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25% of all insecticides used globally each year are used on non-organic cotton.
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Number of pesticides presently on the market that were registered before being tested to determine if they caused cancer, birth defects or wildlife toxicity: 400.
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Amount of time it takes to ban a pesticide in the U.S. using present procedures: 10 years.
Þ Number of active ingredients in pesticides found to cause cancer in animals or humans: 107. 10 years.
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Of those active ingredients, the number still in use today: 83.
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Number of pesticides that are reproductive toxins according to the California E.P.A.: 15.
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Number of pesticides found to cause reproductive problems in animals: 14.
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Most serious cause of groundwater and drinking water pollution: agricultural chemicals.
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Number of different pesticides documented by the E.P.A. to be present in groundwater in 1988: 74.
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Most acutely toxic pesticide registered by the E.P.A.: aldicarb (used frequently on cotton). In California between 1970 and 1994 amount of total aldicarb used on cotton: 85 to 95%. Number of states in which aldicarb has been detected in the groundwater: 16.
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Percentage of all U.S. counties containing groundwater susceptible to contamination from agricultural pesticides and fertilizers: 46%.
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Number of people in the U.S. routinely drinking water contaminated with carcinogenic herbicides: 14 million.
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Percentage of municipal water treatment facilities lacking equipment to remove these chemicals from the drinking water: 90%.
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Estimated total costs for U.S. groundwater monitoring: US$900 million to 2.2 billion.
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Estimated costs for U.S. groundwater carbon filtration cleanup: up to $25 million per site.
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Percentage of all food samples tested by the FDA in 1980 which contained pesticide residues: 38%.
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Of the 496 pesticides identified as likely to leave residues in food, the percentage which FDA tests can routinely detect: 40%.
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Increase in cancer rates between 1950 and 1986: 37%. Number of Americans who will learn they have cancer this year: 1 million. Number who will die from it: 500,000. Cost to U.S. of cancer in terms of lost production, income, medical expenses and research resources: US$ 39 billion each year.
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Highest rate of chemical-related illness of any occupational group in the U.S.A.: farm workers. Pesticide-related illnesses among farm workers in U.S.A. each year: Approximately 300,000. Number of people in the U.S. who die each year from cancer related to pesticides: 10,400. Number of people in the U.S. killed each year by assault rifles: 250 |