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Keeping Toronto Healthy

Keeping Toronto Healthy. Municipal Pesticide Bylaws in Canada: Their Genesis and Effectiveness Rich Whate August 22, 2007. Background. Pesticide Regulation in Canada National: Health Canada Pest Mgmt Regulatory Agency Product approval, labeling, testing, trade issues

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Keeping Toronto Healthy

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  1. Keeping Toronto Healthy Municipal Pesticide Bylaws in Canada: Their Genesis and Effectiveness Rich Whate August 22, 2007

  2. Background • Pesticide Regulation in Canada • National: Health Canada Pest Mgmt Regulatory Agency • Product approval, labeling, testing, trade issues • Provincial: (e.g. Ontario Ministry of the Environment) • Sales & marketing, commercial licences • Municipal: • Use

  3. Background A brief history of pesticide bylaws

  4. The Bylaw • Toronto Pesticide Bylaw • (Municipal Code 612) • Came into effect April 1, 2004 • Restricts outdoor use of pesticides on all public and private property • Some permitted uses (e.g. health hazard, infestation, disinfection) and exempted products

  5. The Bylaw • Public education • Residents, lawn care & landscaping companies, commercial properties • Website, telephone helpline, written material, in-store information, advertising, community partnerships • Partnership with professional sector • Enforcement • By Public Health Inspectors accredited in Integrated Pest Management / Plant Health Care • Investigations triggered by complaints and proactive surveillance

  6. Why Restrict Pesticides? Health effects • Research suggests associations between pesticide exposure and reproductive effects, neurological effects and certain cancers. • Pregnant women, infants, young children, seniors and those with lowered immune system functioning are at a higher risk for long term health effects.

  7. Health effects (cont’d) • Ontario College of Family Physicians (2004) • Positive associations between pesticide exposure and solid tumours, including cancers of the brain, prostrate, kidney and pancreas • Links to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia • Strong associations with nervous system effects • Work exposure among parents can result in increased health risk, including kidney and brain cancers, in their children • Recommended reducing pesticide exposure by: • Passing municipal bylaws to restrict pesticide use • Using alternative methods • Proper use of personal protective equipment • Education on safe handling of pesticides • Physician screening for patients and data collection

  8. Ecological effects • Pesticides can be carried away from lawns and gardens into the air, soil, groundwater and surface waters. • Pesticides can kill useful soil bacteria, earthworms, snails, frogs, birds, fish, honeybees and other valuable species.

  9. Is Toronto’s Bylaw Working?

  10. Interim Evaluation of Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw • Fewer people report using pesticides in Toronto Source: RRFSS 2003-2005.

  11. Interim Evaluation of Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw • Reported use of natural alternatives is increasing Source: RRFSS 2003-2005.

  12. Interim Evaluation of Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw • Comparison to another community Source: RRFSS 2003-2005.

  13. Interim Evaluation of Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw • The Public Continues to Rely on Lawn Care Companies Source: Statistics Canada. Canadian Business Patterns 2001-2006

  14. Interim Evaluation of Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw • Bylaw Awareness is High • About 70 % of residents with a lawn know about the bylaw • Bylaw Compliance is High. • Complaints have decreased from year to year • In 2006 there were no repeat offences = no charges

  15. Interim Evaluation of Toronto’s Pesticide Bylaw • Conclusions of evaluation: • Early successes: • a downward trend in use of pesticides • an increase in use of alternatives • lawn care sector is complying with the bylaw • More work is needed: • Target residents to achieve further reductions (25% still report using pesticides)

  16. The future? • The trend will continue and broaden… • Quebec Pesticide Code further restricted sales • Health Canada – consulting on changes to federal laws that would make provincial restrictions easier • Norms changing • Industry changing

  17. Keeping Toronto Healthy Rich Whate Environmental Protection Office 416-338-8100 rwhate@toronto.ca

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