Food panelFood panel

September 5, 2013

Lynn MarkhamUW-ExtensionUW-Stevens Point

QuestionsQuestions

What is your current work focused on and how does it relate to emerging needs in food systems work?

What role can Extension play in addressing these emerging needs?

Why food?Why food?

I’ve been growing & preserving food since I was little – family I’ve been growing & preserving food since I was little – family tradition tradition

I love to eat good food & am used to garden-freshI love to eat good food & am used to garden-fresh I want to minimize my own chemical exposures – I have enough I want to minimize my own chemical exposures – I have enough

past exposures as a chemist & farmworkerpast exposures as a chemist & farmworker I want healthy food for my kidsI want healthy food for my kids It’s fun finding frogs & butterflies in our gardenIt’s fun finding frogs & butterflies in our garden

Current workCurrent work

Blend of professional and personal workBlend of professional and personal work

Website: Protecting Wisconsin’s Groundwater Website: Protecting Wisconsin’s Groundwater (Drinking water)(Drinking water)

Education about pesticide use & health effects Education about pesticide use & health effects in WIin WI– Wisconsin Land Use Megatrends: AgricultureWisconsin Land Use Megatrends: Agriculture– Reducing Pesticide Exposure in your Food & Reducing Pesticide Exposure in your Food &

WaterWater

How much pesticide is How much pesticide is applied per acre?applied per acre?

No pesticide data available for cranberries

which are grown on 19,000 acres

in WI

Pesticide Application MapBased on 2005 avg pesticide application per crop

After pesticides are After pesticides are sprayed in a field, where sprayed in a field, where do they go?do they go?

Ideally, pesticides would Ideally, pesticides would harm only the target pest harm only the target pest and then break down into and then break down into harmless substancesharmless substances

Pesticides are found in:Pesticides are found in:– FoodFood– AirAir– Drinking waterDrinking water– SoilSoil

Source: USDA data

Dietary risks calculated by Environmental Working Group

Which foods have the Which foods have the highest & lowest pesticide highest & lowest pesticide risks?risks?

Pick 5 servings a day from the dirty dozen and you will consume an average of 14 different pesticides.

Choose 5 servings from the Clean 15 and you'll consume fewer than 2 pesticides.

What do these photos have in What do these photos have in common?common?

InterviewInterview

http://www.npr.org/http://www.npr.org/2011/04/21/135605139/mothers-2011/04/21/135605139/mothers-pesticide-exposure-linked-to-kids-iqspesticide-exposure-linked-to-kids-iqs

Role of Extension for Role of Extension for emerging needsemerging needs

Provide learning opportunities aboutProvide learning opportunities aboutFood growing practices and local farmsFood growing practices and local farms

Expanding research field about health effects of pesticides, especially how they affect children’s ability to learn

Ways to support sustainable farming– Various types of CSAsVarious types of CSAs– Health insurance rebates for CSA members Health insurance rebates for CSA members – Local investment club focused on farmers Local investment club focused on farmers

and food entrepreneursand food entrepreneurs

20

upper sandstone aquifer

lower sandstone

aquifer

confining shale layer

water table

40

100

260

120

DEP

TH

BELO

W G

RO

UN

D S

UR

FA

CE

(feet)

water flow direction

0

Monitoring Wells

Private Well

Bedfod Falls

Municipal Well

Ag-chemical plume

What are the health effects of agricultural

pesticides? CancerCancer Changes reproductive systemsChanges reproductive systems Birth defectsBirth defects Difficulties learning: ADHD and Difficulties learning: ADHD and

lower IQslower IQs

Why care about Why care about pesticides in your pesticides in your food?food?1.1. Your healthYour health

2.2. The health of children you may The health of children you may have in the futurehave in the future

3.3. Health of people who grow your Health of people who grow your foodfood

4.4. Health of people in your Health of people in your community – drinking water community – drinking water safetysafety

