Why Organics?

There are three clear benefits to switching to organic lawn care: Your lawn will be healthier, your family and pets will be healthier, and the environment will be healthier.

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Draft Sustainable Princeton Plan Public Presentation and Workshop
Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00PM
Susanne Patterson Center –Princeton, NJ
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Pesticide Safety

In addition to killing beneficial organisms and damaging soil fertility, research strongly suggests that pesticide applications can be detrimental to the health of humans, animals and wildlife ecosystems.

Human Health Risk

Of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, researchers have found that 19 have demonstrated carcinogenicity, 13 are linked with birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 15 with neurotoxicity, 26 with liver or kidney damage and 11 have the potential to disrupt the endocrine (hormonal) system. (1)

Studies have found pesticide residue is tracked into homes, exposing people and pets to high concentrations of pesticides. Pesticides last up to a year before breaking down in a home away from direct sunlight. (2)

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds pesticide exposure can increase the risk of childhood leukemia by 6.5 times compared to children living in homes that don't use pesticides. (3)

Studies suggest even low level exposure to lawn pesticide products could be linked to increased rates of miscarriage, and suppression of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. (4)

According to a study published by the American Cancer Society, there is an increased risk for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) for people exposed to common pesticides. Subjects exposed to glyphosate were 2.7 times more likely to develop NHL. (5)

A National Cancer Institute study states that "there is potential to prevent at least some childhood cancer by reducing or eliminating pesticide exposure." That study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives journal also states that "Cancers linked to pesticides include neuroblastoma, leukemia, soft-tissue sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and other cancers of the brain, colorectum, and testes." (6)

Animal Health Risk

Pets are exposed to pesticides in their own and neighborhood yards, and often can ingest large amounts from contact with treated grass and soil and ingesting orally while cleaning. Animal studies have shown that some pesticides can cause cancer, reproductive problems, birth defects, central nervous system disturbances, liver and kidney damage, and skin irritation.

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds a strong correlation between a dog owner's use of lawn pesticide and canine malignant lymphoma. Use of pesticides doubled the chance of dogs developing canine lymphoma. (7)

Pesticide use increases the chance of bladder cancer in Scottish Terriors by 4 to 7 times. (8)

Environment

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 78 Million households in the U.S. use pesticides. (9)

Of the 36 most common lawn pesticides: 14 have been detected in groundwater, 6 have the potential to leach, 11 are toxic to birds, 21 to fish and aquatic organisms, and 12 to bees. (10)

The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program found that 90 percent of the stream and fish samples surveyed contained at least one pesticide.

The Environmental Protection Agency lists non source pollution as the #1 threat to water quality. (11)

Pesticide and fertilizer runoff from residential lawns is an important component of non source pollution.

  1. Beyond Pesticides Factsheet. 2005 April. Health Effects of 30 Commonly Used Lawn Pesticides
  2. Rudel, Ruthann, et al. 2003. "Phthalates, Alkylphenols, Pesticides, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Other Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Indoor Air and Dust," Environmental Science and Technology 37(20): 4543-4553; Nishioka, M., et al. 2001. "Distribution of 2,4-D in Air and on Surfaces Inside Residences After Lawn Applications: Comparing Exposure Estimates from Various Media for Young Children," Environmental Health Perspectives 109(11); Lewis, R., et al. 1991. "Determination of Routes of Exposure of Infants and Toddlers to Household Pesticides: A Pilot Study," EPA, Methods Research Branch.
  3. Lowengart, R. et al., 1987. "Childhood Leukemia and Parent's Occupational and Home Exposures, " Journal of the National Cancer Institute 79:39.
  4. Greenlee, A. et al. 2004. "Low-Dose Agrochemicals and Lawn-Care Pesticides Induce Developmental Toxicity in Murine Preimplantation Embryos," Environ Health Perspect 112(6): 703-709; Cavieres, M., et al. 2002. "Developmental toxicity of a commercial herbicide mixture in mice: Effects on embryo implantation and litter size." Environ Health Perspect 110:1081-1085.
  5. Hardell, L., et al. 1999 Mar. "A Case-Control Study of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Exposure to Pesticides," J of the Am Cancer Soc, (85):6. p.1353.
  6. Pesticides and childhood Cancer. S H Zahm and M H Ward Environmental Health Perspectives Journal. 1998 June; 106 (Suppl 3): 893-908
  7. Hayes, H. et al., 1991. "Case-control study of canine malignant lymphoma: positive association with dog owner's use of 2,4-D acid herbicides," Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 83(17):1226.
  8. Glickman, Lawrence, et al. 2004. "Herbicide exposure and the risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers," Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 224(8):1290-1297
  9. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2004. Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage: 2000 and 2001 Market Estimates. EPA-733-R-04-001
  10. Beyond Pesticides, Environmental Effects of 36 Commonly Used Lawn Pesticides.
  11. EPA Factsheet EPA841-F-96-004A. Nonpoint Source Pollution: The Nation's Largest Water Quality Problem