a spray drift page 2

2
The website states that there seems to be a widespread lack of awareness concerning the harm- ful effects of the exposure of potentially toxic spray drifts from farms and vineyards into nearby residential areas. Buitenverwacht- ing use Dithane M-45 Thiovit, and Topaz. Lowell Jooste, managing direc- tor of Klein Constantia, said they use standard sprays that are used  worldwide and have gone through international tests. He said that if anyone is affected by the sprays it would be the people who use them. Klein Constantia use kelp, Cop-Star 120 SC and Sulphur Star. He said they have a standard programme but prefer to spray as little as possible, usually on a 14- day cycle. “However, the weather has been good this year so we spray every 21 days,” he said.  Jean Naudé of Groot Constan- tia forwarded a long list of chem- icals used on the estate and said that all are approved by the Department of Agriculture for spraying on grapevines for the purpose of winemaking. Mr Schirmacher said that they are not supposed to spray when it is windy and if the family could smell the product then there was spray drift.  A headache is a known symp- tom of exposure to spray drift. Dizziness, hayfever and sinus problems, headaches and fatigue are all symptoms associated with pesticide and fungicide spray drift.  When the Bulletin visited the Sutcliffes it was the windiest day of the week with a 45-knot wind and there was spray drift. “Exposure to the spray drift and fumes of all three products  will cause sid e effects . Dithane is the worst because it’s very danger- ous for children. It causes major irritation to the eyes, skin and res- piratory system. I personally have been sprayed with this one before. It’s a known carcinogen, repro- ductive toxic and suspected endocr ine disruptor ,” Mr Schir- macher said. Mr Sutcliffe said he received no notification of the spraying  which is done over a few days and twice each season. “The masks may be a preventa- tive for the worker but what about the residents,” asked Mr Sutcliffe. Dr Gerhard Verdoorn of the Griffon Poison Information Cen- tre said the problem that the pes- ticide industry faces is that people applying pesticides seldom adhere to the label instructions and that inadvertently leads to adverse reac- tions in people, such as in strong windy conditions. “No one has the right to use pesticides irresponsibly because it does cause negative impacts. On the other hand it is of no value to point fingers at the chemicals; they are lifeless entities designed and manufactured for particular purposes,” said Dr Verdoorn. He added that sulphur, unless it is ignited, is practically non- toxic to people and animals. It is recorded as being a skin, eye and mucous membrane irri- tant if people are in direct contact  with it. He also said that pesticides may trigger adverse effects in peo- ple. “Everyone responds differ- ently to pesticide exposure. Some experience nothing while others experience some sort of discom- fort possibly dependent on their physical and health situations,” said Dr Verdoorn. The Bulletin contacted the provincial Department of Agricul- ture numerous times over the past  week to clarify the laws and con- ditions regarding the spraying of  vines, but they did not respond by the time of going to print. The Bulletin will continue to seek answers.  Visit www.tatibfoundation. blogsp ot.com to find out more. NEWS Bulletin Thursday D ecember 15 2011 3  ALPHA BLINDS FREE QUOTES AND INSTALLATION 076 294 3848 Tel/Fax: 021 715 8925 [email protected] www.alphablinds.co.za all under one roof C  are ome H Cel l: 082 33 88 555 | Fax : 086 665 043 2 www.homecarecape.co.za Fin all y, one compan y that offers all the home maint enance and build ing requi rement s Áun der one roof Ple ase vis it us at: repairs and maintenan ce painti ng and decorati ng buildi ng and ren ovating May it be from the smalle st repair to a lar ge bui ldi ng pro ject, we are con fident that it wil l be a pleasant experi ence. Electr ical, Plumbi ng, Carpent ry, Weldin g, Tili ng, Gas,  Air conditi oning, Cabinet making , Sand blasti ng, Painti ng, Building , Drafti ng, Home inspec tions etc. HEARING AID ACOUSTICIAN & AUDIOLOGISTS Hearing Assessments Special Interests: Hearing Instruments from a Variety of Suppliers Assistive Listening Device Resource Centre Aural Rehabilitation Clinic and Tinnitus Treatment Hearing Aid Accessories, Repairs & Ear Plugs School and Industrial Hearing Screening Trial Period on Hearing Aids Pay off on Edgars, Boardmans, CNA & Jet Cards Direct Submission to Medical Aids THE HEARING