WEEK 3 Jan 7th to 13th 2002

   INCREASED AMOUNT OF PESTICIDES

   Felicity Lawrence

   Friday December 14, 2001

   The Guardian

   Kiwi fruit, lemons, milk and cereal bars
from the big supermarkets tested by
the government show an increase in
pesticide residues, according to data
released yesterday.

   All lemons tested contained residues,
and 90% had residues of more than
one pesticide. The worst example
contained traces of nine pesticides.
Residues included nerve poisoning
organophosphates.

   Sixty three per cent of kiwi fruit tested
contained residues, and nearly half
contained vinclozolin which has been
linked with reduced sperm counts.

   Milk was found with residues of
lindane, a pesticide which is to be
banned across the EU in 2002. It is
suspected of disrupting hormones and
has been linked with cancer.

   Cereal bars were tested because they
are so popular with children whose
immature systems are thought to be
particularly vulnerable to pesticide
residues. Sixty four per cent contained
residues, and 13% of these showed
multiple residues, including the
presence of an organophosphate.

   The figures, released by the pesticide
residues committee, show "there is an
urgent need to address the problem of
multiple residues".