5.5. Health of other animals: fish, Health of other animals: fish, frogs, bees, etc.frogs, bees, etc.

Dietary Risk Index for Imported vs. Domestic Fruits and Vegetables

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Nectarin

es

Peach

es

Strawber

ries

Pears

Apples

Cherrie

s

Green

bea

ns

Sweet b

ell p

epper

s

Celery

Cucum

bers

Lettu

ce

Tomat

oes

Die

tary

Ris

k In

dex

Imported DRI

Domestic DRI

2008 report by The Organic Center based on data from the USDA

Fruits & vegetables grown in the Fruits & vegetables grown in the U.S. have lower pesticide risks U.S. have lower pesticide risks than imported foods than imported foods (except green (except green beans)beans)

Pesticide use on Pesticide use on WI cropsWI cropsAnnual use on major agricultural crops:

• 13 million pounds of pesticides in WI• Over 2 pounds per person

Source: Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service, 2004-05 data

After pesticides are After pesticides are sprayed in a field, where sprayed in a field, where do they go?do they go?Science has found they:Science has found they:contact farmworkers during contact farmworkers during applicationapplicationattach to soil and get tracked attach to soil and get tracked into homesinto homesevaporate into the air, and evaporate into the air, and drift for miles depending on drift for miles depending on dust & wind conditionsdust & wind conditionsremain on/in the plant that remain on/in the plant that becomes foodbecomes foodrun off into lakes or streamsrun off into lakes or streamssoak into groundwatersoak into groundwater

Agricultural pesticides in WI Agricultural pesticides in WI private drinking water wellsprivate drinking water wellsAgricultural pesticides in WI Agricultural pesticides in WI private drinking water wellsprivate drinking water wells

Estimate that 1/3 Estimate that 1/3 of private of private drinking water drinking water wells in WI wells in WI contained a contained a pesticide or pesticide or pesticide pesticide metabolitemetabolite

Agricultural pesticides in WI Agricultural pesticides in WI private drinking water wellsprivate drinking water wellsAgricultural pesticides in WI Agricultural pesticides in WI private drinking water wellsprivate drinking water wells

Wells in areas with more cropland were more likely to contain pesticides, and often contained a mixture of multiple pesticides

Very little is known Very little is known about the health about the health effects of being effects of being exposed to a mixture exposed to a mixture of pesticidesof pesticides

Drinking water standards Drinking water standards for pesticides used in WIfor pesticides used in WI

Wisconsin farmers reported using Wisconsin farmers reported using 90 different pesticides in the 90 different pesticides in the 2005 growing season2005 growing season

Only 16 of these pesticides have Only 16 of these pesticides have drinking water standards. We drinking water standards. We don’t test for the other 74 don’t test for the other 74 pesticides.pesticides.

Babies & children are more Babies & children are more vulnerable to pesticidesvulnerable to pesticides

Because…Their bodies are developing and growing, from one cell into a whole person

They consume much more food and water per pound of body weight than adults

Babies and children do not have the same levels of defensive enzymes present as adults, so they are less able to detoxify the pesticides when exposed. OP pesticide detoxification enzymes increase at least until age 7.

Health: CancerHealth: Cancer

Field cornField corn

HerbicidesHerbicides

AcetochlorAcetochlor

AtrazineAtrazine

ClopyralidClopyralid

Dicamba, Sodium saltDicamba, Sodium salt

Diflufenzopyr-sodiumDiflufenzopyr-sodium

Dimethenamid-PDimethenamid-P

FlumetsulamFlumetsulam

GlyphosateGlyphosate

Glyphosate iso. saltGlyphosate iso. salt

MesotrioneMesotrione

NicosulfuronNicosulfuron

RimsulfuronRimsulfuron

S-MetolachlorS-Metolachlor

Insecticide: Insecticide: TefluthrinTefluthrin

PotatoesPotatoes

HerbicidesHerbicides

LinuronLinuron

MetribuzinMetribuzin

PendimethalinPendimethalin

RimsulfuronRimsulfuron

S-MetolachlorS-Metolachlor

InsecticidesInsecticides

BifenthrinBifenthrin

EsfenvalerateEsfenvalerate

ImidaclopridImidacloprid

NovaluronNovaluron

ThiamethoxamThiamethoxam

PotatoesPotatoes

FungicidesFungicides

AzoxystrobinAzoxystrobin

BoscalidBoscalid

Chlorothalonil (96%)Chlorothalonil (96%)

Copper hydroxideCopper hydroxide

CymoxanilCymoxanil

DifenoconazoleDifenoconazole

FamoxadoneFamoxadone

Mancozeb (66%)Mancozeb (66%)

MandipropamideMandipropamide

MefenoxamMefenoxam

Propamocarb Propamocarb HydrochHydroch

PotatoesPotatoes

Fungicides (cont.)Fungicides (cont.)

