CONNECTICUT FOUNDATION FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE SCHOOLS

Lawn Pesticide Fact Sheet Bill 5234 and 7096

Of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 19 have studies linking them with cancer, 13 are linked with birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 15 with neurotoxicity or abnormal brain development. ¹

Children are particularly susceptible because of their rapid growth and decreased ability to detoxify toxins. ², ³

Studies link some lawn pesticides to hyperactivity, developmental delays, behavioral disorder, and motor dysfunction. ⁴, ⁵, ⁶

A Study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that home and gardern use of pesticides can increase the risk of childhood leukemia by almost seven times. ⁷

Lawn pesticides can be tracked inside of schools where they can persisit for long periods of time contaminating air, dust, surfaces, and carpets and exposing children to these toxic chemicals even if they are not in contact with the grass. ⁸

There are safe, effective, affordable alternatives to using toxic lawn pesticides. A number of towns in Connecticut have successfully switched to pesticide-free organic lawn care. ¹⁰

IPM is allowed for 3 years on athletic fields in order to restore the soil (which becomes degraded through pesticide use) and make the transition to pesticide-free organic care. ¹¹

There is provision for pesticides use if there is a condition that threatens the health and safety of the children. For example, an underground wasp nest or an infestation of ticks. ¹¹

There are significant gaps in the safety testing of toxic lawn pesticides. ¹²

• Lawn pesticides are not tested for long term toxicity unless they are also used on food crops.
• Lawn pesticides are not tested in the combinations and formulations in which they are actually used. Yet, these combinations and formulations can be more toxic than the pure active ingredient.
• There is no testing of the toxicity of the breakdown products of these chemicals or their persistance in the environment.

Lawn pesticides can contaminate well water. 11% of residential wells tested in a Connecticut town showed the presence of one or more lawn pesticides. ¹³

With so many unknowns and with plausable evidence of harm to children, it makes no sense for our children to be involuntarily exposed to the unnecessary use of these toxic chemicals expecially when there are safe, effective, affordable alternatives.

References

¹http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/30health.pdf
²National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences. 1993.
Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children, National Academy Press, Washington, DC: 184 -185.
³US EPA, Office of the Administrator, Environmental Health Threats to Childre n, EPA 175 -F-96-001, September 1996. See also: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/pest.htm.
⁴National Research Council. 2000. Scientific frontiers in developmental toxicology and risk assessment.
⁵Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Physicians for Social Responsibility, The National Environmental Trust, and The Learning Disabilities Association of America. 2000. Polluting our future: Chemical pollution in the US that affects child development and learning.
http://www.net.org/health/tri_report.pdf (accessed 6/2/05).
⁶Cox C. 2004. Journal Of Pesticide Reform. Vol. 24 (4) citing: Garry, V.F. et al. 2002. "Birth defects, season of conception, and sex of children born to pesticide applicators living in the Red River Valley of Minnesota." Environ. Health Persp. 110 (Suppl. 3):4 41-449.
⁷Lowengart, R. et al. 1987. "Childhood Leukemia and Parent's
Occupational and Home Exposures," Journal of the National Cancer Institute 79:39. ⁸Nishioka, M., et al. 1996. Environmental Science Technolog y, 30:3313-3320; Nishioka, M., et al. 2001. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109(1 1).
⁹See the Northeast Organing Farming Association Connecticut Chapter's information on organic land care. http://www.ctnofa.org/OrganicLandCare/OLC.htm
¹⁰Managing Healthy Sports Fields: A Guide to Using Organic Materials for Low-Maintenance and Chemical-Free Playing Fields by Paul D. Sachs. John Wiley & Sons, 2004
¹¹See Public Act 05-252, An Act Concerning Pesticides At Schools and Day Care Facilities.
¹²EPA registration requires only that the pure chemical compound of the pesticide be tested.
¹³A survey of Private Drinking Water Wells For Lawn and Tree Care Pesticides in a Connecticut Town, Environment and Human Health, Inc. 1999.