Be Pesticide-Free: Pesticides and Human Health

What is a Pesticide?

A pesticide is a chemical or microbiological substance that is designed to kill pests.
Pesticides by definition are toxic because they poison the pest. Pesticides include
insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides. Common examples are
RoundUp, Killex, and 2,4-D. Lawn pesticides do not prevent pest problems; they only try
to control them once they are present.

Exposure

Pesticides are all around us. They can be found in our soil, air, food, and even mother’s
breast milk1. According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan residents have the highest
percent use of lawn and garden pesticides in Canada. In 1994, 37% of Saskatchewan
residents used lawn and garden pesticides, which has increased to 46% in 2007.2
Comparing this to the national average of 31% in 1994 and 25% in 2007, the use of lawn
and garden pesticides in Saskatchewan has not followed the national trend.3 As a
result, residents of Saskatchewan have a higher risk of exposure to lawn and garden
pesticides.

1 Natural Resources Defense Council (March 2005). Health Milk, Health Baby; Chemical Pollution and Mother’s Milk.
[www.nrdc.org/breastmilk/] Retrieved on January 30, 2013 2 Statistics Canada (February 2008) Households and the Environment Survey 2006. Catalogue No. 11-526-X.
[http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-526-x/11-526-x2007001-eng.pdf] Revisited on February 26, 2013
3 Statistics Canada (July 2009) Households and the Environment Survey 2007. Catalogue No. 11-526-X.
[http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-526-x/11-526-x2009001-eng.pdf] Revisited on February 26, 2013

Human Health

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has identified acute health
effects in humans from the use of pesticides that include nausea, eye, skin, respiratory
and throat irritation, muscle spasms, and even death4. In 2012, the Ontario College of
Family Physicians released its finding on pesticides and the adverse risks they pose to
human health. Their review of current scientific data shows consistent links to serious
illnesses such as cancer, reproductive problems and neurological diseases5. Children
are most at risk as they typically play in grass and dirt, and put toys and hands in their
mouths, activities that significantly increase their exposure to pesticides.
Pesticides are used more often then you may realize. You and your family can come
into contact with pesticides in many ways, including:

· Pesticides used in and around our homes and gardens · Pesticides used on our pets · Pesticides used in our communities and in our environment · Pesticides used on our food · When we work with pesticides
Health risks associated with pesticides depend on the toxicity of the active pesticide
ingredients and the amount of exposure to those pesticides. In addition, pregnant
women are more sensitive to the effects of pesticides. During pregnancy, the baby’s
brain, nervous system, and organs are developing rapidly and can be more sensitive to
the toxic effects of pesticides.6

4 Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (November 18, 2010). What kinds of health effects are associated with pesticides? [http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/pesticides/health_effects.html]. Revisited on January 31, 2013 
5 Ontario College of Family Physicians (2012). 2012 Systematic Review of Pesticide Health Effects.
[www.ocfp.on.ca/docs/pesticides-paper/2012-systematic-review-of-pesticide.pdf] Retrieved on January 30, 2013.
6 National Pesticide Information Center (October 2012) Pesticides and Human Health.
[npic.orst.edu/health/humhealth.html]. Revisited on February 12, 2013

How to Protect You and Your Family

· Pesticides are toxic. Be aware of when they are sprayed in your community, school
yards, sports fields, parks, golf courses, and public green spaces.
· Do not use pesticides on your own lawn and garden. · Ensure items such as children’s toys, pet’s bowls, clothing, and food are put away
before pesticides are applied by you, your neighbour, or a lawn care specialist.
· Keep kids and their toys indoors when pesticides are being applied and afterward. · Reduce your exposure to pesticides. Ask questions and be informed regarding
precautions, warnings, and wait times.
· Read the label first!If you are using pesticides on your lawn or garden, make sure to
select the appropriate product for your problem and follow proper health and safety
procedures.
· Do not spray your pets. · Get involved!Work with community organizations to reduce pesticide use in your community.
· Check if your lawn care company offers alternatives to pesticide management
approaches that are pesticide-free.

Remember

“Chemical pesticides are not a cure-all. Insects and weeds will never be eradicated.
One no-cost, no-effort substitute to pesticides is to develop a certain level of tolerance
for some weeds and other pests”.7

To learn more about alternatives to using pesticides, please visit the
Saaskatchwan Environmental Society website or pesticidefreeforlife.ca

-Brett

Manitoba Cosmetic Pesticides Legislation Introduced

Some good news came out of Manitoba this week. The province has introduce legislation that will ban the use of cosmetic pesticides on the following:

• lawns;
• adjoining sidewalks and patios;
• school grounds, playgrounds and playing fields; and
• health-care institutions and child-care centre grounds. 