PyraclostrobinPyraclostrobin

Triphenyltin hydrox. Triphenyltin hydrox. (51%)(51%)

ZoxamideZoxamide

Other ChemicalsOther Chemicals

Diquat dibromideDiquat dibromide

Maleic HydrazideMaleic Hydrazide

Known or likely to cause cancer Unknown or possibly causes cancer Not likely to cause cancer in humans according to the 2010 EPA list

Of 14 pesticides used on corn,

6 pesticides are

unknown or possibly cause cancer

Of 24 pesticides used on potatoes, 3 pesticides are

known or likely to cause cancer +

8 unknown/possible

Lawn pesticidesLawn pesticides The EPA reviewed the top 10 lawn and garden The EPA reviewed the top 10 lawn and garden

pesticides: 1 is likely to cause cancer, 4 may cause pesticides: 1 is likely to cause cancer, 4 may cause cancer, and 4 others are unknowncancer, and 4 others are unknown

Table 1: Top 10 home and garden pesticides Pesticide Type Pounds of active

ingredient used in the U.S. in 2007

Potential to cause cancer (EPA)

2,4-D H 8-11 million Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity Glyphosate (Roundup) H 5-8 million Evidence of non-carcinogenicity for humans Carbaryl I 4-6 million Likely to be carcinogenic to humans MCPP H 4-6 million Suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity, but not

sufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential Pendimethalin H 3-5 million Possible human carcinogen Pyrethroids I 2-4 million Permethrin is likely to be carcinogenic to humans Malathion I 2-4 million Suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity, but not

sufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential Dicamba H 1-3 million Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity Trifluralin H 1-3 million Possible human carcinogen Pelargonic Acid H <1 million ?? EPA has not evaluated

1.7 million pounds were 1.7 million pounds were applied to 2.4 million applied to 2.4 million acres of corn in WI in acres of corn in WI in 2010 2010

Detected in 25% of Detected in 25% of private wells in WIprivate wells in WI

Germany & Italy banned Germany & Italy banned atrazine in 1991; EU atrazine in 1991; EU banned it in 2004 using banned it in 2004 using the precautionary the precautionary principleprinciple

Atrazine – a common Atrazine – a common pesticidepesticide

Linked to cardiovascular damage Linked to cardiovascular damage & reproductive difficulties in & reproductive difficulties in some people who are exposed some people who are exposed over the health standard for over the health standard for many years (EPA)many years (EPA)

Atrazine – a common Atrazine – a common pesticide, used for decadespesticide, used for decades

Recent study from Fall 2011: Recent study from Fall 2011: Women exposed to atrazine in their drinking water below the health standard of 3ppb were associated with

– more menstrual cycle length irregularity– more instances of greater than 6 weeks between

periods– reduced mid-luteal phase urinary metabolites of

progesterone; insufficient progesterone impairs implantation and leads to infertility and repeated spontaneous abortions

Atrazine – a common Atrazine – a common pesticide, used for pesticide, used for decadesdecades

Cragin, LA et al. Menstrual cycle characteristics and reproductive hormone levels in women exposed to atrazine in drinking water. Environmental Research, 2011 Nov; 111(8):1293-301. Epub 2011 Oct 13

Reduces reproduction in Reduces reproduction in fish by 19-39% at levels fish by 19-39% at levels near the drinking water near the drinking water standardstandard

Male frogs exposed to Male frogs exposed to 1/301/30thth of drinking water of drinking water standard as tadpoles standard as tadpoles developed both male and developed both male and female sex organsfemale sex organs

Atrazine – a common Atrazine – a common pesticide, used for decadespesticide, used for decades

Hayes et al. Hermaphroditic, demasculinized frogs after exposure to the herbicide atrazine at low ecologically relevant doses. PNAS . 2002 vol. 99 no. 8, 5476-5480 Tillitt et al. Atrazine reduces reproduction in fathead minnows. Aquatic Toxicology. 2010 . 99:2:149-159.

