Kathy Kellison wrote:
 
> >A new study tested mothers and the umbilical cord serum of their babies.
> With these results for New Jersey, I shutter to think what the levels
> such a study in the Central Valley of California would attest

Why worry? In spite of the likely higher pesticide residue levels 
in California's Central Valley, vertebrate animals continue to be 
abundant even within the pesticide treated crops.
A couple brief examples:

ALMONDS:

http://www.bluediamond.com/index.cfm?navid=152

"Ground Squirrels and Gophers ‹ Ground squirrels continue to be a
major vertebrate pest in almonds. There seems to be a constant battle
to control these prolific animals in and around the orchard." 
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RAISIN GRAPES:

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/391-316.pdf

Vertebrate Pests:

HOUSE FINCH 
ROBIN
STARLING 
CALIFORNIA GROUND SQUIRREL 
POCKET GOPHER 
MEADOW VOLE
DEER
COYOTES
RABBITS Primarily Jackrabbits

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

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