Report from the Sub-comittee on the environment and health

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Danish products. There are big variations in <strong>the</strong> calculated numerical
values, and, in practice, <strong>the</strong> total intake is believed to range between a
very low intake and about 600 microgrammes per day. Since most of
<strong>the</strong> pesticide residues in citrus fruits are in <strong>the</strong> peel, which is not
eaten, <strong>the</strong> actual daily intake of pesticides is less than 200
microgrammes per day. In this estimate, <strong>the</strong> intake via Danish
products would be more than 50% of <strong>the</strong> total intake.
• The average intake at single-substance level <strong>from</strong> food products is
typically around 1% or less of <strong>the</strong> present Acceptable Daily Intake
(<strong>the</strong> ADI value).
• It cannot be proven on <strong>the</strong> basis of epidemiological studies that
pesticides, in <strong>the</strong> quantities to which <strong>the</strong> general population is
exposed, for example, via diet, are harmful to health. Conversely, one
can never completely prove scientifically that a pesticide cannot cause
a health risk. One can, however, show, with greater or lesser
(un)certainty, <strong>the</strong> probability or lack of probability of a health risk.
This applies to all scientific work, including tests carried out on
animals. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, every statement about safety in connection with
<strong>the</strong> use of chemical substances is based on <strong>the</strong> existing body of
knowledge, so <strong>the</strong>re is always <strong>the</strong> possibility of later findings with
now unforeseeable effects.
• Epidemiological studies of effects of metabolites and inert substances,
which often make up a large part of <strong>the</strong> products, are largely nonexistent.
6.4.1 The sub-committee’s recommendations
• In both conventional and organic farming, farmers and workers are
unaccustomed to thinking about health and safety, and not all injuries
are reported despite <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong>re are many serious accidents in
farming and more fatal accidents than in any o<strong>the</strong>r occupation. The
sub-committee recommends that health and safety be given greater
priority in both conventional and organic farming.
• 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.
• As a consequence of <strong>the</strong> intensive use of pesticides in nurseries and
<strong>the</strong> production of fruit, vegetables and berries, <strong>the</strong> sub-committee
recommends intensified action to reduce exposure to pesticides.
• More extensive use of biomarkers for exposure to and <strong>the</strong> effects of
pesticides would make it easier to demonstrate a relationship
epidemiologically.
• The discovery of new effects that have not previously been studied or
paid much attention, such as effects on <strong>the</strong> endocrine system
(hormones) and <strong>the</strong> nervous system during development shows <strong>the</strong>
importance of constant research in <strong>the</strong>se areas.