>>LATEST NEWS

- We’re recruiting! The Health & Environment Alliance is recruiting a Communication and Outreach Assistant for a six-month period from September 2010 to February 2011. Read more here....

- Pesticides and Health E-news - Summer 2010

A monthly news summary service brought to you by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) as part of the Sick of Pesticides Campaign.
- Read the Summer 2010 issue.

- Pesticides in schools; a short guide

Pesticides may be found in schools, pre-schools, and nurseries. They may be used in the school grounds and in the buildings or be present as residues in the food brought in. Read HEAL’s short guide to the pesticides that could be being used in UK schools.

- Which pesticides are being used in your school or by your local authority?

Read our latest report - Pesticides - a toxic education? .

>> Don’t let pesticides make you sick!

Why worry about pesticides and health?

Scientific evidence increasingly points to links between the cancer epidemic and exposure to certain chemicals, including pesticides.

Pesticides play a role in eight types of cancer - those affecting children, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer and testicular cancer - all of which are rising in incidence.

People are exposed both at work and at home through pesticide spraying (in agriculture, parks, open spaces, gardens and on house plants) and via food and drink. Children are especially vulnerable and the unborn child can be affected by parental exposure.

- Find out more

Did you know?

A survey of residues in food in the UK showed that of the 94 pesticides detected, 37 have been identified by international authorities as suspected carcinogens and a further 22 were possible causes of chronic disease, including cancer and reproductive disorders.

What do we want?

A safer and cleaner environment needs strong laws, especially to protect the most vulnerable groups in society, such as pregnant women, children and farm workers. Taking a precautionary approach, we want to see:
- A ban on avoidable, cancer-causing pesticides by 2012, instead of 2018
- TARGETS to reduce the use of pesticides and eliminate or minimise exposure
- PESTICIDE-FREE areas where children are most exposed, such as parks, schools, and sports grounds
- Health care strategies and national cancer plans that include plans to reduce exposure.

Why launch a Pesticides & Cancer campaign now?

New European rules on pesticides have been introduced because of concerns about serious health effects. But the timetable for implementing the EU Directive and Regulation is too slow and the UK government is reluctant to act.

This campaign will provide information on pesticides and health issues, and give a voice to concerned citizens, cancer sufferers and their families, health groups and scientists. This will put pressure on Government to set up an ambitious "National Action Plan for Pesticide Reduction" and to support people and public bodies to rapidly to reduce their dependence on pesticides.

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