Safer Management of pests on Little League Fields

Subject:   Your "Registered" POISONS Are Not Needed or Wanted-----
Date:      Thu, 03 Aug 2000 16:04:38 -0400
From:        Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation

Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an article from the May, 2000 issue of the ASAP News a service of the Little League Baseballs, Inc. entitled: Organization educates about pesticides.

A Missouri non-profit organization is trying to help educate people about the dangers of pesticides to children. Missouri-SMPL (Safer Management of pests and Landscapes), a non-profit education organization, advocates using safer methods of pest control to protect children from toxic exposures.

According to Sue Carroll, project manager, Missouri-SMPL, Inc., "Pesticide exposure has been linked to a number of chronic health problems that include cancer, birth defects, endocrine disruption, asthma, neurological and psychiatric disorders, immune system deficiencies and even reduced intellect."

"President Clinton has issued a federal mandate that children's health and environmental issues be given national priority. Because of this national agenda, (http://www.epa.gov/children/whatwe/executive.htm), the Environmental Protection Agency now has an Office of Children's Health Protection (http://www.epa.gov/children). As a protection for children from environmental threats they state: "Don't use pesticides if you don't have to--look for alternatives" and "Don't allow children in fields, orchards and gardens after pesticides have been used." (http://www.epa.gov/children/whatwe/tips.htm)

"The point is children are not little adults, their systems are still developing and they do not have detoxification systems that adults have. There are so many alternatives that are cost effective and safer to use if people are just made aware of them, such as using a flamer instead of herbicides along the fence lines and backstops," she said.

"People don't realize pesticides are absorbed through the skin as well as inhaled. Children, because of their typical behavior such as playing in the dirt, on the ground; not washing their hands before eating; putting their fingers in their eyes, ears, nose and mouth, and wearing less clothing, etc., make them more susceptible as well."

"Pesticides on the ground can take many months to go to half life (roughly half potency), have the potential to drift and have been proven to be carried in on shoes indoors where there is no-where for it to go. In the home, it can also be absorbed and also resuspended into the air as someone walks back through," according to Carroll.

"Even with these reports, studies, conferences, press releases, children's EPA and the President's federal directives and priorities, many athletic fields and many schools continue to use pesticides in a regularly scheduled maintenance program. Not only do we need to educate groups but also provide some assistance and incentive to learn new ways to enable them to accomplish these goals and protect or children," Carroll concluded.

"Missouri-SMPL hopes to create incentives, provide assistance and promote awareness of these issues to demonstrate to our communities how these goals can be accomplished in Missouri and around the world."

To contact Carroll, email: scarro01@mail.win.org or write to PO Box 27, Morse Mill, MO 63066-0027.

"I am the safety officer for the Northwest Athletic Association-Little League. I would like to share with you some safety issues we have encountered and the solutions we have found.

After becoming aware of the safety/hazard issues surrounding pesticide use around children, we have adopted the following goal: 'To provide the safest environment for the children utilizing available pest control alternative.' We are striving to be a role model for other associations and our community by providing fields free of the toxic chemicals in pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers. We support the national agenda to protect our children from environmental toxins and want to protect our natural resources and promote sustainable growing/agricultural practices on association property.

We had previously used herbicides for soccer, football and baseball field lines along with chalking. We now use paint which is far less laborious and safer for the kids. We also stopped using herbicides along fences and backstops. We now use a propane flamer for as good or better results. In addition we put down rock salt for additional control assurances. This has been a cost saver. Propane gas and salt only cost $12 this year.

Providing safer fields without toxic chemicals is just a matter of education, commitment to protecting the kids and seeking out the solutions. Perhaps letting others know of these alternatives will help other associations switch to safer ways of controlling pests and better protection for the kids."

Bryan Carroll, safety officer, Northwest Athletic Association Little League, Jefferson County, Missouri.

Well Mr. Helliker, it certainly is a lot safer and far more effective and far less expensive to use alternatives like flame and salt - rather than to continue to use your dangerous "registered" POISONS to "control" weeds. In 1993, EPA, FDA and the USDA all agreed to find alternatives to your "registered" pesticide POISONS. I would like to know why it is STILL "illegal" (in your opinion) to use ANY alternatives to actually control pest problems in California? How do you define the word "alternatives" (to pesticides) ----- I already know how you define the word "pesticides". I firmly believe that until you can define the word "alternatives" --- you obviously will not be able to find "any"!!!!

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