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1.
Int J Occup Environ Health ; 20(1): 61-70, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24804340

ABSTRACT

Atrazine, an herbicide used on most of the US corn (maize) crop, is the subject of ongoing controversy, with increasing documentation of its potentially harmful health and environmental impacts. Supporters of atrazine often claim that it is of great value to farmers; most recently, Syngenta, the producer of atrazine, sponsored an "Atrazine Benefits Team" (ABT) of researchers who released a set of five papers in 2011, reporting huge economic benefits from atrazine use in US agriculture. A critical review of the ABT papers shows that they have underestimated the growing problem of atrazine-resistant weeds, offered only a partial review of the effectiveness of alternative herbicides, and ignored the promising option of nonchemical weed management techniques. In addition, the most complete economic analysis in the ABT papers implies that withdrawal of atrazine would lead to a decrease in corn yields of 4.4% and an increase in corn prices of 8.0%. The result would be an increase in corn growers' revenues, equal to US$1.7 billion annually under ABT assumptions. Price impacts on consumers would be minimal: at current levels of ethanol production and use, gasoline prices would rise by no more than US$0.03 per gallon; beef prices would rise by an estimated US$0.01 for a 4-ounce hamburger and US$0.05 for an 8-ounce steak. Thus withdrawal of atrazine would boost farm revenues, while only changing consumer prices by pennies.


Subject(s)
Atrazine/analysis , Herbicides/analysis , Weed Control/methods , Zea mays/drug effects , Atrazine/economics , Environmental Policy , Government Regulation , Herbicides/economics , United States , Weed Control/economics , Weed Control/instrumentation , Zea mays/economics
2.
PLoS One ; 8(12): e81648, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24312568

ABSTRACT

We assess climate impacts of global warming using ongoing observations and paleoclimate data. We use Earth's measured energy imbalance, paleoclimate data, and simple representations of the global carbon cycle and temperature to define emission reductions needed to stabilize climate and avoid potentially disastrous impacts on today's young people, future generations, and nature. A cumulative industrial-era limit of ∼500 GtC fossil fuel emissions and 100 GtC storage in the biosphere and soil would keep climate close to the Holocene range to which humanity and other species are adapted. Cumulative emissions of ∼1000 GtC, sometimes associated with 2°C global warming, would spur "slow" feedbacks and eventual warming of 3-4°C with disastrous consequences. Rapid emissions reduction is required to restore Earth's energy balance and avoid ocean heat uptake that would practically guarantee irreversible effects. Continuation of high fossil fuel emissions, given current knowledge of the consequences, would be an act of extraordinary witting intergenerational injustice. Responsible policymaking requires a rising price on carbon emissions that would preclude emissions from most remaining coal and unconventional fossil fuels and phase down emissions from conventional fossil fuels.


Subject(s)
Carbon/chemistry , Climate Change , Social Responsibility , Animals , Earth, Planet , Ecosystem , Humans , Policy
4.
New Solut ; 18(2): 145-56, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18511392

ABSTRACT

The proportion of slaughtered cattle tested for BSE is much smaller in the U.S. than in Europe and Japan, leaving the U.S. heavily dependent on statistical models to estimate both the current prevalence and the spread of BSE. We examine the models relied on by USDA, finding that the prevalence model provides only a rough estimate, due to limited data availability. Reassuring forecasts from the model of the spread of BSE depend on the arbitrary constraint that worst-case values are assumed by only one of 17 key parameters at a time. In three of the six published scenarios with multiple worst-case parameter values, there is at least a 25% probability that BSE will spread rapidly. In public policy terms, reliance on potentially flawed models can be seen as a gamble that no serious BSE outbreak will occur. Statistical modeling at this level of abstraction, with its myriad, compound uncertainties, is no substitute for precautionary policies to protect public health against the threat of epidemics such as BSE.


Subject(s)
Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform/epidemiology , Models, Statistical , Animals , Cattle , Computer Simulation , Consumer Product Safety , Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome/etiology , Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome/prevention & control , Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform/transmission , Health Policy , Humans , Meat , Monte Carlo Method , Prevalence , United States/epidemiology , Zoonoses/epidemiology , Zoonoses/transmission
5.
Washington, D.C; Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); May 2008. 32 p. tab.
Monography in English | Desastres -Disasters- | ID: des-17189
6.
Int J Occup Environ Health ; 13(4): 437-45, 2007.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18085057

ABSTRACT

It is often claimed that atrazine is of great economic benefit to corn growers, but support for this claim is limited. Some cost-benefit studies have assumed that atrazine boosts corn yields by 6%; an extensive review found a 3%-4% average yield increase; other research suggests only a 1% yield effect. Syngenta, the producer of atrazine, also makes mesotrione, an alternative herbicide that does about the same amount for corn yields as atrazine. Italy and Germany both banned atrazine in 1991, with no decrease in corn yields or harvested area. Even if atrazine leads to 6% more corn production, it is not certain that this would justify its continued use; a 1%, or perhaps zero, change does not warrant large-scale exposure of humans and the environment to this potentially hazardous chemical.


Subject(s)
Agriculture/economics , Atrazine/economics , Hazardous Substances/economics , Health Policy , Zea mays/economics , Agriculture/ethics , Atrazine/standards , Atrazine/toxicity , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/standards , Environmental Health/economics , Hazardous Substances/standards , Herbicides/economics , Herbicides/standards , Herbicides/toxicity , Humans , United States
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