Fri 28 Jul 2006

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times

Council right to deter pesticides

Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to express the Canadian Cancer
Society's support to create a pesticide control bylaw that would
limit the use of chemicals such as 2,4-D or malathion on lawns and
gardens in Maple Ridge.

At least 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented through healthy
living and policies that protect the public. We know that risk can be
increased or decreased by the lifestyle choices we make or the kind
of environment we live and work in.

The Canadian Cancer Society is very concerned about the use of
potentially carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances for the purpose
of enhancing the appearance of, for example, private gardens and
lawns as well as parks, recreational facilities, and golf courses
(ornamental use). This concern is based on the conclusions of the
International Agency for Research on Cancer, an agency of the World
Health Organization that is the most widely respected source for the
classification of carcinogens, which states that some substances used
in pesticides are classified as known, probable, or possible
carcinogens.

In some cases, evidence linking pesticides and cancer is not
scientifically definitive. The evidence linking pesticides and cancer
is however, suggestive and the amount and quality of the research is
growing. In such cases, decision-making must be based on precaution
in order to prevent damage to human health and the environment. The
Canadian Cancer Society believes that appropriate action must be
taken to limit the risk to human health. This is especially true when
the reason for using pesticides on lawns is to prevent weeds and
plants that can be removed in other potentially less damaging ways.

In Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society has been active in the
campaign to ban the ornamental use of pesticides. Recently, the
Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control's report entitled Prevention of
Occupational and Environmental Cancers in Canada: A Best Practices
Review and Recommendations (prepared by members of the National
Committee on Environmental and Occupational Exposures and the Primary
Prevention Action Group of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control)
has added weight to this campaign by citing pesticide bylaws as a
'best practice' in community education and action in Canada.

Since the ornamental use of pesticides has no countervailing health
benefit and has the potential to cause harm, we support the proposal
for Maple Ridge to develop a bylaw to ban the ornamental use of
pesticides.

Fran Haughian
Community Action Coordinator,
Canadian Cancer Society