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Cotton and the Environment
Acreage estimates for
the 2001 U.S. cotton crop show approximately 11,459 acres of certified organic
and transitional cotton were planted in the United States. Internationally,
Turkey and the United States are the largest organic cotton producers.
Demand is being driven by apparel and textile companies
that are expanding their 100% organic cotton program and developing programs
that blend small percentages of organic cotton with their conventional cotton
products.
Here are some reasons why organic cotton production is
important to the long-term health of the planet.
• Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of
the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants.).
(Allan Woodburn)
• Approximately 10% of all pesticides sold for use in U. S. agriculture were
applied to cotton in 1997, the most recent year for which such data is publicly
available. (ACPA)
• Eighty-four million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on the 14.4 million
acres of conventional cotton grown in the U.S. in 2000 (5.85 pounds/ acre),
ranking cotton second behind corn in total amount of pesticides sprayed. (USDA)
• Over 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers were applied to conventional
cotton the same year (142 pounds/acre), making cotton the fourth most heavily
fertilized crop behind corn, winter wheat, and soybeans. (USDA)
• The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the
top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as “possible,”
“likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens (acephate, dichloropropene,
diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin). (EPA)
• In 1999, a work crew re-entered a cotton field about five hours after it was
treated with tribufos and sodium chlorate (re-entry should have been prohibited
for 24 hours). Seven workers subsequently sought medical treatment and five have
had ongoing health problems. (California DPR)
• It takes roughly one-third of a pound of chemicals (pesticides and
fertilizers) to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt. (SCP)
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