New unpublished US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data documents that US pesticide use reached an all-time high of 567 million kilograms in 1995. This is over twice as much chemicals as were used 30 years ago when Rachel Carson's Silent Spring was published (245 million kilograms in 1964).
The unpublished data was obtained and analysed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and US Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG).
According to NRDC, these all-time highs in pesticide use have occurred despite the assertion by the pesticide industry that it has adopted "stewardship" and "integrated pest management" programs that result in smarter and lower pesticide use. The House of Representatives and Senate are expected to consider in June legislation weakening pesticide safety standards, which could result in even more pesticides being used in the future.
The EPA draft document includes 1994 and 1995 figures for 30 chemicals, including acute toxins, suspected carcinogens and chemicals thought to disrupt the human hormone system. The data show that 557.9 million kilograms of pesticides were applied in 1994, representing a jump of more than 45 million kg from the previous year. In 1995, 567 million kg were applied.
According to NRDC and US PIRG, EPA draft data likely understate the true level of pesticides in the environment for several reasons. EPA figures include only active ingredients, and do not include so-called "inert" ingredients such as petroleum, benzene and other toxic compounds. These "inert" chemicals can make up over 50% of the volume of formulated pesticides.
In addition, EPA figures exclude non-conventional pesticide uses, such as wood preservatives and disinfectants, which the EPA has previously estimated at more than 450 million kg per year. Taking these additional uses into consideration, the total US pesticide use in 1994-1995 is estimated at 998 million to 1043 million kg per year.
Use of pesticides in agriculture was at an all-time high in 1995, as were industrial, commercial and government use. Expenditures on pesticides also hit a new high of US$10.4 billion in 1995. More herbicides were used than during any previous two-year period; more insecticides were used than any previous year since 1981-82; and fungicide use was the highest yet recorded and was over double the amount used in 1979.
The reasons for the increase may include greater pest resistance to pesticides, adverse climate factors and pest infestations, as well as advertising and other factors leading to greater farmer and other user acceptance of pesticides.
According to the new data, worldwide conventional pesticide use also hit an all time high of 2.13 billion kilograms in 1995, with the US share at 27% — a higher percentage than in recent years, according to previously released EPA data.
[From Pesticide Action Network North America Updates Service.]