Additionally, the report stated that the available data on pesticides in the environment is limited and only provides a momentary snapshot. The research also revealed that workplace health and safety regulators and public health authorities were unable to provide valuable information on exposure to agvet chemicals.
These chemicals are essential for safeguarding crops, livestock, and the environment from pests and weeds, as well as meeting consumer demands for insecticides and pool chemicals. The report found that there is only one study on human bio-monitoring, dating back to 2005. There are also no national sources of data on pesticides in groundwater, urban stormwater, drinking water, soil, or wildlife.
Although there is some monitoring of pesticides in food, it is limited to exported meat and some agricultural products, and the Total Diet Survey. Monitoring of domestically sold fruit and vegetables, conducted by fresh food markets and supermarket chains, is confidential, with no results or methodology publicly available. In contrast, other countries such as the Netherlands, the UK, and the US have government-run national produce surveys reporting annually on pesticides in food.
The lack of data on the impact of pesticide use is disturbing, according to Matt Landos, a member of the consumer advocate group National Toxics Network and an associate researcher at the University of Sydney. He said that without data, the pesticides regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, is engaging in guesswork when it approves products.
Australia is one of the heavier users of pesticides globally, and the report suggests that there is a need for better reporting and monitoring of pesticide use. However, the Department of Agriculture defended the current system, stating that the findings of the report will inform future policy work to improve the agvet chemicals regulatory system.
The report comes as the European environment agency released a report highlighting the widespread pollution caused by pesticide use in Europe, which is linked to chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart, respiratory, and neurological diseases. A large-scale human biomonitoring study conducted across five European countries found at least two pesticides present in the bodies of 84% of survey participants.
In conclusion, the lack of data on the impact of pesticide use on the environment and human health is a cause for concern in Australia. The report suggests the need for better reporting and monitoring of pesticide use to ensure the safety of consumers and the environment.
