On Nov. 2, the EWG (the same folks behind The Dirty Dozen) launched an interactive map created to demonstrate just how close our kids are learning to dangerous farms and published an written analysis titled, Schools near pesticide spray zones could lose health protections. The specific concern is that farmers may spray “toxic” chemicals on those fields causing cancer, developmental deficiencies, and other untold horrors.
They used a lot of “potential,” “could be,” and “maybe” to describe the risk. It’s a lesson EWG learned after food advocates and scientists called them out for the misleading Dirty Dozen list — it’s all just hypothetical harm. The whole campaign is carefully crafted and cultivated to back opponents into the unenviable position of arguing that pesticide applications by schools are just fine. It’s so well done it’s almost admirable.
The EWG’s real purpose is to spread fear and anxiety over pesticides so it can influence legislation, including the next farm bill. But the real message is so inconceivable I’m surprised they can say it with a straight face: U.S. farms are so dangerous, so poisonous, and so polluted that we can’t even allow our precious children anywhere near them.
