Pests, or pesticides?
When my daughter was a tad, I read a brochure from an American pediatric doctors’ group. It suggested that pesticide use around the home could increase cancer risks in kids and pets.
That was it for me. When an insect infestation hit our yard, no pesticides would be used. Over my dead body. I’m still standing. That was two-and-a-half decades ago. Since then, many studies, for and against, have appeared. Which ones should we listen to? Perhaps we can look at what others are doing.
The European Union has banned or not approved over 380 active pesticide ingredients because of their suspected toxicity. Of those, Canada has done the same for about 30. Interestingly, our national pesticide regulatory body has strong connections to the pesticide industry.
Figures from Canadian researchers show Canada falls behind almost 90 per cent of countries in banning harmful pesticides. That term includes chemicals that kill weeds, insects and fungi on plants. They are used in agriculture, forestry, landscaping and for cosmetic purposes on our lawns and gardens. Over a recent 10-year period, use in Canada jumped 47 per cent, so there’s more out there for us to absorb through our skin, by inhaling the stuff, or eating it in our food.
Pesticides have been found in amniotic fluid, breast milk and in more than 98 per cent of kids tested in Quebec. Glyphosate, sprayed on foods and forests, is found in Round-up and several other herbicides. And it’s been detected in the bodies of 70 per cent of Canadians tested.
What’s the problem with that? Glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Canadian Physicians for the Environment, and other groups, point out pesticides also have been linked to reproductive issues, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Research suggests even non-toxic levels of exposure may be contributing to the increase in attention deficit and autism spectrum disorders.
Another issue: they don’t specifically target the nuisance. These harsh pest killers reduce the soil’s ability to store carbon and they kill beneficial bugs. Spray for spiders and you might find a few dead bees nearby. They’ve been linked to the rapid decline of pollinators, and to harming aquatic life. Birds Canada also raises serious concerns about the impact on bird populations. Fewer insects mean less bird food. Studies have shown harm to migrating birds eating neonicotinoid-coated agricultural seeds. Three main types of neonics are still used in Canada. They can be effective against sucking insects like mosquitoes and ticks. But there are those other harms.
When I spy bugs nibbling in my garden, I’m not concerned. If they’re aphids, I look for non-toxic ways to reduce them. If they’re caterpillars, they’re probably going to become a moth or butterfly, so munch away my little friends. Our monarchs are now on the endangered list.
Birds Canada is pushing for stricter controls on pesticides. It suggests ways we can help:
Contact your MP, MPP and municipal councillors. Ask them what they are doing to reduce the harms of pesticides on birds and other wildlife.
Choose native plants that attract native insects and birds.
Avoid using pesticides. They harm the critters we share this world with. And as more and more research shows, the chemicals intended to kill things aren’t great for us either.
