Sir, - The hazard to health posed by a chemical after it enters the environment depends primarily on two factors, its toxicity and the extent of human exposure to it. Unfortunately, knowledge of the harmful effects of synthetic compounds has lagged far behind their introduction to the work-place. The UN National Research Council estimates that no information is available for 79 per cent of the more than 48,500 chemicals listed in the EPA's inventory of toxic substances.
With reference to exposure, the US Food and Drug Administration has estimated that 800-1,000 workers die each year from pesticide exposure. A House of Commons Select Committee considered that under-reporting of poisoning was a major problem.
Recent reports of the worrying degree of exposure experienced by Irish people to pesticides demands that we have a national pesticide plan, involving a phase-out of their use and a return to organic farming, in the best interests of our health. - Yours, etc.,
Spokesperson on Health, The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, Salthill, Mountcharles, Co Donegal.