Related resources:
- Pesticides and Children Don't Mix
- 30 Common Pesticide-related Health Issues
- 5 Reasons to Avoid Using Weed and Feed
- Child-safe Schools (scroll down to Turf Pesticides)
- Beyond Pesticides (national organization)
- Lawn Care Without Chemicals
- Cleveland Heights Ordinance (Prohibits Pesticides on Schools, Day Cares, Public Properties ...)
Safe Lawn & Landscapes Campaign
What do New York City, San Francisco,
Cleveland Heights and Middleburg Heights have in common? They all have banned toxic lawn chemicals
from city properties!
Through a vibrant,
educational outreach effort, our Safe Lawn & Garden Campaign will assist cities, schools, park districts,
libraries, businesses and individuals in transitioning to cost-effective, organic
lawn care practices.
People will learn they do not need to rely on toxic chemicals to have
beautiful and healthy lawns and landscapes. The Campaign offers
speakers, PowerPoint presentations and printed literature on why choosing
organic lawn care is a wise choice.
Indeed, lawn chemicals pose unnecessary health risks to people, pets and
the environment. Most pesticides have
not been adequately tested, and many have been associated with health problems,
including asthma, childhood leukemia, and learning disabilities. Pesticides are not safe; indeed, it is
against federal law to make any claims of safety, even when used as directed.
LAWN
CHEMICAL HEALTH RISKS
A study published in the Journal of
the National Cancer Institute finds home and garden pesticide use can increase
the risk of childhood leukemia by almost seven times.
Exposure to home and garden pesticides
can increase a child’s likelihood of developing asthma and recent research
studies link pesticides with autism, hyperactivity, developmental delays,
behavioral disorders, and motor dysfunction.
Studies find that dogs exposed to
herbicide-treated lawns and gardens can double their chance of developing
canine lymphoma and may increase the risk of bladder cancer in certain breeds
by four to seven times.
GOING ORGANIC – A HEALTHIER CHOICE
Since an organic lawn is a healthier
lawn, it resists weeds and stands up better to disease and costs less to
maintain.
The Safe Lawn
& Garden Campaign can help you create
your own organic lawn or refer you to reputable organic lawn care
practitioners. Some tips: Fertilize with organic products, aerate the
soil, mow grass high, and apply corn gluten to discourage weeds and encourage
deeper roots. Also think about replacing portions of your lawn with flowers and
shrubs.
To learn how you can join the
Campaign to get your neighbors and community to adopt safer lawn and
landscape practices or host a house gathering, contact us today. For more information, please visit our
website for our Lawn Care Without Chemicals fact sheet.
Beyond
Pesticides Ohio
2312 Allison Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44118
(216) 371-3263
info@beyondpesticidesohio.org
www.beyondpesticidesohio.org
