Threat by chemical substances: Legislation, production, use and waste - Environmental Deterioration and Contamination: Problems and their Management - page 52

- Influence the life processes of plants, other than as a nutrient (e.g., growth

regulators);

- Preserve plant products;

- Destroy undesired plants;

- Destroy parts of plants, check or prevent undesired growth of plants''.

Anyhow, pesticides and their active substances are dangerous and their use means
its spillage directly into the environment. Thousands of tons of these hazardous sub-
stances are used from year to year based on the argument of risk-benefit balance.
The socio-economic benefit (production, financial benefit, prevention of starvation of
human populations, protecting plants and animals from pests) override the hazard
and risk of pesticide production and application. The balance outcome in favor of
pesticides maybe realistic and currently valid, not only because of the prevention of
damage due to pests, but also because of the growing control on the application of pes-
ticides and other PPPs. The control of risk means that the use of hazardous pesticides
must not pose unacceptable risk on the ecosystem and humans. This is ensured by the
careful management of pesticides and the fulfillment of the regulations' requirements
by minimizing the amount used together with maximizing their beneficial effect on
agricultural products. The lack of complete knowledge on chemicals' effects on and
interactions with ecosystem and humans is a barrier in many cases (e.g. endocrine
disruption, sensitization, etc.) in ensuring the desired level of safety.
PPPs are regulated in Europe by the Council Directive 91/414/EEC (PPP Directive,
1991) concerning the placing of PPPs on the market. It lays down rules and procedures
for approval of the active substances at the EU level and for their authorization at the
member state level. This directive states that substances cannot be used in PPPs unless
they are included in a so-called positive EU list. Once a substance has been included
in the positive list, member states may authorize the use of products containing it.
Pesticide residues in food are strictly regulated world-wide, in Europe by the Regu-
lation (EC) No 396/2005 (Pesticide in Food and Feed, 2005). The legislation covers the
setting, monitoring and control of pesticide residues in products of plant and animal
origin that may arise from their use in plant protection.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG, 2013), a US-based watchdog orga-
nization analyzes US Department of Agriculture (USDA, 2013) data about pesticide
residue in food crops and ranks foods yearly, based on how much or little pesticide
residue they contain. The group estimates that individuals can reduce their exposure
by 80% if they switch to organic instead of buying the “dirty 12'' foods. The 2013
“dirty dozen plus'' list reflects testing data from the 2012 harvest. Such data are highly
dependent on the yearly weather conditions and may vary by farm and region. The list
is not generally valid, but is an initiative which draws attention of ordinary people to
their own responsibility.
Dirty Dozen

+ by EWG (2013)

- Apples - Peaches

- Celery - Potatoes

- Cherry tomatoes - Spinach

- Cucumber - Strawberries

- Grapes - Sweet bell peppers

- Hot pepper - Kale/collard +

- Nectarines - Summer squash +