Compelling studies justify pesticide ban
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Re: Weeding out bad policy, April 29.
The Citizen editorial correctly pointed out that
there is no scientific proof that pesticides for lawn
care lead to health problems.
Prospectively comparing the health of exposed versus
unexposed people (a randomized placebo controlled
trial), such as is done for new drug trials, is
impossible to do with potential poisons. It is for
this reason that absolute scientific proof of harm
will be impossible to obtain.
However, the available population-based studies
exploring potential adverse effects of pesticides and
herbicides on the public provide compelling data
suggesting that these toxic substances have adverse
effects on reproduction. Environmental pesticides and
herbicides have been strongly associated with sperm
defects, subfertility and an increase risk of
miscarriage.
It is ironic to find a Citizen article in the same
edition ("Chemicals in diet 'feminize' male
turtles") reporting the feminization of male
snapping turtles in our great lakes as a result of
environmental toxins. Pesticides and herbicides used
for cosmetic lawn care are inhaled in trace amounts
but are also washed into the water table where we get
our drinking water and are ingested by local fish.
It is prudent for regulators to help minimize the
public's exposure to potentially harmful
environmental toxins. Regulators already require
emissions testing as a prerequisite to vehicle
licensure.
As a minimum, city council should be supported in
their current policy to stop using pesticides and
herbicides on public properties, and lawn care
companies should be banned from spraying private
property with these toxins.
Councillor Alex Cullen's efforts to stop the use of
these toxins on all lawns and gardens should be
applauded. The public should urge other city
councillors to move towards a ban on the use of
cosmetic pesticides and herbicides.
Paul Claman, MD, Ottawa
Professor,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
University of Ottawa
Community Web.
