Logan and Albert Conservation Association
Farm spray from an adjacent macadamia farm is a suspect in deformed and diseased lavae at a Noosa fish hatchery. Evidence has now also emerged of a possible cancer cluster next to the Queensland hatchery where bizarre double-headed fish embryos have been discovered. There are worries regarding use of pesticides - all of which are registered and recommended for use on macadamia farms and worries about the water contaminations from these toxic chemicals. Could these be related to each other? This is reported in The Australian 21 January 2009.
A 'must watch' documentary provides visual evidence of the situation. See it here on YouTube.
Endosulfan is one chemical currently under investigation by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries as a possible cause of the hatching of a multitude of two-headed and chronically deformed fish at a hatchery next to a macadamia farm on the Sunshine Coast in Qld. The fungicide carbendazim is also being assessed.
Sunland Fish Hatchery owner, Gwen Gilson, says she believes contaminated water from chemical spray drift from the macadamia plantation is to blame.
Australia will continue to allow the use of this highly toxic insecticide, despite a ban placed on its application in
The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) is a global network of more than 600 public interest non-governmental organizations working together for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants, on an expedited yet socially equitable basis. This mission includes achieving a world in which all chemicals are produced and used in ways that eliminate significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, and where persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and chemicals of equivalent concern no longer pollute our local and global environments, and no longer contaminate our communities, our food, our bodies, or the bodies of our children and future generations.
The participating organisations of IPEN are those NGOs who have endorsed the IPEN Stockholm Declaration and the IPEN Dubai Declaration for a Toxic Free Future. They call upon all government and stakeholders to work together to reform chemicals assessment and management, laws, policies and practices to achieve a Toxics-Free Future by 2020 in all countries.
In addition to the organizations names and country of origin, further contact information may be available from the IPEN Secretariat from an email to ipen[at]ipen.org.
A groundbreaking review of 10 years' worth of adverse-reaction reports filed with American Environmental Protection Agency by pesticide manufacturers, which found that pyrethrins and pyrethroids - used in thousands of supposedly "safer" pesticides - accounted for more than 26 percent of all fatal, "major," and "moderate" human incidents reported to the EPA in 2007. Based on information from the previously unreleased EPA pesticide incident-reporting system, this investigation spurred the director of the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs to announce the agency would begin a broad study of the human health effects of pyrethrins and pyrethroids.
Pyrethrins, extracted from the chrysanthemum plant, and their synthetic relatives, pyrethroids, have exploded in popularity over the last decade. They are now used in thousands of consumer products. These chemicals are found in bug-repellant clothing, flea collars, automatic misting devices, lawn-care products, and carpet sprays. ‘Safe' Pesticides Now First in Poisonings will rekindle the debate about the safety of modern pesticide use.
The Center for Public Integrity is dedicated to producing original, responsible investigative journalism on issues of public concern in the USA and around the world. The Center's International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) is a collaboration of some of the world's leading investigative reporters. ICIJ extends globally the Center's style of watchdog journalism, working with 100 reporters in 50 countries to produce long-term, transnational projects.
Will our own and global governments increase regulations and ban all those chemicals where adverse reactions occur? What risks of exposure are acceptable? How safe is it to hug your dog wearing flea collars or after being rinsed with insecticde? Some thoughts here.
The National Toxics Network (NTN) is a community based network working for pollution reduction, protection of environmental health and environmental justice for all.
NTN was first formed in 1993 and since then has grown as a national network to support community and environmental organisations across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
NTN provides non-government organisations (NGOs) with a national and international voice on chemical and toxics issues. As the Australian focal point for the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), NTN hosts the international IPEN working group on community monitoring and body burden and works towards the full implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 2001 and other global chemical conventions.
Internationally, NTN has represented Australian and global NGOs at the OECD Chemical Joint Meetings and is actively involved in the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) providing an Australian focal point for their INFOCAP information and capacity building program.
Contact the National Toxics Network
PO Box 173
Bangalow
NSW 2479
Email info[at]ntn.org.au Phone 02 6687 1900 or use the form here.
An egroup has been set up by the National Toxics Network (NTN) to enable useful discussion of the toxics-reduction policies and alternatives to toxics (eg perfume-free public spaces, organic farming) the effects of toxics and regulatory and other controls of toxics in order to prevent or manage exposure to organisms and contamination of environmental media (air, water, soil, dust, sediments, wastes, etc). To join this group see this page.