Health: Learning in Health: Learning in farmworkers’ childrenfarmworkers’ children

Children exposed to pesticides were the same physical size but had reduced eye-hand

coordination 30-minute

memory ability to draw

a person

Exposed

Not exposed Unexposed Exposed

Guillette, et al. 1998. EHP, 106 (6): 347-353.

Health: Health: OrganophosphatesOrganophosphates Organophosphates (OP) are a group of insecticides that Organophosphates (OP) are a group of insecticides that kill

insects by irreversibly inactivating an enzyme that is essential to nerve function in insects, humans, and many other animals

Found commonly in:– Apples– Sweet bell peppers– Cranberries– Grapes– Peaches– Mushrooms– Wheat– Celery – Corn grain– Green beans– Almonds

Study found rinsing produce did not reduce levels of chlorpyrifos, a common OP

Research by Warren Porter Research by Warren Porter and his grad students at and his grad students at UW-Madison has found that UW-Madison has found that dosing female mice with dosing female mice with chlorpyrifos leads to chlorpyrifos leads to daughters that are slow daughters that are slow learners – afraid & hesitantlearners – afraid & hesitant

““We’re dosing our kids with We’re dosing our kids with neurotoxins like neurotoxins like chlorpyrifos, and then we chlorpyrifos, and then we wonder why they’re having wonder why they’re having trouble learning and trouble learning and concentrating,” said concentrating,” said Warren PorterWarren Porter

OPs & learning in miceOPs & learning in mice

Haviland et al. 2009. Reproductive Toxicology

Health: OPs & IQHealth: OPs & IQ

Chlorpyrifos is found in amniotic Chlorpyrifos is found in amniotic fluid and crosses the placenta into fluid and crosses the placenta into the babythe baby

Prenatal exposure is linked to Prenatal exposure is linked to smaller head size, lower birth smaller head size, lower birth weight and attention problemsweight and attention problems

Studies in urban and rural areas Studies in urban and rural areas found that children born to mothers found that children born to mothers with higher levels of with higher levels of organophosphate pesticides in their organophosphate pesticides in their urine during pregnancy had lower urine during pregnancy had lower IQ scores at ages 2-3 and 6-9IQ scores at ages 2-3 and 6-9

Bouchard, M.F. et al. 2011. Rural agricultural children; Salinas Valley, CAEngel, S.M. et al. 2011. Inner city children; NYCRauh, V. et al. 2011. Inner city children; NYC

Good newsGood news When children ate organic fruits, When children ate organic fruits,

vegetables, juices and corn/wheat vegetables, juices and corn/wheat products, they had much lower products, they had much lower pesticide levels in their urinepesticide levels in their urine

“Organic” means grown without synthetic

pesticides. “Natural” has no

definition.

Lu et al., Organic Diets Significantly Lower Children’s Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus PesticidesEHP, Feb 2006

We are what we eat

Some common pesticides are known to cause cancer, affect reproduction, and limit the ability of children to learn

We know very little about the long-term health effects of most pesticides or mixtures of pesticides

When pesticides are applied to the land, they affect the health of– Our food– Our drinking water– Us & our children– Farmworkers– Animals including frogs, birds & bees

ConclusionsConclusions

If you know of a group If you know of a group that might be interested that might be interested in this presentation, in this presentation, please talk with me please talk with me

Thank you!!Thank you!!

Comments?Comments?Questions??Questions?? Lynn Markham

UW-ExtensionUW-Stevens Point715.346.3879lmarkham@uwsp.edu

Exercise: Design a low Exercise: Design a low pesticide menu that’s pesticide menu that’s affordableaffordable See farm fresh atlasSee farm fresh atlas Use your own experience related Use your own experience related

to other sources of food and to other sources of food and menu planningmenu planning

Design a menuDesign a menu