Restricting Dangerous Pesticides in Public Spaces

Of the 30 most common pesticides used on American lawns, 19 cause cancer and 21 harm reproductive systems.

The rampant use of toxic pesticides in the U.S. is a serious health threat. Neither federal nor state governments regulate the 4.5 billion pounds of more than 25,000 varieties of pesticides used in our homes, farms, lawns, and gardens each year.

Some of the pesticides closest to home are the most dangerous. Lawn and landscape pesticides poison people along with creepy crawlers and are especially harmful to children. Of the 30 most common pesticides used on American lawns, 19 cause cancer and 21 harm reproductive systems. There are many effective non-toxic ways to prevent pests, but most homeowners, institutional managers, and landscape companies are unaware of organic approaches to keeping bugs at bay.

Beyond Pesticides has fought the nation's toxic dependency on pesticides on many fronts, including ongoing public education campaigns about the dangers of and alternatives to pesticides. With our $80,000 grant, the organization helped create policy to restrict pesticide use in 15 locations in 8 states with continuing work in an additional 9 states. These policies include city bans on pesticides in parks or public property and state bans on pesticides at schools. They also produced Pesticides and Pollinators and updated Asthma, Children and Pesticides: what you should know to protect your family, including a Spanish translation, all downloadable from the Web site.   It also updated its databases with new information and resources and continue to train municipal officials, landscapers, and consumers on how to find and use acceptable materials for pest management and lawn care.