Submission to the
Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee
City of Ottawa
by
Regarding the
City of Ottawa Pesticide Reduction Strategy for Private Property
2003 year-end Report and 2004 Work Program
Meg Sears (M.Eng., Ph.D.)
Head, Steering Committee
Feb. 19, 2004
The CHO is a coalition of health care professionals, scientists, health and environmental organisations and individuals working to reduce the cosmetic use of pesticides in Ottawa. The CHO supports healthy, sustainable landscapes by encouraging non-toxic pest management strategies, and seeking a bylaw restricting the cosmetic use of pesticides.
Honourary co-chairs:
- Dr. Joe Reisman (Head of Paediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario) and
- Dr. Alex MacKenzie (Director of the CHEO Research Institute)
The Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa asks Ottawa City Council to pass a bylaw restricting pesticide use in the City of Ottawa.
Eliminating non-essential pesticides and sustainable landscaping is important for:
- protection of public health (attachment 1);
- environmental protection and pollution prevention; and
- sustainability of Ottawa with respect to water, energy use and greenhouse gases.
All of these issues have substantial costs, both short and long-term, associated with them. Some are related to national and international priorities.
An effective pesticide-reduction initiative is cost-effective for the population because it prevents health care costs and lost productivity of the populace. Importantly, it also forestalls untold misery of victims of the ill effects of pesticides and their families.
Effective pesticide reduction involves altered landscaping practices that will in turn improve water quality, increase storage of carbon dioxide in soils and biomass, and increase biodiversity. Increased biodiversity has a myriad of benefits from aesthetic such as increased song-birds, to practical such as increased mosquito predators that will protect us from vector-borne diseases.
People are being harmed.
Many of the CHO's members identify pesticides as being harmful to their personal or family's health. Medical doctors and health care professionals are supporting the CHO because in their professional opinion it is both plausible and probable that pesticides are contributing to their health problems, ranging from childhood respiratory problems, allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases such as type 1 (childhood onset) diabetes, autism and attention deficits, reproductive difficulties, birth defects etc. (for more details, see Attachment 1).
Pesticides polluting our environment are harming society and putting us at increased risk.
We see pollution that is ongoing, pervasive, and serious. The 2003 Surface Water Pesticide Monitoring Program Summary Report revealed that pesticides running off Ottawa turf are contaminating surface water at levels harmful to aquatic species (CHO comments, attachment 2).
Examination of this issue raises the spectre of Canadian drinking water standards being out of date and the possibility that this pesticide runoff (that is not monitored to standards for aquatic species) is affecting our health.
The impairment and "dumbing down" of society as a result of chronic exposure to the "chemical soup", and particularly to neurotoxic insecticides, may be a serious threat to our future. (Attachment 3)
The ecological ramifications put people at increased risk of vector borne diseases such as West Nile virus. Prevalence of organophosphates in the environment could render the pesticide malathion ineffective against adult mosquitoes.
The Pesticide Reduction Strategy has not resulted in anticipated desirable behaviour change.
The Pesticide Reduction Strategy report attached to the HRSS agenda, as well as the Decima polling reports, make it clear that anticipated behaviour change isn't happening. In December 2002 Ottawa City Council approved the Pesticide Reduction Strategy with the assurance of staff that a 16% reduction in pesticide use would have materialised by the end of 2003. Instead there was a 6% increase. This is a 22% spread between reality and the expectation should the Pesticide Reduction Campaign be "on track".
A Pesticide Bylaw is necessary to achieve the behaviour change necessary to protect Ottawa's health.
The CHO sees that the dismal failure of Ottawa's campaign to bring about behaviour change is related in part to the subtle initial message of the campaign, with emphasis on "a beautiful lawn" rather than health. Nevertheless, a lot of excellent sustainable gardening educational material relevant to Ottawa has been developed, and these resources should be used to support a clearer message, that pesticides are not going to be used for cosmetic purposes any more in Ottawa.
