The Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition on Pesticides says that without legislation to protect people's health and the environment from cosmetic pesticide use, individuals can make a difference by choosing not to use pesticides.
Emma Housser, coalition spokesperson and policy analyst for the Canadian Cancer Society in the province, said people should talk to friends, family, and neighbours about the issue.
Housser said residents should also let their MHAs and cabinet ministers know that legislation is needed.
According to a news release, the coalition says the majority of Canadians enjoy the benefits of protection by provincial legislation. Quebec was the first six years ago and Ontario's new act came into effect three months ago. Many other provinces are currently developing legislation.
"In all of these cases, the impetus for change comes from concerned citizens who believe that the health of their children, pets, neighbours, and natural world is more important than having a perfect lawn," says Greg Noel, director of environmental initiatives for the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association.
"It's our shared responsibility and we can make a difference."
The release says that scientists have linked pesticide exposure to serious negative health effects, including cancer, reproductive problems and neurological diseases. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.
There are more than 6,000 cases of pesticide poisonings in Canada reported to poison control centres each year - nearly half involving children under the age of six. Additionally, pesticides can cause immediate physical reactions for people living with lung disease such as asthma.
The group has a take action link at the bottom of the NL Environment Network's website homepage at www.nlen.ca. There is also a Coalition FaceBook page.
Group urges citizens to take action on cosmetic pesticide use
- Published on July 15, 2009
- Published on June 30, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- mary
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:57:06
I am totally fed up with pesticide use on lawns in my neighbourhood. I get reddened eyes, terrible headaches and the smell just clings to my nostrils. I have neighbours who use all the time just to have the perfect lawn the hell with anyone else. We dig the weeds every year with the stand up digger, perfect!! We get comments on our property. I have a neighbour and a granddaughter with asthma, when are our elected members going to ban this altogether. It is only adding to strain already on the health care. Maybe we should start sueing for damages caused to peoples health from constant use of this poison...
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- M
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:54:38
Last Year, i used totally organic means to control a pest problem on my lawn - worked beautifully too. HOWEVER, because of the Water Ban that's in place, i can not apply the organic, enviromentally things that i applied last yr. Yes, i HAVE put pesticide on my lawn this month, and i DID put up a sign saying i had done so. It wasn't on there an hr, and there were kids, with the parents watching them from across the stree, on the lawn, in the bare feet, or on a bike. WhatEVER happened to having respect for other people's property? I specifically went and told those parents that there was pesticide in use, and they STILL let the kids run rampant over the lawn. If you do NOT want to be affected by pesticide, or you do not want your children to come in contact with it, MAY i SUGGEST that you keep off other people's property,especially if the signs are there? I am SEVERELY allergic to fleas plus a few other bugs, and something has to be done, to any grass on my property, to prevent any from infestation. If i have to put down pesticide, so be it - Stay OFF other people's property, and learn some respect for others. Then again, respect for others is not something that is seen in this province, for the most part.
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- Martin
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:54:08
People, please exercise a little skepticism here, lest the socialists pull the wool over our eyes yet again.
There has never been any study linking domestic pesticide/herbicide use to health problems, in fact Health Canada recently concluded that there IS no link. -
- Girl from St. John's
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:51:13
There are eco-friendly lawn care companies out there. We use one.
However, just try and prevent me from using whatever chemical, is necessary to rid my front door of the elm spanworm! -
- Craig
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:50:39
I came home last Friday to find a just Sprayed sign on my lawn. I never did order the spraying. The neighbour across the street was supposed to get it. Leave it in the hand of the professionals alright. Time to have this garbage banned, it will be a better world because of it!
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- K. Jean
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:49:48
I am honorary Canadian observer on the U.S. Pesticide Working Group.
As these comments show, ordinary people are often misinformed on this subject. For example, one commentator was lumping human hormones with pesticides and steroids. Pesticides are a generic term including all the cides . It doesn't mean insecticides specifically. Herbicides are toxic substances invented for use on the battlefield.
