Pesticides and Male Endocrine Disruption-- From Scientific American

Time to learn from frogs... Many agricultural pesticides – including some previously untested and commonly found in food – disrupt male hormones, according to new tests conducted by British scientists. The scientists strongly recommended that all pesticides in use today be screened to check if they block testosterone and other androgens, the hormones critical to a healthy reproductive system for men and boys.

Why Not to Use TruGreen/ChemLawn

Why surround ourselves with lawn products which cannot be called "safe"? Population at greatest health risk from exposures to toxic pesticides on lawns: CHILDREN, PREGNANT women, the ELDERLY and people with WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. In the State of NH, only one person oversees the training of close to 2,000  licensed lawn chemical applicators. Once licensed and administering their product, there is almost no oversight. We have seen "trained" contractors putting lawn chemicals down in very windy conditions. Furthermore, the particles are so small that they are easily transported into the tiniest of openings in our houses. Many people have symptoms from exposures and do not realize the cause and effect. 17 of 32 (53%) of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are possible carcinogens, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). All 32 of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that pose threats to the environment including water supplies, aquatic organisms, and non-targeted insects. 9 of 32 (28%) of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are known or suspected reproductive toxins (7/32 known, 22%). 11 of 32 (34%) of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are known or suspected endocrine disruptors (4/32 known, 12.5%). 13 of 32 (41%) of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are banned or restricted in other countries

http://www.refusetousechemlawn.org/health_effects

New "Safe" Insecticides Pose Risk to Neurological Development

From the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York: Effects on IQ appear to be similar to lead exposure. When the EPA phased out the widespread residential use of chlorpyrifos and other organophosphorus (OP) insecticides in 2000-2001 because of risks to child neurodevelopment, these compounds were largely replaced with pyrethroid insecticides. But the safety of these replacement insecticides remained unclear, as they had never been evaluated for long-term neurotoxic effects after low-level exposure.

Mark and Catherine Winkler Assistant Professor of Environmental Exposure Biology

More pesticides are used on lawns, per acre, than on agriculture. Dr. Alex Lu of Harvard's School of Public Health will be speaking at the February 22 hearings in Concord in support of New Hampshire's HB 495, An Act relative to the prevention of the use of pesticides on the grounds of child day care facilities, schools, and state parks. My primary research is to use variety of biomarkers for assessing human exposures to environmental chemicals in order to facilitate the identification of risk factors, as well as the formation of hypotheses for potential health effects. One of my current research projects is to integrate exposure biomarkers, physiologically based pharmacokinetic model and cumulative risk assessment tools for quantifying children’s longitudinal exposure to pesticides via dietary intakes, and its risks by comparing to benchmark doses used by the regulatory agencies.

New Hampshire's HB1456-- Lawn Facts/Trends Feb 2010

After the hearings for New Hampshire's HB 1456, a bill to study banning the use of pesticides on school grounds, Paul Tukey of SafeLawns gathered the following information for state representatives. (Please note that the "trends" are from February 2010. Now, there is a ban on Weed and Feed in 80% of Canada!) Connecticut, New York and New Jersey have legislation eliminating the use of pesticides on school grounds, playing fields and state parks. Currently, Maine and New Hampshire are moving towards similar legislation. 17 of 32 (53%) of the most commonly registered and utilized lawn pesticide products in New Hampshire include ingredients that are likely carcinogens, as defined by the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. 13 of 32 (41%) of the approved lawn pesticide products include ingredients that are banned or restricted in other countries due to their health and environmental impacts. New Hampshire has just one person in charge of registering all categories of pesticides (thousands) in the state. New Hampshire has just two people policing 1,800 licensed pesticide applicators across the state.

No Pesticide Can Be Perfectly "Safe"-- First, Do No Harm

As citizens of this earth, we have a moral obligation to do the right thing. EPA believes that no pesticide can ever be considered perfectly "safe." Additionally, the U.S. General Accounting Office, and the New York and Pennsylvania Attorneys General have charged various companies with misleading advertising and prohibited safety claims.

Why The Need For Oversight

Approximately one year ago, a group of citizens from around the State of New Hampshire joined their efforts to put forth HB1456, a study bill to learn about the chemicals placed on our lawns and school grounds... Commonly used home and garden pesticides include Glyphosate-(Roundup)15% of which is comprised of a surfactant called polyoxethyleneamine (POEA) which is 3 x more acutely toxic than the active ingredient (glyphosate) itself. 2-4-D is a possible carcinogen and endocrine disruptor, pendimethylin is a Pre-emergent chemical to control weeds such as crabgrass and a Class C- Possible Human carcinogen, Chlorpyrifos was most widely used insecticide in U.S. with over 30 million lb/yr. used annually. Dursban is an organophosphate insecticide. Once inside animals, it is transformed into chlorpyrifos-oxon, which is 300x more powerful than chlorpyrifos itself. Commonly used in kitchen, bath and living spaces.

New Jersey's Bill to Limit Pesticides on School Grounds Goes Beyond Other States' Efforts

The latest on the movement to mitigate toxic exposures. State governments understand the need to protect our children from pesticides used on school grounds. This is a wake up call for everyone.

Roundup is Not a Safe Herbicide

The name Roundup doesn't sound threatening. Read on and find out why this stuff, made to kill weeds, is a threat to human health.

New Hampshire's 2011 Healthy Children, Healthy Lawns Bill

On March 15th, HB495-FN, sponsored by New Hampshire House Representative Suzanne Smith, Representative Gile and Representative Gargasz, is being introduced to the Legislature. "The bill limits the application of pesticides on the grounds of child day care facilities, schools, and state parks."