American Academy of Pediatrics on pesticides

Even low levels of exposure to common pesticides and herbicides may cause cancers and adversely affect childhood development, according to a November 26, 2012 policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Many of these "lawn-care" chemicals are already banned in Europe and elsewhere.

While "acute poisoning" has long been recognized as a serious health concern, the Academy now says:

Beyond acute poisoning, the influences of low-level exposures on child health are of increasing concern. (Emphasis ours.)

This finding corroborates those of other scientific studies we have cited in this blog, stating:

Epidemiologic evidence demonstrates associations between early life exposure to pesticides and pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function, and behavioral problems.

and

The concerning and expanding evidence base of chronic health consequences of pesticide exposure underscores the importance of efforts aimed at decreasing exposure. 

 Where, according to the Academy does this exposure come from?

Children encounter pesticides daily in air, food, dust, and soil and on surfaces through home and public lawn or garden application, household insecticide use, application to pets, and agricultural product residues. (Emphasis ours.)

The herbicides of concern for the Academy include those found in the most commonly used residential products in the US, including those found in "Weed and Feed" products.

The mounting evidence about the dangers of the most commonly used lawn products, including this new report, highlight the concern of blowing these chemicals into our neighbor's yards, our kid's toys (hand-to-mouth intake), and across our neighborhoods.

The policy statement is published in Pediatrics 2012;130:e1757–e1763.

Vote Thursday July 19

Blowing dust from yard to yard

Polls are open 2-8 PM. Click to find your polling location.

When industry doesn't know best

When Congress proposed to control acid rain 20 years ago, the reaction from industry was swift and sure.

• The Edison Electric Institute predicted it would cost power companies $4.5 billion annually to meet the proposed caps on sulfur dioxide, which combines with hydrogen and oxygen to form acid rain.
• Business Roundtable projected $104 billion per year.
• The American Electric Power Company warned of the "potential destruction of the Midwest economy."

Electric rates would skyrocket, they said. And, for nothing.

Dust blows two ways-both illegal

When collecting leaves, blowers typically direct all the leaves to a central location (eg, street or a tarp) where they are all collected and disposed of properly. That is not typically the case in the summer.

Businesses know best

Some, especially those in the landscaping business, repeat the meme that "businesses know best" how to run their own business. Citizens, goes the argument, should stop trying to say anything about how businesses run themselves.

July 19: Two votes in one

Hidden inside the town-wide leaf-blower vote on July 19 is a second vote.

What about lawn mowers, snow blowers or chain saws?

Or string trimmers or lawn aerators or any other motorized items one might use in their yard?

The answer: None of them send toxic pesticides and herbicides onto/into neighbor's property so effectively.

Putting it all together

The previous five posts (see below) laid out the basics about the health threat leaf blowers pose in a densely populated suburban setting like Arlington:

• Pour dangerous chemicals on yards, many of which already have lead contaminated soil,
• Direct hurricane force winds of 250 mph at the soil, raising contaminants into the air,
• Watch as the various health hazards form a dust cloud which spreads beyond your yard, goes through open windows, lands on children's toys, etc.

Pollen, Mold, Feces and Lung-Lodging Particulates

In addition to the various toxic chemicals from herbicides and pesticides, and the lead (Pb) that leaf blowers raise into the air, are a variety of other health concerns.

Lead part two: "There is no safe level of blood lead in children"

Most readers probably already knew before the previous post that lead is a health hazard, especially for young children.