Ongoing education is essential to achieving pesticide reduction and to the success of a bylaw.
The single Community Coordinator position is key to maximise benefits from a multitude of volunteer community initiatives and to disseminate the excellent information that has been compiled. A horticultural expert who does not have a conflict with a direct interest in a company carrying out landscaping activities, is also key to gaining public credibility, and to "enforcement with education", particularly during the phasing in of a bylaw.
Other major Canadian cities have adopted pesticide bylaws because it is now clear that voluntary initiatives are not sufficient to protect public health. It is hoped that this will "trickle up" and result in improved pesticide regulation at higher levels of government, as has happened in Québec.
Support for a Pesticide Bylaw
- Prominent Ottawa doctors, including CHO co-chairs from CHEO, Dr. Richard van der Jagt the Chair of the Canadian Leukemia Studies group, Dr. Paul Claman Prof. of Obstetrics and Gynecology and dozens of others wrote and spoke about this issue, and who are calling for a Pesticide Bylaw.
- A pesticide bylaw is a means of acting according to the Precautionary Principle. The city supports the Precautionary Principle, as was enunciated in the 20/20 – Environment Strategy
http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2003/10-22/minutes63.htm
- The 6,000-plus people on the CHO mailing list support a pesticide bylaw.
- Experts in Ottawa support a bylaw (Attachment 4)
Pesticide Reduction Expenses
Major Canadian municipalities have achieved, and plan to achieve ambitious pesticide reduction targets within a year or two, using similar or less funding than Ottawa has for its less successful campaign. (Attachment 5)
Bylaw Drafting
The CHO does not support a long citizen committee process that would delay the drafting of a bylaw. Texts are available for other major cities that already have bylaws, such as Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Montreal. The CHO has proposed a bylaw (attachment 6 – Bylaw proposed for Public Discussion).
In support of pesticide reduction, the CHO would like to see the adoption of a Pesticide Code in Ontario similar to that in Québec. http://www.menv.gouv.qc.ca/pesticides/permis-en/code-gestion-en/index.htm
Recommendations:
That the City of Ottawa:
- Continue a public education campaign regarding pesticides and sustainable landscaping practices, with a community coordinator and a horticultural expert.
- That the City of Ottawa request staff to draft a pesticide bylaw according to the outline attached.
- Ask the Province of Ontario to pass a Pesticide Code similar to that in Québec, to restrict sales and outdoor use of toxic chemicals.
The Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa would be pleased to assist and support the City of Ottawa in protecting public health with public education and institution of a pesticide bylaw.
Respectfully submitted by
M.E. Sears (M.Eng., Ph.D.)
Attachment 1
Pesticides and Health
Pesticides have cumulative, multigenerational destructive impacts on human health, especially on the physical, emotional and mental development of children.
Pesticides are linked to birth defects and interfere with sexual development. They also trigger allergies, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, genetic damage, cancer and other health problems. Health problems may be inherited by the children and become magnified with successive generations.
Pesticides and Human Health
This is an essential resource for physicians and other health providers for understanding the chronic health impacts of pesticides.
Written by Gina Solomon, M.D., M.P.H., Oladele Ogunseitan, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Jan Kirsch, M.D., M.P.H. -- and reviewed by nine health professionals -- this extensive review study, culled exclusively from peer-reviewed published medical data, delivers a sobering and overwhelming diagnosis that public health institutions, regulators and policymakers are largely unaware of pesticides' many deleterious effects.