Why have warfare in peacetime, with health endangered by improperly tested chemicals, especially harmful to young children, when lawns can be maintained in an excellent condition without the use of these highly toxic poisons? I speak on the basis of personal experience.
Let us not compare the use of automobiles which are not intended to kill, although accidents do happen, to chemicals intended to kill!
Lawns can be maintained in excellent condition without the use of pesticides. I have a weedless, attractive lawn unsprayed in twenty years! The general public is misinformed by unscrupulous companies and individuals on this issue.
There is no moderation in pesticides' use. They are toxic in any quantities, however small.
Of course, lawn companies should not have monopoly of any kind on pesticides' application as they are highly toxic regardless who applies them. Just because they are applied by paid, supposedly trained operators, doesn't make them any safer. Cosmetic use of pesticides should be banned unconditionally.
K. Jean Cottam, PhD
83-21 Midland Crescent
Ottawa, ON K2H 8P6
613-726-1596 -
- ½ wit
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:48:08
Pesticide and herbicide bans will never be real 'bans' when lawn care companies are still allowed to use them.
Let's call it what it is - a monopoly for lawn care companies. And these guys spray in the wind all over the place. I've seen my neighbours hire these bozos. They don't care as long as they get paid. If only I got a dollar for each lawn care company warning sign blowing down the street as trash.
Some use of these products should be allowed by homeowners to some extent. They do have their function. But many people keep slapping these products on over and over again when they are not needed - now it hurts all of us. Should we react so badly ? Should we 'ban' automobiles because they pollute heavily and cause injuries/death each year in accidents ? Without pesticides and herbicides we are looking at weeds completely taking over and destroying lawns. Lawn replacements will be costly not only to the home owner, but also to the environment as the heavy carbon footprint of machinery is factored into the equation. The pollution from trucks and heavy equipment used to cut and haul sods to replace completely weeded-up lawns will be significant.
There are far more harmful chemicals (hormones, steroids, pesticides, herbicides, preservatives) and much higher chemical dose exposure in the foods we buy (and then put directly inside our bodies !) at supermarkets which should be of greater concern.
When all lawns have gone to crap, some will pave them over. This will be an even worse environmentally unfriendly result.
Heck, the people going on about this nonsense are probably chain smoking alcoholics. But for sure, they are in cohoots with lawn care companies.
If we can't use these products, then what makes it safe for lawn care companies to use them ? Don't tell me it's in their application because I've SEEN how they operate. Last year one company cleaned out his hopper with a customer's garden hose and let it run off down the strom drain across the street.
Don't go too far with this foolishness. The answer is moderation not a monopoly. -
- Judie
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:47:45
There is much misinformation regarding pesticides. First of all a pesticide ban would include commercial companies applying them, the bulk of pesticide use in our province is sprayed on lawns by commercial companies. A pesticide is a classification which includes but not limited to all insecticides (to kill insects) and herbicides (to kill weeds). Exposure by inhalation and absorption are the most detrimental routes of exposure. Foods containing pesticide residues are passing through the bodies filters by ingestion. We have choices when buying foods for our families local and organic foods are readily available...What choice do we have when a person or company sprays lawns and exposes us to the toxic drift trespassing on our properties? Health Canada states that pesticides are unsafe, in fact it is illegal in Canada to state a pesticide is safe.
Pesticides need to be banned in our province and our government should start taking responsibility for the many years of pesticide misuse in NL. Prevention is the best medicine.
http://sprayadvisory.webs.com/responsetopropaganda.htm -
- ½ wit
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:46:48
mary from nl you are confusing pesticides with herbicides. Pesticides kill pests. Herbicides kill weeds. You can't buy herbicides (for weed control) any more - it's been illegal to sell for at least, I think, 2 years already. Your neighbours can't use a weed plucker like you (and I do) to remove pests.
But you had better get ready to sue lawn care companies as they will always be exempt from pesticide and herbicide use, and you will continue smelling it.
