The Deadly Chemicals in Cotton
New report exposes the human health and environmental cost of pesticide use in global cotton production.
Press Release
13/02/07
As the fashion industry gets together to celebrate future fashion, The Deadly Chemicals in Cotton, a new report by the Environmental Justice Foundation, in collaboration with the Pesticide Action Network UK, reveals the routine use of harmful chemicals, including nerve agents and neurotoxins, on cotton crops.
Vomiting, paralysis, incontinence, coma, seizures and death are some of the many side effects suffered by farmers and children in the developing world who are routinely exposed to pesticides, many of which are banned or restricted in use in the West.
Cotton, the most valuable non-food agricultural product, is labelled as the world's "dirtiest" crop:
- US$2 billion's worth of chemicals are sprayed on the world's cotton crop every year, almost half of which is considered toxic enough to be classified as hazardous by the World Health Organisation.
- Cotton is responsible for the release of 16% of global insecticides - more than any other single crop.
- In total, almost 1kg of hazardous pesticides is applied for every hectare of global cropland under cotton.
- Aldicarb, a powerful nerve agent, is one of the most toxic pesticides applied to cotton worldwide. Despite its World Health Organisation classification, "extremely hazardous", US$112 million's worth is applied to cotton crops each year.
- Endosulfan - attributed to serious health problems, including coma, seizures, convulsions and death - remains as one of the most widely used pesticides in the world: in India, over 3,000 tonnes is applied to cotton crops annually. Endosulfan is thought to be the most important source of fatal poisoning among cotton farmers in West Africa.
- Children are inherently more vulnerable to the negative impacts of exposure to pesticides. In countries such as Uzbekistan and India, children work in the cotton industry, live near cotton fields or are at high danger of pesticide exposure from reused pesticide containers and food.
Steve Trent, Director of EJF, says "With no less than 99% of the world's cotton farmers living in the developing world, the pesticides are applied in fields where illiteracy is high and safety awareness is low, putting both the environment and lives at risk". He adds "The dangers faced by poor illiterate children and farmers, to keep our clothes cheap, is unacceptable".
"Today, only 0.15% of the world's cotton is guaranteed to be pesticide free. This means that the majority of the cotton we wear is likely to have contributed to the poisoning of lives and the environment in some of the world's most vulnerable communities", says Linda Craig, Director of PAN UK. "If the fashion industry is truly concerned about its impact in this world, then it needs to clean up its act and demand organic cotton."
Leading fashion designer Katharine Hamnett, says "By insisting on organic cotton and fair pay for garment workers and by paying 1% more for a t-shirt, you can change the world and make it a better and safer place."
Consumer demand for organic cotton currently stands at between US$800 million and US$1 billion, demonstrating that organic cotton offers a strong economic option; currently demand outstrips supply.
EJF and PAN UK believe that the dangers associated with pesticides is too high a price to pay and calls on all buyers of cotton to Pick Your Cotton Carefully and choose organic, fairly traded cotton.
Created by: Rene Jorgensen 5 months ago