1. April 2015 Ten Reasons Not to Use Pesticides

2. 1. Pesticides don’t solve pest problems.

3. If pesticides really solved pest problems we wouldn’t use them repeatedly. Billions of pounds of pesticides used per year Source:. EPA http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/pestsales/

4. Keep pests out Screens Caulk

5. More ways to keep pests out Door sweeps Escutcheons

6. Keep pests’ food out of reach Jars Pet Food

7. Don’t give pests drinks Bathroom fans Fix leaks

8. Clean more often and more carefully than usual Vacuum Scrub

9. Helpful insects eat pest insects

10. Using compost to build healthy soil

11. Growing varieties with fewer pest problems

12. Growing green manure crops to build healthy soil

13. Growing diverse crops

14. 2. Pesticides are hazardous to our health.

15. Even U.S. EPA agrees “Adverse effects of pesticide exposure range from mild symptoms of dizziness and nausea to serious, long-term neurological, developmental and reproductive disorders.” -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/kidpesticide.htm

16. Glyphosate (Roundup) Estimated use: 190 million pounds per year (US Environmental Protection Agency) “Mutagen” (damages genes) “Reproductive Effector” (birth defects) Source: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh- rtecs/mc106738.html http://www.cdc.gov/niosh- rtecs/mc106738.html Most widely used herbicide National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health NEW! “Probable carcinogen” Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer

17. Chlorpyrifos Estimated use: 11 million pounds per year (US Environmental Protection Agency) “Mutagen” (damages genes) “Reproductive Effector” (affects development of nervous system) Source: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh- rtecs/tf602160.html Most widely used insecticide National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

18. Chlorothalonil Estimated use: 9 million pounds per year (US Environmental Protection Agency) “Mutagen” (damages genes) “Reproductive Effector” (affects fertility) “Tumorigen” (causes cancer) Source: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh- rtecs/mc106738.html Most widely used fungicide National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

19. 3. Pesticides cause special problems for children.

20. For their size, children drink more water and eat more food than adults do. Their play exposes them to pesticides.

21. Children are growing and developing.

22. 4. Pesticides often contaminate food.

23. Contamination of common fruits and vegetables. Source: USDA Pesticide Data Program 2013 www.ams. usda.gov/p dp more than one pesticide no pesticides one pesticide

24. Pesticide surprises 95% with at least one pesticide 51% of applesauce baby food samples with at least one pesticide

25. 5. Pesticides are particularly hazardous for farmers and farmworkers.

26. CHAMACOS: pesticides and farmworker families Mothers’ exposure to insecticides linked with: Shorter pregnancies Newborns with poor reflexes Lower scores on children’s IQ tests Higher risk of ADHD Breathing problems http://cerch.org/research- programs/chamacos/chamacos-cohort- study/findings-health-outcomes- chamacos/

27. Agricultural Health Study  20-year collaboration between federal agencies  Cancer, asthma, diabetes, depression, heart attacks, and other health problems were more common in farmers who used pesticides. http://aghealth.nci.nih.gov/

28. 6. Pesticides are hazardous to pets.

29. Pesticides poison pets Insecticides are #3 on the top ten list of causes of pet poisonings. Rodenticides are #9. https://www.aspca.org/blog/te n-most-common-pet-toxins- 2014

30. Pets, lawn care herbicides, and cancer Source: 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. 24:1290- 1297. Risk of cancer

31. 7. Pesticides contaminate water.

32. 27 different pesticides in drinking water!  From a national study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture www.ams.usda.gov/pdp

33. Almost all streams are contaminated with pesticides  A recent national study found pesticides above benchmark levels in 60 – 90% of streams tested.  Study conducted by the US Geological Survey

34. 8. Pesticides are hazardous to fish, birds, and bees.

35. Glyphosate (Roundup) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.g ov/oppsrrd1/RE Ds/factsheets/01 78fact.pdf “Due to the presence of a toxic inert ingredient, some glyphosate end-use products must be labeled ‘Toxic to fish’.”

36. Chlorpyrifos U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://npic.orst.e du/factsheets/ch lorpgen.html#wil dlife “very toxic to many bird species” “very toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates” “very toxic to bees”

37. Chlorothalonil U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov /oppsrrd1/REDs/fa ctsheets/0097fact.p df “Effects on avian reproduction have been observed at a dose of 5 ppb” “ ‘very highly toxic’ to fish”

38. Rachel Carson  Inspired the pesticide reform movement  Author of Silent Spring  Effects of DDT on birds prompted her concern about pesticides

39. 9. Pesticide health and safety testing is conducted by pesticide manufacturers.

40. Who profits from the sale of pesticides? (and more)

41. Who tests pesticides? (the same companies)

42. 10. Pesticides have too many secrets.

43. CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2201 Broadway, Suite 302 Oakland, CA 94612 Tel: 510-655-3900 www.ceh.org caroline@ceh.org We don’t need these poisons!