Jeannie Economos, pesticide safety coordinator for the Farmworker Association of Florida, discusses the environmental and health effects of heavy pesticides in agriculture and residential use. Economos names herbicide glyphosate, commercially known as Roundup, as a particularly toxic offender that has been linked to groundwater contamination and health problems in humans. She also points out new fumigant Paladin, which contains ozone-depleting chemical Methyl Bromide, that has led to numerous health complaints by eastern Hillsborough residents who live next to strawberry farms that spray with it.
The Farmworker Association and environmental group Beyond Pesticides will be hosting the National Pesticide Forum at the FAMU law center in Downtown Orlando from April 17-18.