http://www.psrla.org/pesthealth.htm
Pesticides and Human Health
Ontario College of Family Physicians
http://www.cfpc.ca/ocfp/commun/pest.html
Health Effects of Pesticides
Acute effects of pesticide exposure range from irritation of the nose, eyes and throat, burning, itching and rashes, to difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, headaches and general malaise. In the longer term, scientific studies reveal links between pesticide exposure and higher risk of leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, soft tissue sarcomas, neuroblastoma and prostate cancer. Children are particularly susceptible to harm from pesticides, even before birth and possibly before conception. Pesticides may cause birth defects, developmental delays, hyperactivity, behavioural disorders, motor dysfunction, nervous system disruption and immunotoxicity. These translate into cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, Parkinson's disease, autism and attention deficits, lower IQ and hypothyroidism. Harm from pesticides is responsible for high social and monetary costs
Attachment 2
Highlights and Discussion of the
City of Ottawa
2003 Surface Water Pesticide Monitoring Program
Summary Report
Original report by Dawne Flaborea
Water Environment Protection Program,
Transportation Utilities and Public Works,
City of Ottawa
City of Ottawa contact: Onno Gaanderse 613 580-2424 ext. 13364
Highlights and Discussion:
In the summer of 2003 water samples from the Rideau River, and two tributaries, Mosquito Creek and Sawmill Creek, were collected by Ottawa City staff. They were analysed for pesticides at the University of Guelph. Samples were obtained on three occasions of wet and three occasions of dry weather.
Pesticides were detected at least once in every location sampled.
Pesticides were detected in 63% (27/43) of the samples.
The four pesticides detected (herbicides mecoprop (MCPP), dicamba, and 2,4-D, and the insecticide diazinon) are four of the top five pesticides used by lawn care applicators. None of the pesticides that are used only for agricultural purposes were detected.
Phenoxy herbicides (weedkillers) were present in 60% (26/43) of the samples.
CHO comment: This is of concern, not only because of the herbicide contamination, but because phenoxy herbicides are, by nature of the way they are synthesised, inevitably contaminated with chlorinated dioxins. These persistent, bioaccumulative toxic substances are linked to cancers, and to reproductive, immunological and neurological problems.
The organophosphate insecticide diazinon was present in 26% (11/43) of the samples, and at levels above the water quality objective for protection of aquatic species (0.08 ppb) in 12% (5/43) of the samples. Samples obtained downstream of Emerald Links golf course, during dry weather, was very contaminated (up to 0.2 ppb diazinon). This contamination had spread along the rest of Mosquito Creek.
CHO comments:
The insecticide diazinon, used for grubs, was at levels harmful to aquatic species in both creeks. The species at risk include mosquito predators, that would protect people from West Nile virus.
The drinking water standard (set in 1986) is 20 ppb – 250 x the standard for aquatic species! Ottawa's drinking water is monitored occasionally through the Ontario MoE (using cruder testing, for the 20 ppb standard) and is apparently free of pesticides. That test would not have detected diazinon in any of the samples found to be contaminated by the University of Guelph. Appendix A of the City report contains water quality objectives information, indicating concentration objectives for protection of aquatic species are up to 90,000 times more stringent than for drinking water.
Diazinon inhibits an enzyme in the nervous system, AchE. Some people in Ottawa are severely disabled, with very low enzyme levels that do not improve. There is at least a forty-fold variability in people's ability to rid the body of this nerve poison. A single exposure may render people much more sensitive to subsequent exposures. Chronic exposure to pesticides in the environment and drinking water could contribute to keeping susceptible people sick.
Diazinon is an organophosphate insecticide, similar in action to malathion. Malathion is proposed to "control" adult mosquitoes potentially transmitting West Nile virus. Insecticide resistance to organophosphates is common, and is general amongst different organophosphate chemicals. This report indicates that it is probable that mosquitoes have been exposed to ubiquitous, frequent exposure to organophosphate insecticides. Thus insecticide resistance has probably developed to some extent among Ottawa mosquitoes, rendering malathion less effective against the target mosquitoes. This must be factored into any decision regarding possible "adulticiding" in the face of West Nile virus. Resistance generally develops more quickly in species that reproduce rapidly such as mosquitoes, and less quickly in predator species such as dragonflies, because there is a longer lifespan.
Background Resources, Information
Pesticide Concentrations in the Don and Humber River Watersheds (1998-2000), 2002.
