RESEARCH

A study has revealed that crop spraying with elemental sulphur, one of the most widely used pesticides, is a greater danger than passive smoking to children.

CROP spraying with the world’s most widely used pesticide could be a greater danger to children than passive smoking, a new scientific study has said.

Scientists have linked elemental sulphur to higher levels of asthma and breathing problems in youngsters living near sprayed fields.

Significantly, the chemical is widely used on both conventional and organic farms on the basis that it is a ‘natural’ substance.

It is typically used to prevent and eradicate fungi such as mildew from fruit crops such as strawberries and grapes. The chemical is also widely used on wheat, barley, hops, sugar beet and swedes.

However, the fine powder can drift and damage the lungs of children living nearby, according to the landmark study.

Academics at the University of California, Berkeley, say farmers may need to change how they use the spray.

This could include a ban on spraying near homes, or wetting the powder before spreading it, meaning it is less likely to blow into neighbouring communities.

The research, which is being funded by the US Government, is the first to link agricultural use of sulphur with poor respiratory health in children living nearby. Researchers looked at a group of children in Salinas, California, which is well known for growing strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes and spinach. Known as America’s ‘salad bowl’ it is also an important area for grape growing.

The study linked reduced lung function, more asthma-related symptoms and higher asthma medication use in children living less than a mile from recent elemental sulphur applications compared to unexposed children.

Researchers found an association with the spraying of the fungicide and a fall in the lung function of children aged seven who lived within 1,100 yards. This was measured as an average fall of 143 millilitres per second (ml/s) in the amount of air the children could forcefully blow out in one second.

This is worse than the 101 ml/s reduction shown in children of the same age exposed to passive smoking via their mothers for five years.

Professor Brenda Eskenazi said: ‘This study proves the first data consistent with anecdotal reports of farm workers and shows that residents – in this case, children – living near fields may be more likely to have respiratory problems from nearby agricultural sulphur applications.’

Co-author of the study Asa Bradman said: ‘Sulphur… is naturally present in our food and soil and is part of normal human biochemistry, but breathing in sulphur dust can irritate airways and cause coughing.

‘We need to better understand how people are exposed to sulphur used in agriculture and how to mitigate exposures. Formulations using wettable powders could be a solution.’

A spokesperson for the UK Pesticides Campaign, said: ‘This study provides further evidence of the significant health risks for rural residents living in the locality of pesticide sprayed crops.’

‘It also again confirms the fact that such risks and adverse impacts on residents exposed to agricultural pesticides anywhere in the world has simply not been properly assessed before such pesticides are approved.’