International business briefs: Californian pesticide concerns, South Korea investing in biofuels, EPA Spanish website, US needs energy efficiency, China halts power developments
Environmental health and community groups have filed a law suit this week in Sacramento Superior Court to require California's Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to uphold the Toxic Air Contaminant (TAC) law. The law, enacted in 1984, requires DPR to assess all pesticides as potential air contaminants and regulate them in order to protect public health. Of the more than 900 pesticides registered in California, DPR has completed the review process for only four in the past 20 years. Of the 172 million pounds of pesticides reported used in 2002 in the state, more than 90% are prone to drifting away from where they are applied and becoming airborne toxins. According to the California Air Resources Board, pesticides are one of the top three contributors to ozone pollution in the San Joaquin Valley, accounting for about 8-10% of the ozone-forming gases produced in the region. High levels of ozone trigger asthma attacks and exacerbate other respiratory illnesses. In addition, nearly one-third of pesticides used in California are associated with serious chronic and acute health problems, such as cancer or nervous system damage.