Why Doctors Support Banning Pesticides
April 13, 2005 - The Ottawa Citizen, City Editorial
By: Dr. Robin Walker and Gideon Forman
As the weather turns warmer and Ottawans take out
their rakes, lawn mowers and canvas gloves, they may
want to seek gardening assistance from an unlikely
source: their family doctor. This year physicians
across the province are advising residents on how
they should maintain their properties. The first
thing the doctors are saying is avoid pesticides --
the poisons used to kill weeds and insects. Instead,
they recommend the use of lawn-care methods and
products that are non-toxic.
Why are doctors saying the use of pesticides on
Ottawa's lawns and gardens should be phased out? The
recommendation follows the release in April, 2004, of
a ground-breaking review of pesticide studies by the
Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), an
association representing more than 6,700 family
doctors. The OCFP's systematic review -- the most
comprehensive in Canadian history -- found consistent
links between pesticide use and serious illnesses
such as cancer, reproductive problems and
neurological diseases.
Among the review's findings:
- Associations between pesticide exposure and brain
cancer, prostate cancer and kidney cancer;
- Associations between pesticide exposure and birth
defects, fetal death and intra-uterine growth
retardation;
- Increased risk of leukemia (a form of cancer) if
children are exposed to insecticides and herbicides
used on lawns and gardens.
In short, doctors are saying that, even when used as
directed, pesticides could be extremely harmful to
children and to adults. In fact, they're so
potentially harmful that leading health organizations
-- including the Children's Hospital of Eastern
Ontario, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Ontario
College of Family Physicians, the Registered Nurses
Association of Ontario, and the Canadian Association
of Physicians for the Environment -- are urging
Canadian cities to pass bylaws prohibiting cosmetic
or non-essential pesticide use.
These health authorities recognize that citizens have
a right to maintain their properties. But they're
urging them to do so without poisons. Fortunately,
that's not very difficult.
Homeowners can control insect pests by using
nematodes -- naturally occurring microscopic worms
that effectively kill grubs and larvae but are
harmless to people and the environment. They can
control weeds by aerating their soil, applying
natural compost, recycling grass clippings, keeping
grass long (at least three inches), and overseeding.
(Overseeding crowds out unwanted species.)
A phasing out of pesticides isn't supported only by
the medical community. It's also backed by the people
of Ottawa. Polling earlier this year by the national
firm Oracle Poll Research found that more than eight
out of 10 city residents (82.5 per cent) support a
pesticide phase-out in Ottawa's parks, while more
than three out of four (75.6 per cent) support a
phase-out on private residential properties.
Why the support for prohibiting these chemicals?
Because Ottawans see them as threatening some of the
most important things in their lives. Nearly eight
out of 10 (77 per cent) said pesticides pose a threat
to the environment, including wildlife, air quality
and ground water. Nearly three out of four (73.9 per
cent) said pesticides pose a health threat to
children.
In fact, local residents are so concerned about these
chemicals they don't feel it's enough to simply teach
people about their dangers. They also want city
council to pass a bylaw prohibiting their use. Asked
whether they favour a bylaw coupled with public
education or education on its own, seven out of 10
(70.7 per cent) chose the combined bylaw-education
package.
If poisonous lawn products are unsafe and unpopular
-- and effective non-toxic ones are now easy to
obtain -- surely it's time for Ottawa to pass a
pesticide bylaw. This common-sense legislation would
prohibit the cosmetic use of pesticides while still
allowing homeowners to destroy harmful pests such as
rats, mice, termites and poison ivy.
Across Canada, pesticide bylaws have been passed by
some 70 communities, including Montreal, Toronto and
Halifax. Isn't it time Ottawa council listened to
local residents, doctors, nurses and hospitals -- and
followed suit?
Dr. Robin Walker, M.D. is professor of pediatrics at
the University of Ottawa and a member of the Division
of Neonatology at the Children's Hospital of Eastern
Ontario. Gideon Forman is executive director of the
Canadian Association of Physicians for the
Environment at: www.cape.ca
Community Web.