Struger J, Fletcher T, Martos P, Ripley B, Gris G. http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/techdocs/4335e.pdf
Landscaping chemicals (herbicides 2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba, and the insecticide diazinon) were detected with similar frequency, in similar concentrations in Toronto.
Health Canada Drinking Water Guideline Documents
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hesc-sesc/water/dwgsup.htm
(diazinon and other documents accessible from page)
Canadian Water Guidelines
http://www.ec.gc.ca/ceqg-rcqe/English/ceqg/water/default.cfm
Water Legislation in Ontario
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/environment/water/legislation.htm
Drinking Water Quality Standards in Ontario – Are They Tough?
http://www.cielap.org/drinkingwaterstandards.pdf
discussion of lower standards compared to other jurisdictions
Attachment 3
Epidemiological Evidence of Subtle Pesticide-Induced Societal Compromise
– Physical and Intellectual
Dr. Elizabeth Guillette has been highly involved with the United Nations and is a well-known speaker and author. Her work on pre-school children in Mexico's Yaqui Valley has been featured on several television programs including CBC's 'Nature of Things'.
Most people are aware that contamination is a serious global problem but few individuals consider themselves at high risk. Stress is placed on exposure to a specific compound rather than the aggregate exposures in our lives. The ambiguous nature of multiple exposures makes it necessary to look at the commonalties shared by pollutants. Their accumulative impact on the signalling, between and within the body's cells, affects multiple body functions.
Research involving Mexican children, defined as normal by parents and society, has demonstrated that subtle changes in the functional abilities and thought processes occur in children exposed to a wide range of agro-chemicals. Deficits involving co-ordination, balance, stamina, problem solving, memory, sensory abilities, as well as increased infection rates, demonstrate the wide range of exposure outcomes. Such deficits have been associated with other man-made chemicals. All too often, such variations are considered as part of the normal range of human abilities. The challenge before us today is not to accept these changes as representative of normal health and growth but to recognise that they may be consequences of environmental contamination
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000 Jul;8 Suppl:58-9
- A broad-based evaluation of pesticide-exposed children.
Guillette EA. - Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA. guillette@zoo.ufl.edu
Research tends to center on the individual exposed to endocrine disruptors, frequently using a disease centered medical model for evaluative purposes. Pesticides, like many other contaminants, disrupt the endocrine system. A normative growth and developmental model was used to evaluate four- and five-year-old Mexican children living in agricultural areas relying on the use of pesticides and compared the children to those living in a non-agricultural community. The purpose was to determine if the children of any given community were at risk from exposure, in contrast to identifying specific children with multiple deficits. Anthropological methods were adapted to provide a rapid community assessment approach. Living conditions, social and cultural conditions and genetics were similar in all groups studied. Growth, in terms of height and weight were alike for children in both areas. Differences existed in developmental skills, as measured through play behaviors. Neuro-muscular deficits, in terms of coordination and stamina, were found with the children in the agricultural communities. The heavier exposed children also exhibited neuro-mental deficits, as measured through the use of drawing and memory problems. No child excelled or performed poorly on all activities. One important outcome of the study was that behavior standards designed for American children did not always apply to these children due to different expectations placed on the child. Future research needs to examine if other endocrine disrupting compounds create similar developmental deficits.
PMID: 10943468 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
- Environ Health Perspect 1998 Jun;106(6):347-53
- An anthropological approach to the evaluation of preschool children exposed to pesticides in Mexico.
Guillette EA, Meza MM, Aquilar MG, Soto AD, Garcia IE.
Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
In this comparative study, we compensated for many of the known variables that influence children's growth and development by selecting two groups of 4-5-year-old Yaqui children who reside in the Yaqui Valley of northwestern Mexico. These children share similar genetic backgrounds, diets, water mineral contents, cultural patterns, and social behaviors. The major difference was their exposure to pesticides. Pesticides have been applied to the agricultural area of the valley since the late 1940s. In 1990, high levels of multiple pesticides were found in the cord blood of newborns and in breast milk. Building on anthropological methods for rapid rural appraisal of problems within the environment, a Rapid Assessment Tool for Preschool Children (RATPC) was developed to measure growth and development. The children of the agrarian region were compared to children living in the foothills, where pesticide use is avoided. The RATPC measured varied aspects of physical growth and abilities to perform, or function in, normal childhood activities. No differences were found in growth patterns. Functionally, the exposed children demonstrated decreases in stamina, gross and fine eye-hand coordination, 30-minute memory, and the ability to draw a person. The RATPC also pointed out areas in which more in-depth research on the toxicology of pesticides would be valuable.
PMID: 9618351 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Figures from Dr. Elizabeth Guillette's Landmark Study
Attachment 4
Ottawa Experts Call for Pesticide-free Landscaping
Dr. Alex MacKenzie, Director CHEO Research Institute, Paediatrician
"We are facing increasing numbers not only of some childhood cancers but other conditions such as type one diabetes, autism, and childhood asthma. These are real and consistent and are happening so quickly that they are clearly caused by the environment. Pesticides are associated with an increased incidence of childhood neuroblastoma. How many deaths are acceptable before we move on this? Speaking as a paediatrician, a father and a citizen of Ottawa, it is important to ban cosmetic pesticide use."
Robert Cushman, Ottawa Medical Officer of Health
"Like antibiotics, pesticides should be used only when necessary, and where indications for their use are clear. The overuse of pesticides not only leads to pest resistance, but also poses health and environmental risks. I urge the residents of Ottawa to try alternatives to pesticides on their lawns and gardens."
Dr. Joe Reisman, Chief of Paediatrics, CHEO, Paediatric Respirologist
Professor and Chairman, Department of Paediatrics, University of Ottawa
who works with almost 100 physicians who support the aggressive elimination of the cosmetic use of pesticides.
"It is not a case of innocent until proven guilty. We have ample reason to be concerned. It is a case of acting on what we know now, because health risks are cumulative and can last for years."
Dr. Richard Van der Jagt, Haematologist and Chair of the Canadian Leukemia Studies Group, who has a career-long interest in decreasing the number of deaths due to cancer, and who declined an offer of money to speak in favour of pesticides.
"Some pesticides cause birth defects or cancer after chronic exposure. Many of the most common cancers in children and in adults have been demonstrated to be correlated with exposure to pesticides. Pesticides have also been shown to affect hormone systems and may be altering the basis of life. Some pesticides inhibit cholinesterase, affecting the nervous and immune systems."
Dr. Libuse Gilka, Physicians for a Healthy World
"We share basic blue prints with other life forms. Biochemical similarities are so common that both drugs and pesticides are tested on other organisms and effects are extrapolated for human beings. In my former country autopsies were performed on every child that died, but childhood cancer was non-existent. The communist government could not afford pesticides."
Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, Physician, Ottawa Environmental Health Clinic, Board of Directors, American Academy of Environmental Medicine
"Environmental health illnesses linked to pesticides include development of environmental sensitivities, worsening of allergies and other chronic illnesses, and chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia syndrome. About 5% of us experience some degree of mild symptoms from cosmetic pesticide exposure, 1% experience severe reactions and 0.1% experience life-threatening reactions. Reduce the "chemical soup", starting with pesticides, and I assure you that the population will be healthier."
Dr. Paul Claman Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine
"Available studies provide compelling data showing that pesticides likely have profound adverse effects on human reproduction, reducing sperm count and egg quality, and increasing risk of miscarriage and birth defects."
Dr. Shiv Chopra, Health Canada Scientist
"The information submitted to Health Canada is not available to the public. People should not trust industry-funded and directed studies that can't receive third party evaluation."
