LETTER — Tell City council to ban cosmetic pesticides

Below are just some of the important reasons Kamloops new pesticide ban should be adopted.

UBC, School of Population and Public Health wrote a letter to the B.C. Members of the Legislative Assembly.
It stated, ” I am writing in support of the need for strong pesticide legislation in British Columbia.
As Professor and Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention, my role includes evaluating the research evidence regarding factors that increase the risk of cancer. Cosmetic pesticides are among these risks.”

In a report by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, they mention a study that was published in the official journal of the Canadian Paediatric Society. It “found that 2,4-D – the most commonly used weed killer in Canada – is linked to cancers, neurological impairment, and reproductive problems.”

The Ontario College of Family Physicians landmark study concluded, “Pesticides are associated with some extremely serious illnesses – especially in children.” The OCFP found that children exposed to insecticides and herbicides used on lawns and gardens had an increased risk of leukemia, a form of cancer.

Dr. Margaret Sanborn, of McMaster University, stated, ” Many of the health problems linked with pesticide use are serious and difficult to treat.”

Many studies reviewed by the Ontario College show positive associations between solid tumours and pesticide exposure, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and pancreatic cancer, among others.

In a Globe and Mail article, the Ontario College of Family Physicians mentioned 12,000 studies that were conducted worldwide. The researchers found that ‘there is no evidence that some pesticides are less dangerous than others, just that they have different effects on health that take different periods to show up.’

Interior Health wrote: ‘The risks to public health posed by pesticide use in urban environments has been the subject of several reviews in recent years, most notable the City of Toronto Health Department, the College of Family Physicians of Ontario and some US Environmental Protection Agency reviews. These reviews highlight the debate in the scientific community regarding the potential health risks associated with exposures to commonly available household pesticides.

‘It is reasonable to encourage government jurisdiction to apply a precautionary approach for ensuring the health of the population they serve and as a risk management strategy.

‘The precautionary principle states that the absence of scientific certainty should not be used as a reason to postpone or negate action when faced with a potential health hazard. With this in mind and the studies noted above which suggest reason for concern, IH encourages actions to prevent potential adverse health effects from household pesticide exposures in urban settings.’

There is so much more material that I could add, but I think the people of Kamloops realize the importance of having a ban in place. The majority of the population want it. I hope our mayor and council will adopt this new bylaw in July, and lead all of us into a new healthier future.

In closing, I’d like to share three quotes :

“Our generation has taken to the cosmetic use of pesticides and I think, perhaps unwittingly, not fully understanding the dangers it represents to ourselves and, most importantly, to our children. It’s the right of kids to play in the grass .. without compromising their health.” …Dalton McGuinty

“People who wouldn’t dream of abusing a child think nothing of giving their children and grandchildren an environment that has been abused.”…Richard J. Jackson MD, MPH, Director, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, USA.

“We find it strange that anyone would be opposed to protecting the air, water, land and biodiversity that we need for our health and survival.”…David Suzuki Foundation

Please let our Council know that you want the ban. Their address is: legislate@kamloops.ca.

D. CZYZEWSKI
Kamloops