What will you do when your neighbour drives all his pests out of his lawn with his/her pesticide use ? Those pests migrate to adjacent properties. Will you let your lawn die ? Like I said, you can't use a weed plucker to remove pests. Perhaps you'll re-sod your lawn. At what cost to the environment ? (Which comes full circle back at you.) Perhaps you'll just pave your lawn - nice smells then for the netire neighbourhood (more bad news for the environment). Just what until everyone catches on to paving their lawns... -
- hypocracy monitor
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:42:52
Yep, like a previous poster stated, we will not be permitted to use herbicides/pesticides, however we can hire, as this poster said bozos to do it with reckless abandon.
Now that I think of it, we cannot wash our cars, however we can go to a carwash and use the same amount of H20 to do what we cannot do at home.
Is it just me that can see hypocracy here?
You can't fight city hall, but you sure as hell can shadow box with the bastids. -
- mary
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:44:28
I am totally fed up with pesticide use on lawns in my neighbourhood. I get reddened eyes, terrible headaches and the smell just clings to my nostrils. I have neighbours who use all the time just to have the perfect lawn the hell with anyone else. We dig the weeds every year with the stand up digger, perfect!! We get comments on our property. I have a neighbour and a granddaughter with asthma, when are our elected members going to ban this altogether. It is only adding to strain already on the health care. Maybe we should start sueing for damages caused to peoples health from constant use of this poison...
-
- M
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:40:27
Last Year, i used totally organic means to control a pest problem on my lawn - worked beautifully too. HOWEVER, because of the Water Ban that's in place, i can not apply the organic, enviromentally things that i applied last yr. Yes, i HAVE put pesticide on my lawn this month, and i DID put up a sign saying i had done so. It wasn't on there an hr, and there were kids, with the parents watching them from across the stree, on the lawn, in the bare feet, or on a bike. WhatEVER happened to having respect for other people's property? I specifically went and told those parents that there was pesticide in use, and they STILL let the kids run rampant over the lawn. If you do NOT want to be affected by pesticide, or you do not want your children to come in contact with it, MAY i SUGGEST that you keep off other people's property,especially if the signs are there? I am SEVERELY allergic to fleas plus a few other bugs, and something has to be done, to any grass on my property, to prevent any from infestation. If i have to put down pesticide, so be it - Stay OFF other people's property, and learn some respect for others. Then again, respect for others is not something that is seen in this province, for the most part.
-
- Martin
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:39:32
People, please exercise a little skepticism here, lest the socialists pull the wool over our eyes yet again.
There has never been any study linking domestic pesticide/herbicide use to health problems, in fact Health Canada recently concluded that there IS no link. -
- Girl from St. John's
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:34:44
There are eco-friendly lawn care companies out there. We use one.
However, just try and prevent me from using whatever chemical, is necessary to rid my front door of the elm spanworm! -
- Craig
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:33:33
I came home last Friday to find a just Sprayed sign on my lawn. I never did order the spraying. The neighbour across the street was supposed to get it. Leave it in the hand of the professionals alright. Time to have this garbage banned, it will be a better world because of it!
-
- K. Jean
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:32:06
I am honorary Canadian observer on the U.S. Pesticide Working Group.
As these comments show, ordinary people are often misinformed on this subject. For example, one commentator was lumping human hormones with pesticides and steroids. Pesticides are a generic term including all the cides . It doesn't mean insecticides specifically. Herbicides are toxic substances invented for use on the battlefield.
Why have warfare in peacetime, with health endangered by improperly tested chemicals, especially harmful to young children, when lawns can be maintained in an excellent condition without the use of these highly toxic poisons? I speak on the basis of personal experience.
Let us not compare the use of automobiles which are not intended to kill, although accidents do happen, to chemicals intended to kill!
Lawns can be maintained in excellent condition without the use of pesticides. I have a weedless, attractive lawn unsprayed in twenty years! The general public is misinformed by unscrupulous companies and individuals on this issue.
There is no moderation in pesticides' use. They are toxic in any quantities, however small.
Of course, lawn companies should not have monopoly of any kind on pesticides' application as they are highly toxic regardless who applies them. Just because they are applied by paid, supposedly trained operators, doesn't make them any safer. Cosmetic use of pesticides should be banned unconditionally.