CLINIC MONDAY - FRIDAY 35 WATERLOO ROAD, WYNBERG 021 797 7948 www.hearin clinic.co.z Tokai Tokai Village 021 715 5623 T ue & Thurs Fish Hoek Valy land Centr e 021 782 3322 Mon - Fri Claremont 19 Belvedere Rd 021 797 7948 Mon & Wed       O       M       /       0       8       /       0       8       5       3       1       9       2       2 Franc i s Slab b er, Janet St eer & Ass o ciat es  THE REPAIR MAN / THE FIXER  The Oak Cor ner, 59 Constantia Road, W  y nber g 021 762 4813 / 082 438 5085 Email: bar r  y r iddle@c  y ber smar t.co.za C  o  l  l  e  c  t  a  n  d  D  e  l  i  v  e  r Repairs to all wooden furniture  Tables Manufactured Restoration / Re-upholstery /  Riempies / Re-Caning Strip / Sand / Wood Staining /  Paint Effects & Lime-Wash       O       M       /       2       1       /       0       8       5       2       3       5       2       5 CRAZY SUMMER SALE 50% FRAME SALE FREE SUNGLASSES (with Prescription Glasses ordered) Renu/Complete 240ml Contact Lens Solution - R40 (Offer Valid While Stocks Last) MEDICAL AID RATES * EDCON CARDS * VISA TOKAI: 12 Checkers Hyper, Blue Route Mall Tel: 021 715 8555 OM/18/08552548 STEPHEN PULFORD OPTOMETRISTS THE OLD VILLAGE, CONSTANTIA VILLAGE PH: 021 794 2308 • WWW.CONSTANTIAINTERIORS.COM  Good tast e f or less than you thi nk... TRENDY RUGS LESS 20% MIRRORS @ R895.00 LAMPS FROM R495.00       O       M       /       0       3       /       0       8       5       5       2       6       3       6 OM/02/7294665  It’s Christmas time again SUPPOR US O SUPPOR L.O.F.O.B SUPPOR US O SUPPOR L.O.F.O.B (THE LEAGUE OF THE FRIENDS OF THE BLIND) at the blue truck) Selling from R40.00. Tank you for your support. Selling at MAIN RD BERGVLIET. Approved football training for kids aged 18 months to 8 years Local classes at a venue near you Call 082 727 6647 for details southernsuburbs@littlekickers.co.za www.littlekickers.co.za Where learning’s a ball     o     m      /      0      5      /      0      8      5      5      2      6      6      3 Kim Moir 021 701 7382 083 414 0348 [email protected]       O       M       \       2       1       \       0       8       5       5       3       0       3       9 Specializing in Leisure & Corporate Travel Package Price: R 12 244.00 Rate includes: Return fights: Cape T own – Johannesburg – Bangkok - phuket Return Airport to Hotel Transf ers 7 nights at the 3* Sunset beach resort Breakfast Daily  Airport taxes **Value add – Fre return transfers from hotel to Bangla Road (patong Centre) between 9am – 9pm ** *** Valid or travel between 04 April - 31 October 2012*** GREENSHOOTS TRAVEL Te l: 021 712 1504 Cell: 082 888 3045 Dr. JOAN LEWIS BSc, MBChB Has moved her surgery back to Môreson, 24 Homestead Ave, Bergvliet and welcomes new and old patients. o     m      \      0      0      3      /      0      8      1      5      1      7      1      6 From page 1 ladybugs to control pests. “We can’t use deadly chemicals otherwise we’d kill them off,” said Mr Maack. He recommends that neighbours stay in contact with the farmers, so that they can liaise about the spraying programme He said it is possible for people to be affected if they have sensitivity to these compounds or are susceptible to headaches or asthma. Mr Maack said the Constantia Val- ley was initially farmland but has become residential over many years. He said wherever possible the farmers endeavour to be sensitive to residents and do hand harvesting instead of using heavy noisy machin- ery. Spraying is seasonal (mainly in spring) and necessary to combat fun- gus and certain insects. Dr Jeanne de Waal of Technical Sales, Southern Region, Dow Agro- sciences SA, said many of the vines are in flower at present and people confuse pesticide drift with hayfever- like symptoms. She also said that pesticide applica- tions on commercial level have to adhere to certain safety standards and these are very well regulated through accredited international bodies.  Jurgen Schirmacher, chairman of The Air That I Breathe Foundation (TATIB), said they have recently received a number of complaints from residents living near Klein and Groot Constantia. They said they have fallen ill after inhaling spray drift. TATIB states that by law farmers must give details of what they are spraying. The organisation, which has about 700 members, believes that many farmers and the public are being brainwashed into believing that pesti- cide usage is necessary and that crops  would fail without them. ‘Everyone responds differently to pesticide exposure’ Mr Sutcliffe is unable to clean his swimming pool because of the stench of chemicals.