Use of pesticides would still be allowed on farms and for forestry purposes. As well, things like gardens, golf courses, or usage on dangerous weeds with no alternatives will be allowed.

For more information on the new legislation visit this link:

http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=&item=30526

Brett

Spring is Coming!

After a long and very cold winter it seems like Spring is finally here!

This means it won't be long before people need to start looking after their lawns and gardens and getting them ready for the upcoming year. To help you in this process we are going to be posting a series of helpful documents and links that will get your lawn and garden ready for the year so it can look beautiful, all while avoiding the use of harmful cosmetic pesticides.

Today, start by reviewing ways you can keep you lawn looking great by viewing these tips from the Saskatchewan Environmental Society here.

And for more information on pesticides visit the Canadian Cancer Society website here.

-Brett

Federal Government Investigations

It may be the middle of Winter and spring can still seem far off, but the Federal Government has made an important announcment saying that it will investigate a number of pesticides to see what type of impact they have on our environment and our health.

The pesticides being reviewed include:

• Bromoxynil, often used cereal crops and vegetables.
• Carbaryl, often used in flea collars and ant powder.
• Chlorthal-dimethyl, often used on weeds in gardens, also a possible carcinogen
• Trifluralin, herbicide that is toxic to fish and used widely on the Prairies
• Trichlorfon, an insecticide approved for woodlots, Christmas tree plantations and cattle, which has been linked to human nerve damage.
• 2,4-D, which has been banned in Norway over health and environmental concerns. 

 To learn more visit this link

Brett

Fall Preparations

With the fall season coming upon us it is important to start taking care of our lawns and gardens and preparing them for next spring so that they can come back healthy and strong. To do so requires us to follow a few simple tips. Best of all though, preparing our lawns and gardens for next year will not only allow them to come back healthy in the spring, but will also remove your need to use harmful pesticides. To learn more about ways that you can take care of your lawn and garden this fall use this handy sheet put out by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.

Brett

Pesticide Free,The Way To Bee

The people at the Canadian Cancer Society office in North Battleford put on their creativity caps this past week and came up with a neat way to remind us all to 'bee' pesiticde free.

Using their front window display the office made a colourful showing reminding passers by of the importance of being pesticide free and how it effects the environment around them. However, their insect creations proved to be the most unique idea. Using obsolete breast prosthesis, previously used by breast cancer patients, they created some fun looking insects for their display.

So hats off to those in the North Battleford office for their creativity and work to help promote a pesticide free home. Being pesticide free is a great way to not only help reduce ones chances for developing cancer, but it helps protect the insect population that makes for a healthy and beautiful home and garden.

Brett

Are your summer plants coated with an insecticide?

All gardeners want to have the best flowers and plants possible for their garden. And one of the best ways to have a growing and healthy garden is to have pollinators like bees around. In an attempt to help support bees new "bee friendly plants" have been created. But a recently released report shows that we must all take some precaution in buying such products. The report released from the Pesticide Research Institute in the United States found that 7 of 13 types of garden plants purchased at top retailers contained neonicotinoids, which is a neurotoxic pesticide that is harming or killing bees and other pollinators.

The report also showed another troubling issue. That neonicotinoids were found in tomatoes and squash plants that were sold. This is important as not only are pollinators at risk, but people who eat these products are then being exposed to these harmful pesticides. Further to this it has been discovered that neonicotinoids can stay in the soil for months and years after.

And there is growing evidence to show just how harmful neonicotinoids really are to the bee population. Last year, after a significant number of bees had died during the spring Health Canada looked into the matter. After conducing their tests they found that 70% of the bees had traces of neonicotinoids. This added to an already declining bee population and has had a great impact on some bee keepers in Canada who are losing their hives at alarming rates of between 70-90%.

This is important to note considering the important role bees play in the economy and our own food production. A United States Drug Administration report found that "a third of all food and beverages are made possible by pollination, mainly by honeybees. Pollination contributes to an estimated $20 billion to $30 billion in U.S. agricultural production each year."

In response to the dangers of neonicotinoids the European Union has passed a two year ban on its use to allow for further study on its use. In Ontario, Premier Kathleen Wynne is forming a committee to launch an investigation into its effects.

So next spring when you head out to buy your plants for the season make sure to take extra care and avoid plants with neonicotinoids. Your garden will thank you...and so will the bees.

Brett

For more information on neonicotinoids go to the following links:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/story/2013/08/14/kitchener-bees-deaths-pesticide.html

http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/08/13/3439847/study-plants-from-top-retailers.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/07/03/f-dead-bees.html

And for more information on pesticides and ways you can reduce your use go to:

www.pesticidefreeforlife.ca

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