K. Jean Cottam, PhD
83-21 Midland Crescent
Ottawa, ON K2H 8P6
613-726-1596 -
- ½ wit
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:29:17
Pesticide and herbicide bans will never be real 'bans' when lawn care companies are still allowed to use them.
Let's call it what it is - a monopoly for lawn care companies. And these guys spray in the wind all over the place. I've seen my neighbours hire these bozos. They don't care as long as they get paid. If only I got a dollar for each lawn care company warning sign blowing down the street as trash.
Some use of these products should be allowed by homeowners to some extent. They do have their function. But many people keep slapping these products on over and over again when they are not needed - now it hurts all of us. Should we react so badly ? Should we 'ban' automobiles because they pollute heavily and cause injuries/death each year in accidents ? Without pesticides and herbicides we are looking at weeds completely taking over and destroying lawns. Lawn replacements will be costly not only to the home owner, but also to the environment as the heavy carbon footprint of machinery is factored into the equation. The pollution from trucks and heavy equipment used to cut and haul sods to replace completely weeded-up lawns will be significant.
There are far more harmful chemicals (hormones, steroids, pesticides, herbicides, preservatives) and much higher chemical dose exposure in the foods we buy (and then put directly inside our bodies !) at supermarkets which should be of greater concern.
When all lawns have gone to crap, some will pave them over. This will be an even worse environmentally unfriendly result.
Heck, the people going on about this nonsense are probably chain smoking alcoholics. But for sure, they are in cohoots with lawn care companies.
If we can't use these products, then what makes it safe for lawn care companies to use them ? Don't tell me it's in their application because I've SEEN how they operate. Last year one company cleaned out his hopper with a customer's garden hose and let it run off down the strom drain across the street.
Don't go too far with this foolishness. The answer is moderation not a monopoly. -
- Judie
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:28:37
There is much misinformation regarding pesticides. First of all a pesticide ban would include commercial companies applying them, the bulk of pesticide use in our province is sprayed on lawns by commercial companies. A pesticide is a classification which includes but not limited to all insecticides (to kill insects) and herbicides (to kill weeds). Exposure by inhalation and absorption are the most detrimental routes of exposure. Foods containing pesticide residues are passing through the bodies filters by ingestion. We have choices when buying foods for our families local and organic foods are readily available...What choice do we have when a person or company sprays lawns and exposes us to the toxic drift trespassing on our properties? Health Canada states that pesticides are unsafe, in fact it is illegal in Canada to state a pesticide is safe.
Pesticides need to be banned in our province and our government should start taking responsibility for the many years of pesticide misuse in NL. Prevention is the best medicine.
http://sprayadvisory.webs.com/responsetopropaganda.htm -
- ½ wit
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:27:00
mary from nl you are confusing pesticides with herbicides. Pesticides kill pests. Herbicides kill weeds. You can't buy herbicides (for weed control) any more - it's been illegal to sell for at least, I think, 2 years already. Your neighbours can't use a weed plucker like you (and I do) to remove pests.
But you had better get ready to sue lawn care companies as they will always be exempt from pesticide and herbicide use, and you will continue smelling it.
What will you do when your neighbour drives all his pests out of his lawn with his/her pesticide use ? Those pests migrate to adjacent properties. Will you let your lawn die ? Like I said, you can't use a weed plucker to remove pests. Perhaps you'll re-sod your lawn. At what cost to the environment ? (Which comes full circle back at you.) Perhaps you'll just pave your lawn - nice smells then for the netire neighbourhood (more bad news for the environment). Just what until everyone catches on to paving their lawns... -
- hypocracy monitor
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:20:25
Yep, like a previous poster stated, we will not be permitted to use herbicides/pesticides, however we can hire, as this poster said bozos to do it with reckless abandon.
Now that I think of it, we cannot wash our cars, however we can go to a carwash and use the same amount of H20 to do what we cannot do at home.
Is it just me that can see hypocracy here?
You can't fight city hall, but you sure as hell can shadow box with the bastids.
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