MEPs should vote to protect child health

WHILE much attention is being given to the financial problems in the health service, not all interventions need increased expenditure.

Many chemicals — pesticides, for example — are overused. Unnecessary use of pesticides within EU countries is a significant threat to children’s health. Some pesticides are also associated with increased risks of cancer and asthma in children. Another concern is that children exposed to pesticides today may be more likely to develop a chronic disease later in life.

The Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association would like to see reduced pesticide use, the removal from the market of the most hazardous products and a ban on spraying pesticides and insecticides near parks, schools, playgrounds and any other area where children are eating, playing and learning.

A chance to achieve this limitation on the use of pesticides is coming up in the European Parliament next week. If the vote to protect children’s health is missed this time, another chance to ban the most hazardous chemicals will not come again for many years. As doctors, we need to bring to public attention the vulnerability of children in particular to these hazardous compounds. We urge your readers to make it known to their MEP that their vote should be in favour of our children’s health.

Dr Elizabeth Cullen

Irish Doctors’

Environmental Association

Kilcullen

Co Kildare