Picky with Pesticides

Picky about pesticides Over the last decade pesticides formulations have become softer while regulations have become stricter. Are we becoming too picky about pesticides? In the Washington State farm workers are now required to undergo blood testing if they spend the equalivant of two and a half work days or more in a thirty day period handling pesticides, and in what looms a logistical nightmare, farmers are required to make sure farm labors receive it. The testing threshold has been dropped to 30 hours from 50 hours after a series of tests by the Department of Labor and Industries found that the blood of some orchard workers showed lower levels of a beneficial protein. Other crops like potato's, wheat and wine differ immensely in handler exposure levels causing many commodity group leaders to demand more flexible rules for crops with low pesticide exposure. There is also evidence that personal hygiene can play a role in reducing pesticide levels, making many question whether personal responsibility, education, or legislation hold the solution. I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought Source: Capitol Press 020405