Organic Cotton vs. Conventional Cotton 
"Conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other single crop and epitomizes the worst effects of chemically dependent agriculture. Each year cotton producers around the world use nearly $2.6 billion worth of pesticides." (PANNA)
Stunning little known fact, eh? Most folks think of cotton as natural because it is a plant fiber rather than a synthetic - without realizing all the toxic chemicals that go into the production of conventional cotton. Organic cotton (and hemp) - those grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers - truly are pure, safe, healthy and natural.
The Organic Trade Association gives us this data*:
- Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world's insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants.). (Allan Woodburn)
- Approximately 10% of all pesticides sold for use in U. S. agriculture were applied to cotton in 1997, the most recent year for which such data is publicly available. (ACPA)
- Fifty-five million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on the 12.8 million acres of conventional cotton grown in the U.S. in 2003 (4.3 pounds/ acre), ranking cotton third behind corn and soybeans in total amount of pesticides sprayed. (USDA)
- Over 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers were applied to conventional cotton in 2000 (142 pounds/acre), making cotton the fourth most heavily fertilized crop behind corn, winter wheat, and soybeans. (USDA)
- The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens (acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin). (EPA)
- In 1999, a work crew re-entered a cotton field about five hours after it was treated with tribufos and sodium chlorate (re-entry should have been prohibited for 24 hours). Seven workers subsequently sought medical treatment and five have had ongoing health problems. (California DPR)
 Green Earth Market exists to provide healthier, better, safer, high quality, environmentally responsible products for you, your family and your home. The fabrics in our clothing and bedding are a major part of that and we think the best organic fabrics are the only way to go. We put our efforts into steering clear of harmful toxins used in the manufacturing of most modern fabrics and products, so that our customers can stay safe and happy, all the while being good stewards of our wonderful planet.
Organic alternatives:
Be healthier, safer and breathe easier with better products that are better for our world and our environment. Thanks for shopping online at Green Earth Market.
*Source
OTA's "2006 U.S. Organic Production & Marketing Trends" report.
Allen Woodburn Associates Ltd./Managing Resources Ltd., "Cotton: The Crop and its Agrochemicals Market," 1995.
American Crop Protection Association, "1997 Total U. S. Sales by Crop Protection Product Type and Market," 1998 ACPA Industry Profile.
California Department of Pesticide Regulation, "DPR Releases Data on 1999 Pesticide Injuries," 2001.
U. S. Department of Agriculture, "Agricultural Chemical Usage: 2003 Field Crop Summary."
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, "List of Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential," 2001.
http://www.ota.com/organic/environment/cotton_environment.html ©2008, Organic Trade Association
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