A: Steve Tvedten, president of Get Set Inc., a consultant on integrated pest management, who is a very knowledgeable person about using alternatives to pesticides, recently wrote a letter that was forwarded to me. Here is part of his letter:

"National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24, 2007, was created to highlight the dangers of poisoning and how to prevent it. One study shows that about 70,000 children in the USA were involved in common household pesticide-related (acute) poisonings or exposures in 2004.

"At least two peer-reviewed studies have described associations between autism rates and pesticides (D'Amelio et al 2005; Roberts EM et al 2007 in journal Environmental Health Perspectives.). It is estimated that 300,000 farm workers suffer acute pesticide poisoning each year in the United States. No one is checking chronic contamination.

"In order to try to help 'stem the tide,' I have just finished re-writing my IPM encyclopedia titled, The Best Control II, that contains over 2,800 safe and far more effective alternatives to pesticides. This latest copyrighted work is about 1,800 pages in length and is now being updated at my new Web site at www.stephentvedten.com.

"We still must update Chapter 39 and renumber the pages. All of these copyrighted items are free for you to read and/or download."

...................................................................................................................................................................