Crop sprays can pose big threat to health

London, Nov 16 : Crop sprays pose a big threat to the health of people living in the countryside and must be given better protection, the High Court in Britain has ruled. The verdict, by Justice Collins is a landmark victory for Georgina Downs, who launched a one-woman campaign after crop spraying damaged her own health, reports the Telegraph.

During the case, she argued that the Government had ignored evidence that agricultural chemicals damaged the health of people, who lived close to crop fields.

And now, the judge has ordered the Government to 'rethink' its policies on pesticides so that human health is given more priority.

In his ruling, the judge said Downs had produced 'strong' testimony to support her case and granted her application for a judicial review.

He admitted that the Government had failed to meet its obligations under EU law to protect rural residents and communities from the possible harmful exposure to pesticides.

Downs, whose home near Chichester, West Sussex, borders crop fields, launched her independent UK Pesticides Campaign in 2001.

Last month, she earned Woman of the Year award for her campaign against the unrestricted use of pesticides.

ANI