A Facebook friend posted with concern the article on OPs. In response
I paraphrased Richard's bragging paragraph. The following comment
thanked me for the info with the note "I wondered why apples were not
on the list." So with this limited evidence, I think the positive
approach might work -- except it looks like this controversy may
quickly be forgotten.
John Henderson
Sage Hen Farm
Lodi, NY
On May 18, 2010, at 9:50 AM, Richard Weinzierl wrote:
All,
Let me confess to being a research and extension person and not a
commercial apple or peach grower. I do, however, spend a lot of time
working with commercial growers. With that disclaimer, I'll offer a
few thoughts.
I agree with the sentiments that the recently reported research on OPs
and ADHD seems preliminary and somewhat flawed. That said, folks,
we've been reducing use of OPs on apples in the US since FQPA in
1996. The regulations have been driven by both scientific and
emotional concerns that OPs as residues on foods present more risks
than the EPA finds acceptable. Let's admit that there has been an
underlying concern out there for some time, and it is not all driven
by fanatics or anti-pesticide groups. After we admit that to
ourselves ....
..... let's brag on the fact that we have responded to the concerns and
the regulations by reducing OP use. Penncap-M is no longer used at
all; Lorsban is used only in ways that should result in NO residues on
apples or peaches; Guthion is not used on peaches and is nearly gone
from our spray programs in apples; and Imidan is used far less than it
used to be. We might be wise to spend only a minimum amount of effort
criticizing this particular study and instead tout our progress. Such
an approach is likely to be more beneficial for marketing and customer
relations than any organized dispute of this particular research.
I realize that successive rounds of investigations will target newer
groups of insecticides, and we'll have to face truths and rumors that
result from them as well. For now, energy might be best spent on
making our progress very evident to the public. The alternative --
the idea that organic produce is the only answer -- will certainly not
meet the needs of the nation's or the world's consumers any time in
the foreseeable future.
Rick Weinzierl
Richard Weinzierl, Professor and Extension Entomologist
Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois
S-334 Turner Hall, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
weinz...@uiuc.edu, Ph. 217-244-2126
