North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[sherwin <sherwindu@att.net>]

On 7/25/2013 12:36 PM, Alan Haigh wrote:
> I don't know that you need to be dressing like an astronaut- that would
> scare your neighbors and probably doesn't really make any significant
> difference in your overall exposure to possible cancer causing compounds.
> The label just calls for long pants, shirt, glasses hat and boots.  If you
> put a cotton jumpsuit over normal clothes and wrap a t-shirt around your
> neck and some of your face you'll keep most of it off you.
     I was kidding, a bit.  I think a breather mask is more important
     than the clothing coverage, but both  are a good idea.
> There are so many avenues in modern life for absorption of synthetic and
> natural  compounds with similar danger that I believe it is completely
> illogical the way so many people focus on agricultural compounds.
>
> I've seen a couple of quite large epidemiological studies comparing the
> overall health of farmer-spray applicators (both in Canada and the U. S.)
> and the farmers live longer and healthier with less overall cancer than the
> average citizen.  Many of these farmers spend a sizable part of the growing
> season on open tractors pulling mist-blowers- which means they are living
> in a fog of these types of chemicals for a significant percentage of their
> lives.  They are also exposed to a lot of chemical volatiles known to
> induce cancer in rats.
     I have not seen these kinds of studies, so I can't comment
     on them.  Farmers may be living longer because of their
     activity and outdoor living.  This can skew the results of
     their susceptibility to chemical spraying.  To be scientific
     about this, a more controlled study is called for, monitoring
     identical kinds of groups, with and without protective gear.

      In general, I think it would be helpful for Nafex members to
      identify themselves as large scale growers.  Their use of
      chemicals and other techniques do not necessarily pertain
      to the backyard grower.

                         Sherwin Dubren
                         Morton Grove, IL
> The danger of conventional farming and some of the chemicals involved is
> more to the environment than directly to human health IMO.
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