Most discussion of the external costs of pesticides focuses quite rightly on
their use. But in putting together information on the impacts of
pesticide-dependent agriculture, I'm looking for information on the
environmental and health impacts of their production, formulation,
transportation or disposal.
>From the 1994 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Right-to-Know Network (RTK
Net) Master Facility database, I can find about 14 production facilities
owned and operated by the big pesticide manufacturers which are used for
pesticide production. In terms of waste releases and off-site disposal (more
important, I guess, than total waste production in terms of external rather
than internal costs), Superfund (CERCLA) and Emergency Response Nofications
(ERNS, 1987-96), a few facilities stand out (please don't quote me on these
data):
Ciba McIntosh AL (1,355,201 lbs, and 1 CERCLA site, 8 ERNS)
Monsanto Muscatine IA (325,829 lbs)
Monsanto Luling LA (5,017,968 lbs, and 1 CERCLA site, also 29 ERNS)
Amercican Cyanamid Palmyra MO (388,690 lbs)
Cyanamid Agricultural Manati PR (268,980 lbs)
Sandoz Beaumont TX (648,090 lbs)
Rhone-Poulenc Institite WV (898,124 lbs, 7 ERNS)
Rhone-Poulenc Woodbine GA (238,836, 4 ERNS)
My question is, what do these figures mean? These releases vary considerably
in hazard (e.g. solvents like toluene and xylene compared to acids) and
method (to rivers, stored underground, or up the smoke stack). How much do
these releases contribute to a company's environmental liabilities, and
THEIR sustainability? And how much environmental and health impact come from
these highly managed facilities compared with the numerous smaller
formulation plants, generic manufacturers, and agchem dealerships? Has there
ever been a comprehensive review of the impacts of pesticide production?
Sorry that this hits a sustainable ag. list, but any help would be most
appreciated!
Many thanks,
Bill
William T. Vorley
Visiting Scientist
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, 209 Curtiss Hall, Iowa State
University, Ames, IA 50011-1050 USA
Tel. (515) 2947853 or 2929302 Fax (515)2949696 wtvorley@iastate.edu