Ann Coffey, Canadian Biodiversity Institute
"The health of the whole should be the bottom line. Pesticides are designed to kill. Biological weapons are considered terrorism. When pesticides contaminate air and water or harm citizens, this is ecological terrorism. Canada has the most polluted animal on earth, the Beluga Whale. When washed up dead, it is treated as hazardous waste, with high bioaccumulations of pesticides and other toxins in their body fat. If industry has failed to respond to the current anti-pesticide movement that has been a long time coming, it is no-one’s fault but their own. Our health should not be compromised because of their inability to adapt to change."
Dr. John Molot, Ontario College of Family Physicians, Environmental Medicine Physician
"North Americans have measurable levels of pesticides in their bodies. Although cosmetic application of pesticides is not the only source, it is certainly the most frivolous. Family physicians are taught that pesticides potentially affect health and that there are cumulative, life-time risks. The following points need to be emphasised:
- young children are most at risk
- pregnant women are at high risk
- pesticides appear to exert toxic effects on bone marrow, and may cause hematopoetic cancers after a latency of 10-25 years
- pesticides may have cumulative neurotoxic effects which, in combination with genetic susceptibility, cause neurological disease
- a link has been established with pesticides and Non-Hodgkins lymphoma
- a link has been established with prostate cancer
- pesticide exposure is related to Parkinson’s disease with dementia
- there is an increased risk for developing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- studies of "inert" ingredients not disclosed on packaging suggest that they can also have adverse effects on brain and immune function
- 6 to 15% of the population are sensitive to chemicals and are at risk of acute adverse reactions to pesticide sprays
Debra Sine, Lawyer
"People with environmental sensitivities have the right to be free from chemical assault. Ontario Commissioner of Human Rights said municipalities have a legal duty to protect the most vulnerable citizens from harm due to pesticide exposures."
Robin Wentzel, Habitat Enviroscaping and Property Maintenance
"People pollute more and exterminate more species every year. What we do in our backyards affects our neighbours, and what is done in the neighbourhood effects the City and what we do in this City affects our Environment. Pesticide companies are selling us a product that we don’t need. They get us hooked on it. As soon as you discontinue usage, your lawn will experience a withdrawal period."
Dr. C. Scott Findlay, Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Ottawa, Resident of Chelsea, which has a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides.
"As a risk analyst, I consider the negative effects of a particular decision and weigh the potential positive outcomes because these two issues determine the acceptable risk threshold. The possible negative health effects of pesticides are large and the possible positive effects are relatively small, which means that the acceptable risk threshold is very low."
Barbara Leimsner, President of the Allergy and Environmental Health Association
"The AEHA's 300 Ottawa members have a high stake in a pesticide bylaw. Approximately 15% of the population have environmental sensitivities and suffer immediate adverse effects from low level exposure to pesticides. The treatment for environmental sensitivities is prudent avoidance, but people cannot hide from pesticides sprayed in their neighbourhood."
Joanie Flynt, J. Flynt Landscaping
"I have promoted non-chemical growing practices for 30 years. More than half of the chemicals I studied in university for use on crops have since been banned. We have never used an artificial fertiliser or toxic chemical of any kind, and are successfully caring for lawns and gardens."
Eight Ottawa Hospital Physicians who strongly support practical and sensible initiatives in preventative medicine
"It is inappropriate for City Council to be debating the weight of medical evidence linking pesticide use and the risks of leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate and breast cancer, infertility, and possible birth defects, developmental delays and other neurological disorders, as precaution must be the overriding principle. … for the well-being of the citizens of this community, and for the long-term health of our children and all future generations, we urge you … to take the lead in adopting a by-law restricting the cosmetic use of pesticides in the City of Ottawa"
Andrew Hay, Community Garden Network of Ottawa
"CGNO represents more than 400 people who participate in a dozen community gardens in Ottawa. They seek a pesticide by-law to eliminate a threat to human health. It is sensible, informed self-interest to garden and to grow food safely."
