by AIM Media Texas Editorial BoardPublic Health Watch
This editorial is part of a series on Public Health Watch MyRGV.com. Read the first story here.
Agriculture is one of the main components of the Rio Grande Valley economy, generating more than $10 billion in revenue and hundreds of jobs. Clearly, local officials and probably most valley residents support any effort to help the industry improve and grow, such as the effort supported by the Texas Department of Agriculture to revive the abandoned billion-dollar sugarcane industry in 2024.
That support, however, cannot come at the expense of public health.
As noted in a series of articles beginning today, our Valley experiences a higher incidence of neurological disorders Parkinson’s disease which are associated with various pesticides and herbicides. Among these chemicals is paraquat, a weed killer popular among many valley growers.
During the Vietnam War, paraquat was used extensively along with Agent Orange to clear jungles in the area. After service members exposed to the chemical began becoming increasingly ill with neurological problems, cancer and respiratory problems, our military recognized a possible connection. Exposure to paraquat makes veterans eligible for related benefits, including medical and disability compensation.
Because of the obvious risks, Vietnam and 70 other countries have banned the herbicide entirely.
The United States, however, is not one of those countries, and paraquat continues to be used on many valley farms.
Furthermore, neurological problems and their possible link to agricultural products are not new to the region. A spike in prenatal and infant anencephaly, spina bifida and other neurological defects was detected in the Valley in the early 1990s. Although pesticides were studied and commercial bread makers began adding folic acid to their products, a specific cause for the problem was never determined.
The risk of chemical exposure is not limited to our farms. Like many fertilizers and pesticides, paraquat is usually sprayed onto fields from aircraft. But it doesn’t stay there. Gulf winds can carry airborne particles for long distances. Many residents of the valley probably saw the ashes of burnt sugarcane raining down on their homes like black snow miles away.
As noted in our article, the federal Environmental Protection Agency found that paraquat particles can be detected up to 20 miles away from where they were deposited.
Research on the effects of agrochemicals on public health is increasing. Local officials, as well as industry-related organizations, should support and monitor research, and when appropriate, set new policies that prioritize public health.
Members of our local congressional delegation should also pay attention. If our own military and the VA recognized the potential link between paraquat and major health problems, they should consider supporting or expanding research and determining whether greater regulation is needed.
Ultimately, the benefits and cost savings of using potentially hazardous chemicals in our products will never offset the greater medical costs of treating related illnesses and their impact on our quality of life.
This article originally ran on MyRGV.com here.
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This article was Originally published By Public Health Watch, a nonprofit investigative news organization. Learn more at publichealthwatch.org.
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Photo credit: A tractor sprays a corn field for spider mites in Edinburg, Texas. Farmworkers rarely know what pesticides they are exposed to in their work, so it is difficult for them to assess the hazards they face or determine if their health problems are linked to those exposures. Credit: (Delcia Lopez | MyRGV.com)
