Ten Reasons Not to

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Ten Reasons Not to Use Pesticides
April, 2009
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• Pesticides dont solve pest problems.

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If pesticides really solved pest problems, we
wouldnt use them repeatedly.
recently
1990s
1980s
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Solving a pest problem means changing the
conditions that allow a pest to thrive.
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(No Transcript)
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• 2. Pesticides are hazardous to human health.
  

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Use of cancer-causing pesticides 300 million
pounds per year (as classified by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency)
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Use of pesticides that cause reproductive
problems like miscarriages and reduced
fertility 150 million pounds per year (based on
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data)
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• 3. Pesticides cause special problems for
  children.

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For their size, children drink more water and eat
more food than adults do. Their play exposes them
to pesticides.
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• Children are growing and developing.

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• 4. Pesticides often contaminate food.

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Common fruits and vegetables are often
contaminated with pesticides.
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Agricultural Marketing
Service. Science and Technology Programs. 2008.
Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary, Calendar
Year 2007. www.ams.usda.gov/pdp.
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Pesticide surprises peaches and potatoes (frozen)
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• 5. Pesticides are particularly hazardous for
  farmers and farmworkers.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
estimates that there are between 10 and 20
thousand pesticide-related illnesses among
farmers and farmworkers each year.
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For example, a government study found farmers who
used pesticides were more likely to develop
diabetes than other farmers.
M. P. Montgomery et al. 2008. Incident Diabetes
and Pesticide Exposure among Licensed Pesticide
Applicators Agricultural Health Study,
19932003. American Journal of Epidemiology
167(10) 1235-1246. http//www.aghealth.org/public
ations.html.
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• 6. Pesticides are hazardous to pets.
  

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The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals reported over 30,000 pesticide-poisoned
pets in a single year.
American Association for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals. 2005. Exposure to human
medications No. 1 reason for 95,000 calls to
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
http//www.aspca.org/
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Use of lawn-care herbicides is associated with an
increased risk of pet cancer.
Glickman, L.T. et al. 2004. Herbicide exposure
and the risk of transitional cell carcinoma of
the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers. J. Am.
Vet. Med. Assoc. 241290-1297.
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• 7. Pesticides contaminate water and air.

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The U.S. Department of Agricultures national
monitoring program found 35 pesticides in
drinking water samples. Four pesticides were
found in more than 40 percent of the samples.
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Agricultural Marketing
Service. Science and Technology Programs. 2008.
Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary, Calendar
Year 2007. www.ams.usda.gov/pdp.
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The U.S. Geological Survey found pesticides in
90-100 percent of the rivers and streams the
agency tested.
Gilliom, R.J. et al. 2006. The quality of our
nations waters Pesticides in the nations
streams and ground water, 1992-2001 U.S.
Geological SurveyCircular 1291.
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• 8. Pesticides are hazardous to fish and birds.

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Use of pesticides that the U.S. Geological Survey
says kill fish in tiny amounts 100 million
pounds per year.
Munn, M.D. and R.J. Gilliom. 2001. Pesticide
toxicity index for freshwater aquatic organisms.
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Reources
InvestigationsReport 01-4077. http//pubs.usgs.gov
/wri/wri014077/.
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Rachel Carson author of Silent Spring
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• 9. Pesticide health and safety testing is
  conducted by pesticide manufacturers.

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Who profits from the sale of pesticides?
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Who tests pesticides?
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• 10. Pesticides have too many secrets.

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caroline_at_ceh.org