Report from the Sub-comittee on the environment and health

Population studies
102
• Long-term effects in people in connection with occupational exposure
corresponding to Danish conditions have not been proven in
epidemiological studies.
• The sub-committee finds that too little is known about <strong>the</strong> ability of
pesticides and <strong>the</strong>ir coformulants to produce allergies and about <strong>the</strong>ir
effect on <strong>the</strong> immune system.
• The long-term effect of exposure to pesticides, resulting in a higher
risk of damage, cannot be reliably established corresponding to
Danish conditions. In view of <strong>the</strong> intensive use of pesticides in
nurseries and in <strong>the</strong> production of fruit, vegetables and berries, <strong>the</strong>
sub-committee recommends increased action to reduce exposure to
pesticides, particularly in <strong>the</strong>se types of production.
6.2 Exposure and effects on <strong>the</strong> population
6.2.1 Use and risk groups
Pesticides are used in farming and horticulture to control weeds, fungi,
insects and o<strong>the</strong>r pests and to influence <strong>the</strong> growth of crops such as fruit,
vegetables and cereals. In Denmark, <strong>the</strong>re are at present about 90
authorised active ingredients, which are used in approx. 550 products.
Over <strong>the</strong> years, <strong>the</strong> requirements for authorisation of <strong>the</strong> individual
pesticides have been considerably tightened. As a result, some pesticides
have been banned on account of <strong>the</strong>ir undesirable environmental and/or
health properties. This applies, for example, to a number of pesticides
containing chlorine, such as DDT, dieldrin, etc. However, owing to <strong>the</strong>ir
lack of degradability, <strong>the</strong>y are still found in <strong>the</strong> environment, <strong>from</strong> which
<strong>the</strong>y find <strong>the</strong>ir way into food products.
Pesticides are widely used. Within <strong>the</strong> food sector, it is particularly in
connection with <strong>the</strong> production of fruit and vegetables that <strong>the</strong> risk of a
residual content is greatest.
Extensive use is also made of pesticides, in <strong>the</strong> form of herbicides and
fungicides, in <strong>the</strong> cultivation of cereals and to regulate growth. The crop
is often sprayed long before it is harvested, so <strong>the</strong> degradation of <strong>the</strong>
pesticide can be advanced. When a crop is sprayed a shorter time before
harvest, it must normally be expected to have a residual content of <strong>the</strong>
pesticide.
Acute and chronic effects of pesticides have been investigated in
numerous experimental studies and in studies of persons with
occupational exposure, both in Denmark and in o<strong>the</strong>r countries. Apart
<strong>from</strong> high-dose exposure in connection with accidents or suicide, <strong>the</strong>
general public in Denmark is subject mainly to low-dose exposure,
primarily as a consequence of pesticide residues in food and drinking
water or <strong>from</strong> private use of pesticides in or around <strong>the</strong> home.
There are only extremely sparse epidemiological data concerning health
effects among <strong>the</strong> general population as a consequence of low-dose
exposure to pesticides. There are differences in both exposure and