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Page 1: a Spray Drift Page 2

8/3/2019 a Spray Drift Page 2

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-spray-drift-page-2 1/1

The website states that thereseems to be a widespread lack of awareness concerning the harm-ful effects of the exposure of potentially toxic spray drifts from

farms and vineyards into nearby residential areas. Buitenverwacht-ing use Dithane M-45 Thiovit, andTopaz.

Lowell Jooste, managing direc-tor of Klein Constantia, said they use standard sprays that are used

worldwide and have gonethrough international tests.

He said that if anyone isaffected by the sprays it would bethe people who use them.

Klein Constantia use kelp,Cop-Star 120 SC and SulphurStar. He said they have a standardprogramme but prefer to spray aslittle as possible, usually on a 14-day cycle.

“However, the weather hasbeen good this year so we spray every 21 days,” he said. Jean Naudé of Groot Constan-tia forwarded a long list of chem-icals used on the estate and saidthat all are approved by theDepartment of Agriculture forspraying on grapevines for thepurpose of winemaking.

Mr Schirmacher said that they are not supposed to spray when it is windy and if the family couldsmell the product then there wasspray drift.

A headache is a known symp-tom of exposure to spray drift.

Dizziness, hayfever and sinusproblems, headaches and fatigueare all symptoms associated withpesticide and fungicide spray drift.

When the Bulletin visited theSutcliffes it was the windiest day of the week with a 45-knot wind andthere was spray drift.

“Exposure to the spray drift and fumes of all three products

will cause side effects. Dithane isthe worst because it’s very danger-ous for children. It causes majorirritation to the eyes, skin and res-piratory system. I personally havebeen sprayed with this one before.It’s a known carcinogen, repro-ductive toxic and suspectedendocrine disruptor,” Mr Schir-macher said.

Mr Sutcliffe said he receivedno notification of the spraying

which is done over a few days andtwice each season.

“The masks may be a preventa-tive for the worker but what about the residents,” asked Mr Sutcliffe.

Dr Gerhard Verdoorn of theGriffon Poison Information Cen-tre said the problem that the pes-ticide industry faces is that peopleapplying pesticides seldomadhere to the label instructionsand that inadvertently leads toadverse reac-tions in people,such as instrong windy conditions.

“No one has the right to usepesticides irresponsibly because it does cause negative impacts. Onthe other hand it is of no value topoint fingers at the chemicals;

they are lifeless entities designedand manufactured for particularpurposes,” said Dr Verdoorn.

He added that sulphur, unlessit is ignited, is practically non-toxic to people and animals.

It is recorded as being a skin,eye and mucous membrane irri-tant if people are in direct contact

with it.He also said that pesticides

may trigger adverse effects in peo-ple. “Everyone responds differ-ently to pesticide exposure. Someexperience nothing while othersexperience some sort of discom-fort possibly dependent on theirphysical and health situations,”said Dr Verdoorn.

The Bulletin contacted theprovincial Department of Agricul-ture numerous times over the past

week to clarify the laws and con-ditions regarding the spraying of

vines, but they did not respond by the time of going to print.

The Bulletin will continue toseek answers.

Visit www.tatibfoundation.blogspot.com to find out more.

NEWSBulletin Thursday December 15 2011 3

ALPHA BLINDSFREE QUOTES AND

INSTALLATION

076 294 3848Tel/Fax: 021 715 8925

[email protected]

all under one roofC areomeH

Cell: 082 33 88 555 | Fax: 086 665 0432Email: [email protected]

www.homecarecape.co.za

Finally, one company that offers all the home

maintenance and building requirementsÁunder one roofÂ

Please visit us at:

repairs and maintenancepainting and decoratingbuilding and renovating

May it be from the smallest repair to a largebuilding project, we are confident that it

will be a pleasant experience.

Electrical, Plumbing, Carpentry, Welding, Tiling, Gas, Air conditioning, Cabinet making, Sand blasting,

Painting, Building, Drafting, Home inspections etc.

HEARING AIDACOUSTICIAN & AUDIOLOGISTS

Hearing AssessmentsSpecial Interests:

Hearing Instruments from a Variety of SuppliersAssistive Listening Device Resource Centre

Aural Rehabilitation Clinic and Tinnitus TreatmentHearing Aid Accessories, Repairs & Ear Plugs

School and Industrial Hearing ScreeningTrial Period on Hearing Aids

Pay off on Edgars, Boardmans, CNA & Jet CardsDirect Submission to Medical Aids

THE HEARING CLINIC MONDAY - F RIDAY35 WAT ERLOO ROAD, W YNBERG 021 7 97 7 948www. he a rin clinic.c o.z

Tokai Tokai Village 021 715 5623 Tue & ThursFish Hoek Valyland Centre 021 782 3322 Mon - FriClaremont 19 Belvedere Rd 021 797 7948 Mon & Wed

