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25% of all insecticides used
globally each year are used on non-organic cotton.
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Number of pesticides
presently on the market that were registered before being tested to determine
if they caused cancer, birth defects or wildlife toxicity: 400.
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Amount of time it takes to
ban a pesticide in the U.S. using present procedures: 10 years.
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Number of active ingredients
in pesticides found to cause cancer in animals or humans: 107.
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Of those active ingredients,
the number still in use today: 83.
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Number of pesticides that
are reproductive toxins according to the California E.P.A.: 15.
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Number of pesticides found
to cause reproductive problems in animals: 14.
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Most serious cause of
groundwater and drinking water pollution: agricultural chemicals.
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Number of different
pesticides documented by the E.P.A. to be present in groundwater in 1988: 74.
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Most acutely toxic pesticide
registered by the E.P.A.: aldicarb (used frequently on cotton). In California
between 1970 and 1994 amount of total aldicarb used on cotton: 85 to 95%.
Number of states in which aldicarb has been detected in the groundwater: 16.
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Percentage of all U.S.
counties containing groundwater susceptible to contamination from agricultural
pesticides and fertilizers: 46%.
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Number of people in the U.S.
routinely drinking water contaminated with carcinogenic herbicides: 14
million.
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Percentage
of municipal water treatment facilities lacking equipment to remove these
chemicals from the drinking water: 90%.
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Estimated total costs for
U.S. groundwater monitoring: US$900 million to 2.2 billion.
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Estimated costs for U.S.
groundwater carbon filtration cleanup: up to $25 million per
site.
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Percentage of all food
samples tested by the FDA in 1980 which contained pesticide residues: 38%.
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Of the 496 pesticides
identified as likely to leave residues in food, the percentage which FDA tests
can routinely detect: 40%.
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Increase
in cancer rates between 1950 and 1986: 37%. Number of Americans who will learn
they have cancer this year: 1 million. Number who will die from
it: 500,000. Cost to U.S. of cancer in terms of lost production, income,
medical expenses and research resources: US$ 39 billion each
year.
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Highest rate of
chemical-related illness of any occupational group in the U.S.A.: farm
workers. Pesticide-related illnesses among farm workers in U.S.A. each
year: Approximately 300,000. Number of people in the U.S. who die each year
from cancer related to pesticides: 10,400. Number of people in the U.S. killed
each year by assault rifles: 250