Angela Rickman
"The RCMP have indicted people for the tainted blood fiasco, including scientists from Health Canada. The three arguments against pesticide control are that it is a federally regulated substance, it will cost too much and that there is no absolute proof. The Kreever Inquiry found that it was inappropriate to require proof of causation beyond a reasonable doubt before taking steps to avert a threat."
Attachment 5
Costs of Pesticide Education and Bylaw Enforcement
By-law Implementation Costs, Including Public Education
- City Population spent/budget cost per capita year
- Toronto 2,481,494 $450,000 18 cents 2004
- Vancouver 545,671 $179,120 33 cents 2004
- Vancouver 545,671 $100,000 18 cents 2005
- Halifax * 359,111 $120,000 33 cents 2001 1st year of bylaw
- Halifax 359,111 $197,000 55 cents 2002
- Halifax 359,111 $195,000 54 cents 2003
*achieved over 90% compliance in first year (2001).
Public Education Campaigns
- City Population spent/budget cost per capita year
- Vancouver 545,671 $94,120 17 cents 2004
- Vancouver 545,671 $15,000 3 cents 2005
- Oakville 144,738 $167,000 $1.15 2004
- Ottawa ** 774,072 $400,000 52 cents 2002
- Ottawa ** 774,072 $319,000 41 cents 2003
** Includes Ontario MoH contributions of $150,000 in 2002 and $109,000 in 2003
"Beautiful Lawn" campaign coincided with 6% INCREASE in use of synthetic lawn pesticides
Reference documents:
City of Toronto
2004 Operating Budget - New Requests
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/budget2004/background.htm#news
Vancouver
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20040115/pe5.htm
Halifax
Overview Reports available at
http://www.region.halifax.ns.ca/pesticides/index.html
Attachment 6
Pesticide By-law Proposal:
To protect public health by banning the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes in Ottawa
Key Elements of the Proposed Pesticide-Use By-law:
- Applies outdoors, and does NOT apply to agriculture or forestry
- Deals with non-essential, cosmetic pesticide uses. Uses for public health purposes continue
- Allows for permits for professional treatment of infestations
- Golf courses to have a 3-year phase-in
- Enforcement on a complaint basis as a standard nuisance by-law, with education as the first response (NO pesticide police!)
- Pesticide-use bylaw to be phased-in – no fines for one year (public education continues)
Preamble: The City of Ottawa's pesticide-use policy is directed at the protection of public health. Many hospitals, schools, churches, housing co-operatives, seniors' residences and commercial enterprises have followed suit. The City of Ottawa has public education materials and a web site about safer alternatives for turf and garden care. These initiatives will be further developed to support the purpose of this by-law.
Prohibition: The application and use of pesticides is prohibited throughout the City of Ottawa.
Exceptions: Low Toxicity Pesticides and Specific Use Pest Control Strategies (to protect public health) are permitted.
The use of other pesticides is authorized:
- For agricultural and forestry purposes;
- Inside of a building;
- In public or private swimming pools, the contents of which will not enter a natural water body; and for purifying water destined for human or animal consumption;
- To control an Infestation, with a Temporary Pesticide Application Permit granted by the City of Ottawa.
Pesticides may be applied to golf courses within the City of Ottawa for an interim period. Afterwards, only Low Toxicity Pesticides and Specific Pest Control Strategies may be used on golf courses.
Temporary Pesticide Application Permit: A Temporary Pesticide Application Permit for treatment of an infestation may be requested by the owner and/or occupant. The Competent Authority appointed by the City of Ottawa must confirm the Infestation and health hazard, and be satisfied that good Environmental Management practices are not sufficient to protect health with regard to the Infestation. The Competent Authority shall have regard to heightened concerns close to Protected Properties. The application of pesticides pursuant to the Permit may be made by a licensed pesticide applicator, in compliance with all requirements indicated on the Permit, such as safety and notice provisions. The Temporary Pesticide Application Permit will be valid for 10 days, and must be displayed prominently and in view on the property from the day of receipt until 72 hours after the pesticide application. A minimum of 14 days must separate successive pesticide applications for the same infestation.
