Email This Article Print This Article Atrazine & Antibiotics in Agriculture Legislators Working to Protect Public Health Jan 06, 2010 Two recent items regarding environmental health may be of interest to NCEL participants. Below you will find articles, reports, and sample legislation related to the herbicide atrazine and antibiotics in agriculture. New Atrazine Report The Pesticide Action Network North America and Land Stewardship Project just released a new report titled “The Syngenta Corporation & Atrazine: The Cost to the Land, People & Democracy.” The report reviews the widely used herbicide atrazine, which is an “endocrine disruptor” that is linked to reproductive harm and cancer, according to the report. The report shares concerns from farmers, farm workers, and scientists regarding atrazine, as well as examines the government’s actions, or inaction, to address environmental and health concerns raised about the herbicide. NCEL participants who attended past NCEL forums, including NCEL’s Mississippi River Forum in Minneapolis, will recall Dr. Tyrone Hayes’ presentation about his research on atrazine and its adverse effects on frogs. The report includes a Q&A with Dr. Hayes and background information on Syngenta, the company that produces atrazine. While the report says it is written for farmers, NCEL participants interested in environmental health may find it useful to help support legislative efforts to better regulate atrazine at the state level. In October 2009, the US EPA ordered a new scientific review of atrazine, which is not allowed in Europe. Some NCEL participants in Minnesota have been working to better regulate atrazine, and that legislation can be found here: Minnesota, SF2056 (2007-08, SF2056 did not pass, but water quality standard language with likely the same intent, just not specific to atrazine, was adopted in HF1078) - This bill would set drinking water standards for atrazine in private wells and public water systems. http://www.ncel.net/articles/MN-SF2056.atrazinewater.pdf http://www.ncel.net/articles/HF1078-watercontaminants.doc Minnestoa, SF2093 (2007-08, did not pass) - Would require the state to conduct an environmental impact statement on atrazine. http://www.ncel.net/articles/MN-SF2093.atrazine.pdf Download the report, “The Syngenta Corporation & Atrazine: The Cost to the Land, People & Democracy” here: http://www.panna.org/files/AtrazineReportJan4.pdf Download the Natural Resources Defense Council report “Atrazine: Poisoning the Well”: http://www.nrdc.org/health/atrazine/ US EPA Website: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/reregistration/atrazine/ Antibiotics in Agriculture According to a recent Associated Press report, 70 percent of all US antibiotics are used in agriculture, which some scientists and health officials believe may be contributing to the increase in drug-resistant germs and infections. Antibiotics are used in livestock to help with growth and warding off disease, but some researchers believe that the increased use of antibiotics in agriculture has caused once very effective antibiotics to stop working in humans. This issue is not new to many NCEL participants, who have been working on the issue since at least 2002. For those legislators interested in reviewing legislation related to this issue, here are links to some of the legislation introduced across the country over the years: Arkansas, HB2379 (2004, did not pass) – This bill would ban the sale or use of livestock feed containing antibiotics for “non-therapeutic” use. http://www.ncel.net/articles/AR-HB2379.antibiotics.pdf California, SB416 (2009-10, did not pass) – This bill, as amended, would authorize a school district to make every effort to purchase poultry and meat products that have not been treated with non-therapeutic antibiotics. The bill would also require the state officials to request information from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) relating to the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics in meat available to California schools through certain USDA programs, such as the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. The bill would require the state officials, by July 1, 2011, to provide the Legislature with a copy of any information provided by the USDA. http://www.ncel.net/articles/CA-SB416.amended.pdf Pennsylvania, SB398 (2009-10, introduced) - This bill would ban use of antibiotics in agriculture for non-therapeutic uses or as growth promoters. The bill would prohibit the administration of certain antimicrobial agents in agriculture; providing for inspection and testing of agricultural operations, for enforcement, for reporting by agricultural operations and for alternatives to administration of antimicrobial agents to animals; and making related repeals. http://www.ncel.net/articles/PA-SB398.introduced.pdf Minnesota, SF2882 (2002, did not pass) - This resolution strongly urges the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture to take steps to promote judicious use of antimicrobials and the United States Congress to support research concerning antimicrobial resistance. http://www.ncel.net/articles/MN-SF2882%20resolution.doc To read the recent AP story, “Pressure Rises to Stop Antibiotics in Agriculture” use this link: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=9435333 Links to More Information Keep Antibiotics Working: http://www.keepantibioticsworking.com/ Union of Concerned Scientists: http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/solutions/wise_antibiotics/ Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy: http://www.iatp.org/foodandhealth/issues_antibioticsanimals.cfm Attachments:  AtrazineReportJan4.pdf Email This Article Print This Article

Return to the NCEL Home Page
Copyright ©2001-2010, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. All Rights Reserved.