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PANUPS: U.S. Pesticide Use Soars



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                         P A N U P S
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                   Pesticide Action Network 
                        North America
                       Updates Service
                 http://www.panna.org/panna/
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1995 U.S. Pesticide Use at All-Time High

June 7, 1996

New unpublished U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
data documents that U.S. pesticide use reached an all-time 
high of more than 1.2 billion pounds in 1995. This is over 
twice as many pounds of chemicals as were used 30 years ago 
when Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" was published (540 
million pounds in 1964). The unpublished data was obtained 
and analyzed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) 
and U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG).

According to NRDC, these all-time highs in pesticide use have 
occurred despite the assertion by the pesticide industry that 
it has adopted "stewardship" and "integrated pest management" 
programs that result in smarter and lower pesticide use. The 
House of Representatives and Senate are expected to consider 
legislation weakening pesticide safety standards this month, 
which also could result in even more pesticides being used in 
the future. 

The EPA draft document includes 1994 and 1995 figures for 30 
chemicals, including acute toxins, suspected carcinogens and 
chemicals thought to disrupt the human hormone system. The 
data show that 1.23 billion pounds of pesticides were applied 
in 1994, representing a jump of more than 100 million pounds 
>from  the previous year. In 1995, 1.25 billion pounds were 
applied.

According to NRDC and U.S. PIRG, EPA draft data likely 
understates the true level of pesticides in the environment 
for several reasons. EPA figures include only active 
ingredients, and do not include so-called "inert" ingredients 
such as petroleum, benzene and other toxic compounds. These 
"inert" chemicals can comprise over 50% of the volume of 
formulated pesticides. In addition, EPA figures exclude non-
conventional pesticide uses, such as wood preservatives and 
disinfectants, which the that EPA has previously estimated at 
more than one billion pounds per year. Taking these 
additional uses into consideration, the total U.S. pesticide 
use in 1994-1995 is estimated at more than 2.2 to 2.3 billion 
pounds per year.

Use of pesticides in agriculture was at an all-time high in 
1995, as was industrial, commercial and government use. 
Expenditures on pesticides also hit a new high of $10.4 
billion in 1995. More herbicides were used than during any 
previous two-year period; more insecticides were used than 
any previous year since 1981-82; and fungicide use was the 
highest yet recorded and was over double the amount used in 
1979. The reasons for the increase may include greater pest 
resistance to pesticides, adverse climate factors and pest 
infestations, as well as advertising and other factors 
leading to greater farmer and other user acceptance of 
pesticides

Pesticides whose use in the U.S. increased considerably, 
according to the draft EPA document, included methyl bromide, 
metam sodium, dichloropropene, acetochlor, sulfur and 
petroleum oils. Those pesticides whose use dropped 
substantially included alachlor and cyanazine.

According to the new data, worldwide conventional pesticide 
use also hit an all time high of 4.7 billion pounds in 1995, 
with the U.S. share at 27% -- a higher percentage than in 
recent years, according to previously released EPA data. 

Source: NRDC and U.S. PIRG press release, May 28, 1996; NRDC 
Summary of EPA Data, May 1996.

Contact: Erik Olson, NRDC, 1350 NY Ave NW #200, Washington DC 
20005; phone (202) 783-7800; fax (202) 638-4937. Carolyn 
Hartmann, U.S. PIRG, 218 D Street SE, Washington DC 20003; 
phone (202) 546-9707; fax (202) 546-2461.
 
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                       IMPORTANT NOTE
Regarding: PANUPS, May 24, 1996, "New Report Documents 
Massive Pesticide Use in California." 
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To order this report, please send $15 to California Policy 
Seminar, 2020 Milvia, Suite 412, Berkeley, CA 94704; phone 
(510) 642-5514; fax (510) 642-8793; email ca.polsem@ucop.edu. 
Make checks payable to UC Regents.
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