brian caldwell’s Recent Comments

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  organic chemistry

  Hi Lou,

  I'm glad you point out that organic farmers don't use rotenone.

  Sad to see so much space given to Jeff Gillan's views.  Of course organic growers have some difficult pest problems to deal with and may have to go beyond cultural approaches like crop rotation.  But, to equate the toxicity of organically-approved pesticides as a whole with that of conventional ones defies good sense.  Instead of comparing the worst organic pesticides with the least toxic conventional ones, let's compare worst to worst--for instance copper to guthion.  Then let's talk.

  The EIQ formula that Gillan uses in his book has been rejected by many due to its inherent flaws.  Too bad it is being revived.  For instance the flaws in this formula cause "Surround", an organic pest repellant made of clay, to appear more toxic than almost any chemical pesticide because more pounds per acre are used.  Any rational assessment would welcome the use of this non-toxic material as a pest control.
  See Dushoff, J., B. Caldwell and C. L. Mohler. 1994. Evaluating the environmental impact of pesticides: a critique of the environmental impact quotient. American Entomologist 40:180-184.

  Make no mistake, conventional produce that you get in the supermarket has been heavily sprayed, and often with products far more toxic than rotenone.

  For a real overview of organic pesticides, warts and all, please see
  http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/resourceguide/

  Best wishes!On Why isn't 'organic pesticide' an oxymoron? posted 9 months ago 8 Responses