Pesticide Opponents Gear Up For Forum
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Pesticide Opponents Gear Up For Forum
Date:
Fri, 18 Oct 2002 06:09:33 -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
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Thursday, October 17, 2002 - The Ottawa Citizen - Sarah Staples
Pesticide opponents gear up for forum
Physicians college report warns lawn chemicals are a threat to children
An Ontario College of Family Physicians report warning of the dangers of pesticides to children is among evidence to be presented tonight at a forum supporting a proposed ban on lawn chemicals.
Dr. John Molot, a physician specializing in environmental medicine, will discuss the Ontario College of Family Physicians' opposition to pesticides at a public forum sponsored by the Ottawa Allergy and Environmental Health Association, organizers said.
Ontario family doctors have received a newsletter warning them to "be on the alert" for acute or chronic pesticide toxicity, and to encourage homeowners to find alternatives to pesticide use, said Linda Nolan-Leeming, whose group, the Ottawa Allergy and Environmental Health Association, organized the forum.
The newsletter was produced following the college's 1996 review of more than 300 scientific studies, which found "the potential for harmful health effects from pesticides is undeniable."
The forum was timed to coincide with public hearings by the City of Ottawa, which is considering banning pesticides on home lawns and gardens. A controversial bylaw already prohibits the use of pesticides on city property.
Approaches the city is considering include a public awareness campaign that encourages alternatives for lawns and gardens, letting the landscaping industry regulate itself or a bylaw to ban lawn chemicals.
Pesticides have been blamed for increasing incidences of cancer and asthma and for central nervous system problems that include impaired cognitive function.
Children may be more at risk because their organs and nervous systems are still developing, their bodies aren't as efficient at eliminating toxins and because they tend to stick things in their mouths, according to college-sponsored research. "If we had to choose between spraying our lawns and compromising our children's health, to me, having a nice lawn is less of a priority," said Dr. Ross Mickelson, an Ottawa family physician scheduled to speak at the health association forum.
"There's compelling evidence that the use of these products is a problem."
Studies have linked childhood cancers to chemical sensitivity, including neuroblastoma, a rare brain cancer that some say has disproportionately affected Ottawa-area children.
A study by seven U.S. universities published last January in the medical journal Epidemiology concluded household use of pesticides raises children's likelihood of developing the rare cancer by 60 per cent.
Statistics on the number of people potentially affected by chemical sensitivities vary. After setting up an outpatient clinic in the mid-1990s to treat environmental illnesses, Women's College Hospital reported 15 per cent of Ontarians suffered from illnesses caused by exposure to chemicals, including pesticides. Some speculation says the number could be 20 per cent. Those who oppose the ban warn lawns may become overgrown with weeds, worsening the symptoms of true allergy sufferers. Opponents say city-owned parkland is deteriorating, which could lead to lawsuits from irate neighbours if property values decline. Alternatives to pesticides are labour-intensive and expensive.
Still, no less than a ban would be comforting to Ms. Nolan-Leeming. The interior designer and her eight-year-old daughter, Allison, suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, a disorder typically sparked by sharp exposure to chemicals and pollutants or by chronic long-term exposure. City-organized consultations start at 7 p.m. tonight at the Cumberland library, 1599 Tenth Line Rd. (in French) and at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Dr. The Allergy and Environmental Health Association forum runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at McNabb Community Centre, 180 Percy St.
© Copyright 2002 The Ottawa Citizen
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