Requirements for Pesticide Applicators in Ottawa: Applications of any registered pesticide not described on the lists of Low Toxicity Pesticides or Specific Use Pest Control Strategies may only be made by a Pesticide Applicator licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy. Golf courses and Pesticide Applicators (for non-agricultural and non-forestry uses) must register with the City of Ottawa by March 1 of each year. A log of pesticide use including identity, quantity, dates and areas of application must be kept and be available for inspection upon the premises, and be supplied to the City of Ottawa in November of each year. All owners and occupants of butting properties, and Protected Properties within 100 m of the property line shall be given 48 hours notice of pesticide applications.
Enforcement: A By-Law officer shall investigate each complaint under this by-law. Where there is evidence of a pesticide application contrary to this by-law, the officer shall inform and provide to the offender an information package on the health risks associated with pesticides and an information package on safer alternatives to pesticides. Only upon repeat offences, and beginning one year after the passing of the bylaw, shall the penalties under this by-law apply.
Nuisance: The use of pesticides contrary to this by-law constitutes a "nuisance".
Limitations: This by-law does not diminish responsibilities or provisions under any other statute of Ontario or Canada to protect health or to preserve the environment.
Application of pesticides: includes, but is not limited to, spraying, atomising, gaseous applications, and spreading of pesticides in granular, powder or liquid form.
Competent Authority: is a person appointed by the City of Ottawa who has expertise in horticulture, pest control and environmental management.
Environmental Management: Landscaping practices (plant selection, design, maintenance, agricultural practices, etc.) to maintain a landscape using only low toxicity pesticides.
Infestation: Plants, insects, fungus or other organisms that pose a hazard to human health, such as noxious weeds as defined by legislation, that cannot be controlled by good Environmental Management.
Low Toxicity Pesticides: are pesticides that have a minimal impact on the environment and human health. They may be used without restriction. Low toxicity pesticides share the following characteristics:
- they represent the lowest risk, in both the short and long term, for human health;
- they have little impact on non-target organisms;
- they are specific for the target organism;
- they degrade rapidly to non-toxic products;
- they represent lowest risk for the environment during their use and their degradation.
A list of pesticides of low toxicity will be maintained by the City. It may include:
- materials that are generally regarded as safe (for example food or animal feed grade substances, such as vinegar and corn gluten for weed control, or milk or baking soda for mildew)
- soaps, dormant oil, lime/sulphur preparations, borax;
- Diatomaceous earth for crawling insect control in sheltered areas and adjacent to buildings; and
- bio-pesticides i.e. organisms that specifically attack certain kinds of insects, such as nematodes to control grubs.
Occupant: A person other than the owner who occupies a building or, in the case of a commercial establishment, the person who conducts the commercial activity.
Owner: The person who holds the deed of the property.
Pesticide Applicators: Are persons licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy to apply pesticides.
Pesticides: Are substances, including micro-organisms, that interfere with the normal biological processes of living organisms deemed to be pests, such as noxious plants or weeds, plant diseases, insects, fungi, or other unwanted living things. "Pesticides" includes but is not limited to insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides. "Pesticides" includes all products that contain active ingredients of pesticides, such as fertiliser with herbicide.
Protected Properties: Children's day-care establishments, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, health clinics, places of worship, public lands, old age residences, day camps and playgrounds are protected properties. As well, a residence where the owner and/or one of its occupants exhibits hypersensitivity to pesticides and/or to chemical products will be protected when the hypersensitive individual presents to the City of Ottawa a signed letter by a medical doctor licensed to practice in Ontario, attesting to their health condition.
Specific Use Pest Control Strategies: Are to deal with specific situations putting human health at risk. A list of least-toxic pest control strategies for health risk situations will be maintained by the Health Department of the City of Ottawa.
Community Web.
