Ontario Bans Lawn and Garden Pesticides
Canada has proven once again that it is way ahead of the rest of world with its progressive government. Ontario has banned the use and sale of lawn and garden pesticides for homeowners. Quebec instituted a similar ban on 20 some pesticide products back in 2006.
The new ban is set to take effect by spring of 2009. Home Depot has already agreed to stop selling the pesticides by the end of 2008! This is a huge victory for anti-toxic supporters all over the continent. If only someone in the United States government could take such affirmative action we could all be spared. Ontario will basically phase out some 80 different chemicals and over 300 products that contain them.
Children will be able to play in the grass freely without ever being exposed to harmful chemicals which could lead to a variety of health problems later in life.
Of course the pesticide industry felt like the move was too drastic without relying on science to prove which pesticides were okay to use and which ones were not. However, the Premier of Ontario stated that no studies could ever determine the outcome of chronic exposure to various different products containing chemicals at once. It is simply the unknown reactions to multiple chemical exposures where the true risk is. Bravo Canada for adhering to the precautionary principal!
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2 comments:
This is such good news...a good beginning at least. Lawn chemicals are one of my pet peeves since I learned that they are linked to cancer, especially in pets and children. I can't tell you how often I see someone spraying a property and only hours later I see children playing on the grass. It's mind blowing that people will so thoughtlessly spew toxic substances on their lawns. Stop doing it. Weeds are hardly that bad.
Wish other nations will follow suit! There are natural pesticides available from herbs and trees which are equally effective in controlling pests. Of course the ladybirds, snails and small birds do their bit too! In fact urban wildlife will benefit greatly by this ban.
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