08/04/05 Put pesticide dangers in perspective

Conventional Farming, like a controversial celebrity, attracts more than it's share of sensationalized headlines, but unlike Brad or Angela, the ag industry lacks the deep pockets to protect itself from slanderous reporting. One recent AP story claimed that "Illnesses from pesticides around schools were increasing, yet failed to put the miniscule risk of pesticide exposure (7.4 cases per million children a year) into context with other childhood dangers. While the study cited reported that 2,500 children and school employees over a five year period experienced mild "flu-like" symptoms from alleged pesticide exposure, in a five year period 62,000 children were injured and 59 children died from riding a school bus while 200,000 children are injured every year in playground accidents. Could reporters be cutting their own throats by irresponsible journalism, 65 percent of those surveyed believed most news organizations won't come clean if they make a mistake while newspaper sales are plummeting as savvy news consumers find other sources for the truth.