to blame for the low yields in agroecology
Calls for transforming food systems have grown over the past several years. International governance organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), have issued many of these calls. Other calls have come from activist organizations, too numerous to list. A common theme from both the FAO and activists is that the current system is ‘broken’ and requires a complete rethink and overhaul.
From molecule to crop protection product
On average, five crop protection products are approved for the market each year worldwide. Developing new products is challenging, time-consuming and expensive. It takes more than 12 years from the start of the search for a suitable substance to the approval of the market-ready product. The costs amount to more than 300 million US dollars. Every new crop protection product must meet strict requirements. The approval procedures for crop protection products are comparable to those for new drugs.
False study on crop protection poisoning influences political decisions
In recent years, the alarming news has been making the rounds that 385 million people suffer from crop protection poisoning every year. The claim comes from a study by critics of pesticides. It has been taken up and spread by numerous media and government institutions. The problem: the number is wrong. The study does not even allow for the conclusion, which is why the scientific publisher in question has since withdrawn the study. Nevertheless, it has influenced politics and continues to be cited frequently.
Class action lawsuit over pesticide ban
A proven seed dressing may no longer be used due to a decision of the European Court of Justice. As a result, the pumpkin harvest in Styria, Austria, has been almost completely destroyed.