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Seeds for Change Wellness
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Risks from Lawn Care Pesticides
Risks from Lawn Care Pesticides
Source
EPA permits over 200 different pesticides to be used for lawn care, and these are often mixed
together and sold as chemical combinations. They are intentionally toxic substances.
Some chemicals commonly used on lawns and gardens have been associated with birth
defects, mutations, adverse reproductive effects, and cancer in laboratory animals. Children,
infants, and fetuses may be especially vulnerable to the health effects of pesticides before the
age of five, when their cells are normally reproducing most rapidly.
In addition to their health effects, there are ecological effects to their use as well. Most lawn-
care chemicals have the potential to contaminate underlying groundwater. The top five selling
lawn-care pesticides, studies of major rivers and streams have documented that 100 percent
of all surface water samples contained one or more pesticides at detectable levels.
Quick Facts:
“Homeowners use up to 10 times more chemical pesticides per acre on their lawns than
farmers use on crops.”4 — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Increased odds of childhood leukemia, brain cancer and soft tissue sarcoma have been
associated with children living in households where pesticides are used.
96 percent of all fish analyzed in major rivers and streams contained residues of one or more
pesticides at detectable levels. —United States Geological Survey
EHHI surveyed 18 stores in Connecticut and found that most stores displayed pesticide
packages with visible tears or rips.
Some pesticides commonly used on lawns and gardens in Connecticut...have been banned or
restricted in other countries because of concerns about health effects. Many Canadian
municipalities have banned or severely restricted the use of lawn-care pesticides.
Several studies... have found a statistically higher incidence of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma in
people exposed to 2,4-D.
Data suggest that MCPP may cause cancer, birth defects, and mutagenic effects.
Some inert ingredients are suspected carcinogens; others have been linked to central
nervous system disorders, liver and kidney damage, birth defects, and some short-term health
effects. — Attorney General’s Office of New York
The use of household pesticides has been associated with a variety of childhood cancers.
Pesticides not intended for use on food are not required to undergo the same degree of
testing as those used on food.
The use of pesticides often harms wildlife and their habitats.... Commonly used lawn-care
chemicals can persist in soil and water for weeks, which can lead to the contamination of
aquatic resources and local wildlife.
In addition to contaminating surface water, pesticides can contaminate groundwater,
potentially causing health problems in those people drinking the water.
At least one pesticide was detected by USGS in more than 95 percent of stream samples
collected at 115 sites.
Source
EPA permits over 200 different pesticides to be used for lawn care, and these are often mixed
together and sold as chemical combinations. They are intentionally toxic substances.
Some chemicals commonly used on lawns and gardens have been associated with birth
defects, mutations, adverse reproductive effects, and cancer in laboratory animals. Children,
infants, and fetuses may be especially vulnerable to the health effects of pesticides before the
age of five, when their cells are normally reproducing most rapidly.
In addition to their health effects, there are ecological effects to their use as well. Most lawn-
care chemicals have the potential to contaminate underlying groundwater. The top five selling
lawn-care pesticides, studies of major rivers and streams have documented that 100 percent
of all surface water samples contained one or more pesticides at detectable levels.
Quick Facts:
“Homeowners use up to 10 times more chemical pesticides per acre on their lawns than
farmers use on crops.”4 — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Increased odds of childhood leukemia, brain cancer and soft tissue sarcoma have been
associated with children living in households where pesticides are used.
96 percent of all fish analyzed in major rivers and streams contained residues of one or more
pesticides at detectable levels. —United States Geological Survey
EHHI surveyed 18 stores in Connecticut and found that most stores displayed pesticide
packages with visible tears or rips.
Some pesticides commonly used on lawns and gardens in Connecticut...have been banned or
restricted in other countries because of concerns about health effects. Many Canadian
municipalities have banned or severely restricted the use of lawn-care pesticides.
Several studies... have found a statistically higher incidence of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma in
people exposed to 2,4-D.
Data suggest that MCPP may cause cancer, birth defects, and mutagenic effects.
Some inert ingredients are suspected carcinogens; others have been linked to central
nervous system disorders, liver and kidney damage, birth defects, and some short-term health
effects. — Attorney General’s Office of New York
The use of household pesticides has been associated with a variety of childhood cancers.
Pesticides not intended for use on food are not required to undergo the same degree of
testing as those used on food.
The use of pesticides often harms wildlife and their habitats.... Commonly used lawn-care
chemicals can persist in soil and water for weeks, which can lead to the contamination of
aquatic resources and local wildlife.
In addition to contaminating surface water, pesticides can contaminate groundwater,
potentially causing health problems in those people drinking the water.
At least one pesticide was detected by USGS in more than 95 percent of stream samples
collected at 115 sites.