Fluoridation of our drinking water is a contentious issue around the world and in now Queenslanders are faced with this dilemna. Unfortunately residents were not consulted on this recent decision. Although many people may be quite happy to drink fluoridated water others are not as they have genuine concerns about the potential health risks imposed by water fluoridation.
Australia's National Toxics Network reports that a new position paper from the US National Kidney Foundation concludes that individuals with chronic kidney disease should be notified of the potential risk from exposure to fluorides. The document acknowledges gaping holes in research concerning kidney impacts from fluorides, and thus further undermines the myth that fluoridation has been proven safe for everyone. In addition to advising that kidney patients be notified of their vulnerability to fluoride, the Kidney Foundation officially withdrew from the American Dental Association's list of organizations which support fluoridation.
To read more about this development, and to watch a FAN video discussing the issue visit Fluoride Action Network. Daniel Stockin is a career public health professional now at The Lillie Center, Inc, a Georgia-based public health training firm that is working to end water fluoridation. Email: stockin2[at]yahoo.com
Anthony Mitrow reporter from the Jimboomba Times continues to follow local koala's story of survival in paper dated 21 January 2009. The koala's future survival depends on all of us. Unless Babe's habitat is surveyed and mapped for inclusion in the 2009 SEQ Regional Plan it will have no protection. REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS and help make this happen.
BABE the koala has been hit by a car, chased by dogs and suffered a urinary tract infection, but the little survivor has now been released back into his natural habitat in Jimboomba after months of rehabilitation.
The young animal has spent the last four and a half months at Australia Zoo where it underwent treatment for a range of injuries.
Babe first came to the attention of Jimboomba resident John King-Bayliss when he found the animal on Marks Road, Jimboomba. Mr King-Bayliss chased the dogs away and contacted Logan City Council who searched the area for the dogs which were not found, before confirming the koala was safe.
Later that evening Mr King-Bayliss found Babe injured on the side of the road.
"It had been hit by a car. It had blood coming from his mouth and he couldn't use one of his arms." Mr King-Bayliss said.he made calls to animal wildlife organizations but was unable to get help until he was given the number for Waterford-based wildlife carer Mark Alexander from Wildlife Answers .
Logan & Albert Conservation Association has been advised that groups can express interest by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. whereupon an information package will be distributed describing how to supply any information. We are doing this. If you do not belong to a group and have sightings to report please contact us.
Contributions will be required by 13 February 2009 to the appointed study team at GHD.
NOW CLOSED but comment on QG Draft Koala Plan open until 27 February 2009
The Queensland Government is taking action to address threats to koalas in Southeast Queensland based on recommendations of the Koala Taskforce. One of the key actions recommended is to undertake extensive mapping of koala habitat in South East Queensland.
EPA Queensland Environmental Protection Agency has commenced a koala habitat assessment and mapping study across SEQ to assist in the protection of this threatened species in the region.
Why is our country proposing to export 6,000 of the 22,000 tonnes of hazardous hexachlorobenzene (HCB) waste for incineration to the Nyborg Incinerator in Denmark?
As a developed country and a signatory to the
We cannot understand why Hon. Peter Garrett AM, MP Minister for the Environment would approve a permit to send the toxic waste on such a dangerous and potentially disastrous journey across the oceans to be disposed of in
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) announced the release of the draft program for monitoring the welfare of poultry. DPI&F General Manager of Animal Welfare, Dr Rick Symons said the document is open for public comment and he is keen to hear from interested parties. "The community, poultry industry and markets for poultry products have an expectation that poultry are treated humanely," said Dr Symons.
"To achieve this persons in charge of poultry have a duty of care to their animals and must comply with the Poultry Standards. "The Poultry Welfare Monitoring Program is aimed at preventing animal suffering, promoting standards of animal care and ensuring that people with poultry understand and comply with the Poultry Standards. "We are keen to hear from anyone interested in making a comment to ensure the final monitoring program is acceptable to the public and industry," said Dr Symons.
To ensure compliance, the final monitoring program will include audits of poultry producers by Authorised Officers appointed by DPI&F. Industry quality assurance programs may also be approved by DPI&F if they meet the principles of the monitoring program.
The final date for public comment was Sunday 25 January 2009.