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"
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."
Debra Sine,
Lawyer:
"People with environmental
sensitivities have the right to be free from chemical
assault AND DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS AT THE HANDS OF
AUTHORITIES WHO PURSUE A POLICY OF PESTICIDE USE FOR
WNV. KEITH NORTON, Ontario's CHIEF HUMAN RIGHTS
Commissioner HAS said THAT THE FAILURE OF
municipalities TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION TO THEIR MOST
vulnerable citizens MAY CONTRAVENE THE ONTARIO HUMAN
RIGHTS CODE."
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