It's been three years since Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act, but the Environmental Protection Agency still has yet to take steps to reduce pesticide use and protect children, who are most vulnerable to pesticide exposure, from contaminated foods and water.
Worse yet, as the use of pesticides continues to rise, it may take just one serving of peaches, apples, grapes, spinach, pears or green beans to exceed federal safety regulations, according to a study by Consumers Union released in February. After analyzing 27,000 food samples tested by the Agriculture Department, Consumers Union found that nearly half the children who eat a peach with its skin on would likely ingest enough of the nerve agent methyl parathion to exceed the EPA's safety recommendations. A similar study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that every day, more than 300,000 children consume an unsafe dose of methyl parathion, mostly from apples and grapes. Methyl parathion use is banned in 27 countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom.
Why the foot-dragging by the EPA? Early in 1998, when it appeared the EPA might ban a whole class of pesticides known as organophosphates (including methyl parathion) as part of its implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act, the pesticide industry and the agriculture interests that use these chemicals on crops mobilized in opposition. Leading the counter-attack was Rep. Charlie Stenholm (D-TX), recipient of more than a quarter of a million dollars in campaign contributions from pesticide manufacturers and related concerns since 1991. In the 1998 election cycle alone, he ranked first among his House colleagues for contributions from pesticide interests, receiving $43,900, almost three times as much as any other House member. (Pesticide companies and individuals connected with them gave nearly $1 million in contributions to candidates and parties in this election, 62% to Republicans.)
In February 1998, Stenholm and fellow House Agriculture Committee member Marion Berry (D-AR, #5 in the House in pesticide-related contributions) met with Vice President Al Gore and urged delay. They reportedly warned Gore of potential trouble in key electoral states, such as Iowa, Texas, Florida, and California, if the EPA went ahead. Two months later, Vice President Gore issued a memorandum essentially ordering the EPA to slow down as it evaluated organophosphates. His memo directed the agency to work with the Agriculture Department (traditionally more sympathetic to the industry's views), pay close attention to economic concerns, and ensure that the industry had a say in the proceedings. This led to the creation of a new 50-member committee, the Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee, to advise the EPA as it implements the Food Quality Protection Act. Members include such pesticide manufacturers -- and Stenholm donors --- as Monsanto and the American Crop Protection Association, along with some consumer and environmental representatives.
In response to Consumer Union's report, the EPA suggested that consumers "always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly." It added that "some consumers may choose to purchase organically grown foods."
