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Negative case raises spraying fears 
Dec. 18, 2008
Last month the court found the British Government had failed to comply with a European directive designed to protect rural communities from exposure to poisons, such as herbicides and pesticides.
The toxins have been linked to rising rates of cancer and immune-system diseases in rural communities.
Long-time Tasmanian campaigner against pesticide spraying East Coast doctor Alison Bleaney, said the ruling was the strongest proof yet that humans were harmed by chemicals used in aerial and ground spraying.
"And the Tasmanian Government must take this finding very seriously," Dr Bleaney said.
"Our approach to spraying regulations is actually not as strict as the UK, so it is a real worry.
"The EU has also agreed that the use of chemicals should be ceased unless it is deemed a dire or emergency situation, and that is a big step.
"Now it is our turn to do the same."
Dr Bleaney has written to Premier David Bartlett calling for the State Government to take immediate steps following the British court decision, to protect human health from pesticide exposure.
Greens water spokesman Tim Morris said with more and more evidence coming from around the world about the risk of herbicides and pesticides, the Government must act to protect the public from spray drift.
"When this Government talks about world's best practice it is only in things that suit them and then it is only lip service," Mr Morris said.
"This is serious stuff and the Government must act. I mean the containers have "poison" printed on them -- this is not cordial we are talking about."
Primary Industries and Water Minister David Llewellyn said the Government was examining crop-spraying practices.
"We are currently reviewing all our aerial and ground-spraying regulations," he said.
"People will have the opportunity to comment on the second draft, prior to any new regulations."
But Dr Bleaney said that was not happening soon enough as the prevalence of cancers and other immune disease continued to rise.
"There is no doubt that the rate of cancers particularly in the northeast, are on the rise, I see it on a daily basis," she said.
"The issue that is not being looked at properly is the effect these chemicals have on the immune system that then causes a number of other health issues like asthma, cancers and even diabetes.
Source: The Mercury
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