O M / 0 8 / 0 8 5 3 1 9 2 2

Franc i s Slab b er, Janet St eer & Ass o ciat es

THE REPAIR MAN / THE FIXER

The O ak Cor ner, 59 Constantia Road , W y nbe r g021 762 4 813 / 0 82 438 5085

Email: bar r y r idd le@c y be r smar t.co.za

C o l l e c t a n d

D e l i v e r

Repairs to all wooden furniture Tables Manufactured

Restoration / Re-upholstery / Riempies / Re-Caning

Strip / Sand / Wood Staining / Paint Effects & Lime-Wash

O M / 2 1 / 0 8 5 2 3 5 2 5

CRAZY SUMMER

SALE50% FRAME SALE

FREE SUNGLASSES (with Prescription Glasses ordered)Renu/Complete 240ml

Contact Lens Solution - R40(Offer Valid While Stocks Last)

MEDICAL AID RATES * EDCON CARDS * VISA

TOKAI: 12 Checkers Hyper, Blue Route Mall Tel: 021 715 8555RETREAT: 021 712 6411

OM/18/08552548

STEPHEN PULFORD OPTOMETRISTS

THE OLD VILLAGE, CONSTANTIA VILLAGEPH: 021 794 2308 • WWW.CONSTANTIAINTERIORS.COM

Good ta st e f or lessthan you thi nk...TRENDY RUGS

LESS 20%MIRRORS @

R895.00LAMPS FROM

R495.00

O M / 0 3 / 0 8 5 5 2 6 3 6

OM/02/7294665

It’s Christmas time again

SUPPOR US O SUPPOR L.O.F.O.BSUPPOR US O SUPPOR L .O.F.O.B(THE LEAGUE OF THE FRIENDS OF THE BLIND)

at the blue truck) Selling from R40.00.Tank you for your support.

Selling atMAIN RD

BERGVLIET.

Approved football training for kids aged 18 months to 8 years

Lo ca l c la s s e s a t a v e n u e n ea r y o u

Call08 2 727 66 47

for d etail ss o u t h e r ns u b ur b s @lit t le k ic k e r s .c o .z a

www.littlekickers.co.za

Where learning’s a ball

o m / 0 5 / 0 8 5 5 2 6 6 3

Kim Moir021 701 7382 083 414 0348

[email protected]

O M \ 2 1 \ 0 8 5 5 3 0 3 9

Specializing in Leisure & Corporate Travel

Package Price: R 12 244.00 Rate includes:

Return fights: Cape Town – Johannesburg – Bangkok - phuket Return Airport to Hotel Transfers

7 nights at the 3* Sunset beach resort Breakfast Daily Airport taxes

**Value add – Fre return transfers from hotel to Bangla Road(patong Centre) between 9am – 9pm **

*** Valid or travel between 04 April - 31 October 2012***

GRE ENSHO OTS

TR AVEL

Tel: 021 712 1504 Cell: 082 888 3045

Dr. JOAN LEWISBSc, MBChB

Has moved her surgery back toMôreson, 24 Homestead Ave,

Bergvlietand welcomes new and old

patients.o

m \ 0 0 3 / 0 8 1 5 1 7 1 6

From p age 1

ladybugs to control pests.“We can’t use deadly chemicals

otherwise we’d kill them off,” said MrMaack.

He recommends that neighboursstay in contact with the farmers, sothat they can liaise about the sprayingprogramme

He said it is possible for people tobe affected if they have sensitivity tothese compounds or are susceptibleto headaches or asthma.

Mr Maack said the Constantia Val-ley was initially farmland but hasbecome residential over many years.

He said wherever possible thefarmers endeavour to be sensitive toresidents and do hand harvestinginstead of using heavy noisy machin-ery. Spraying is seasonal (mainly inspring) and necessary to combat fun-

gus and certain insects.Dr Jeanne de Waal of Technical

Sales, Southern Region, Dow Agro-sciences SA, said many of the vinesare in flower at present and people

confuse pesticide drift with hayfever-like symptoms.She also said that pesticide applica-

tions on commercial level have toadhere to certain safety standards andthese are very well regulated throughaccredited international bodies.

Jurgen Schirmacher, chairman of The Air That I Breathe Foundation(TATIB), said they have recently received a number of complaintsfrom residents living near Klein andGroot Constantia.

They said they have fallen ill afterinhaling spray drift.

TATIB states that by law farmersmust give details of what they arespraying.

The organisation, which has about 700 members, believes that many farmers and the public are beingbrainwashed into believing that pesti-cide usage is necessary and that crops

would fail without them.

‘Everyone responds differently to pesticide exposure’

■ Mr Sutcliffe is unable to clean his swimming pool because of the stenchof chemicals.