South Downs three times as toxic
10 December 1998
South Downs three times as toxic
THE number of toxic chemicals sprayed on cereal crops in southern England has nearly trebled in the past 20 years, say scientists.
They have discovered that between 80 and 100% of arable fields are regularly coated in up to 36 herbicides, fungicides and insecticides.
Researchers base their findings on 62km2 of farmland in the South Downs.
One of the researchers, Dr Julie Ewald of the Game Conservancy, said only one farm among 12 studied still rotated crops and so needed to use fewer pesticides .
- The Times 10/12/98 page 11
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