Growing Body of Evidence does not seem to be growing when it comes to lawn pesticides. Yet the self proclaimed experts continue to promote MisInformation and use the same factless material year after year.
Here is some new information these groups can use when weighing the safety of lawn pesticides.
Why cosmetic pesticides are a bad idea
The three commonly used lawn pesticides on PEI are carbaryl, mecoprop, and MCPA. Carbaryl is used against the chinch bug and June beetle grubs, while mecoprop and MCPA are weedkillers. The following reputable bodies recommend against using lawn pesticides:
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment; Canadian Medical Society
PEI Medical Society
Ontario College of Family Physicians.
The David Suzuki Foundation.
The Sierra Club of Canada.
Carbaryl:
attacks acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme in the nervous system of ALL animals, not just insects.
toxic to the nervous and respiratory systems of humans.
has been shown to damage DNA in human liver cells
affects hormonal activity in human cells
linked with low sperm counts, miscarriages, and cancer in humans.
toxic to a wide variety of wildlife including bees and fish.
Mecoprop and MCPA:
causes uncontrolled growth in plants by mimicing the plants’ natural hormones.
inhibits clotting mechanism of human blood.
debilitates the immune properties of human blood cells.
has been linked to a higher prevalence of non Hodgkins lymphoma in humans.
damages DNA and causes liver and kidney damage in laboratory animals.
damaging to wildlife, including birds and plankton that are vital carbon sinks.
Did you know that:
children are far more sensitive to pesticides than adults.
commercial formulations of pesticides contain so-called “inert ingredients” that actually magnifies the potency of the chemicals. Health Canada does not consider this when it screens them for safety.
Cox, 2004. Journal Pesticide Reform. 24, 10-14; Cox, C. 2005. Journal Pesticide Reform. 25, 10-15; Sanborn, M. et al. 2012. Systemic Review of Pesticide health effects. Pesticides Review; David Suzuki Foundation. 2011. Pesticide Free? Oui! 2011 progress report; Sierra Club of Canada. 2006. The truth about pesticides.For more information: contact Roger Gordon 569-2995 or Maureen Kerr 388-1800
via Why cosmetic pesticides are a bad idea | Pesticide Free PEI.