Following allegations that the list of chemicals sprayed at Nitida as first referenced by myself was in fact a combined list of both Nitida and Lournesford I have I've now asked Jurgen Schirmacher of TATIB to send me a copy of the original email he received from Mr Veller ( edited Sat. 15 may as I'd previously thought the list had come from the school) with Nitida's list.
In the meantime here's combined list, as taken from TATIB's site, that is an combined list of both Nitida and Lourensford's chemical spray lists. You'll note that it's quite a lot more than the list I've been referencing.
Folpan, Sovrin Flo, Topaz, Mamba, Spiral, Thiovit, Korog, Legend, Hygrobuff, Dithane, Rootmaster, Prosper, Phopshite, Acarol, Goemar, Switch, Nufilm, Misaxinal, Tokuthion, Citrole , Budbreak, Dormex, Chlorpyriphos, Judo, Bumper, Solubor, Manganese Sulphate, Zinc Oxide, Azinophos Methyl, Cypermethrin, Indar, Roval Flo, Zinc Max, Score, Bulldock, Kaptan Flo, Fundazol, Cascade, C.O.C , Chorus, Nimrod, Stroby, Goldenthin, Promalin, Sevin, Nustar,Cascade, Caltrac, Altacor, Penncap M, Droper, Calypso, Calcium Nitrate & Runner.
I've highlighted those that are on the list I've been led to believe were the original Nitida list.
You may have noticed that one of the products in the Nitida list ( the red bit) is spelt; "Phopshite", as amusing this is to the scatalogically minded the correct spelling should be Phosphite. This refers to Phosphite 400FL. I previously believed this to be an organophosphate but further research proves this not to be the case. However, there exists no data as yet regarding it's possible effect on the endocrine system, whether it may be a carcinogen or any developmental or reproductive toxicity.
This highlights the seriousness of this issue. We really have very little data on which to base our assumptions as to the safety of long term exposure to these sorts of compounds. It seems reckless, to say the least, to assume all is well until proven otherwise. We should, as a matter of priority, remove our children, the most vulnerable individuals, from any environment where there may be even the slightest contamination by this cocktail of chemicals, while we remain ignorant of their true nature.
You'll remember a number of similar spelling mistakes on the spraying schedule recently supplied by the school/farm. It does make it all the more difficult to learn more about these chemicals when they are so disguised but we'll keep our wits about us.
In an email to Mr Schirmacher (of TATIB) Bernhard Veller ( the owner of Nitida) wrote the following;
"The investigation that the school started early last year already did highlight the possible carcinogenic risk of Dithane and you will note that it is not on my spray list of 2009/2010. I did however spray Micexanil which includes some Mancozeb. I did this in consultation with my viticultural consultant who indicated that it and Folpan were possibly the only contact products with efficacy against downy mildew. As I am sure you are aware this is a major threat to growing wine grapes."
Reading this I'm included to believe that the list as supplied originally by Mr Veller was possibly the 2008/2009 spray list as Dithane no longer appears on the most recent spray schedule. Evidently it was in use previously, though, so who knows what damage may already have been done.
If you're interested to learn more about the possible risks associated with the products highlighted( Folpan and Mancozeb) in Mr Veller's response you will find some published medical research here.
Thanks to Masooda for unearthing those.
How many other educational facilities are located on operational farms or is Chameleons Montessouri one of it's kind.
ReplyDeleteChameleons Montessori is certainly not one of a kind nor even the worst example we know of.
ReplyDeleteFrom what we've learnt since becoming more aware of this situation it would seem that there are many similar situations around the country.
Many of the farm working communities, of course, have had their children schooled in farm schools. This raises a politically sensitive question regarding the long term effects agricultural chemicals may have had on the health of countless disadvantaged children.
That more affluent schools like the Montessori ones would willing place children on working farms, given that it's reasonably clear these chemicals cannot be regarded as benign, is extremely worrying and to my mind raises serious questions regarding exactly who's interests are being put first.