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Gardening… all naturally2011 Edition
Did you know that...Did you know that certain pesticides used to treat lawns, parks and golf courses may infiltrate our rivers and streams? A study carried out by the ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs reveals the presence of pesticides used in urban areas in the waste water from water purification plants in some cities in Québec. These include herbicides such as 2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba, as well as insecticides such as diazinon and carbaryl. Herbicides are detected almost on a continuous basis during the summer and contribute to water contamination of waterways that drain urban areas. However, the concentrations measured for these herbicides are generally weak and respect limits established for the aquatic life protection. Insecticides are not detected as frequently. However if such is the case concentrations largely exceed water quality criteria established to protect aquatic species. Did you know that a 500 ml bottle of concentrated Diazinon, an insecticide used to control certain fruit and vegetable pest, can contaminate an amount of water corresponding to the size of an Olympic swimming pool? Because the drinking water safety standard for Diazinon is 20 μg/L, 400 ml of a 12.5% concentrated solution of this pesticide can contaminate 2,500,000 litres of water beyond this recommended dose. With this amount of water, it is possible to meet the needs of 1,250,000 people on the basis of the recommended consumption rate per person, which is 8 glasses of water a day. Did you know that certain pesticides applied outdoors may find their way inside the home? Certain pesticides are brought into the home by home owners and pets. They reside in household dust and can last longer in this environment, sheltered from the wind, sun and rain. Did you know that preparing, storing or using homemade pesticides could jeopardize both your health and the environment? Unlike regulated pesticides, homemade pesticides are not subject to scientific assessment nor have label directions to ensure safe use and handling for optimal pest control. Furthermore, some homemade mixtures may pose health or environmental hazards. To learn more about this subject, please visit Health Canada – Homemade Pesticides. Did you know that the domestic pesticide sector ranked second in Québec in terms of 2008 sales volume? The domestic sector accounted for about 8.3 percent of all sales. This represents more than 347,000 kilograms of active ingredients (the compounds that are responsible for the pesticide effect). Total pesticide sales by sector of use in 2008
Source: Pesticides sales in Québec - 2008 Did you know that mothballs account for more than one third of domestic sector sales volume? Mothballs, made of 100% naphtalene or paradichlorobenzene, rank first in domestic pesticide sales; green space maintenance accounts for about 32% of remaining sales, while insect repellents and coils make up a further 20%. Domestic pesticide sales in 2008
Source: Pesticides sales in Québec - 2008 Did you know that sales of pesticides used for lawn maintenance have decreased in recent years? From 2001 to 2008, pesticide sales for domestic use decreased by 60% and by 34% for commercial purposes. Total sales of pesticides for lawn maintenance decreased by 40% in the past 7 years. Sales volume pesticides for use on lawns from 1992 to 2008
Source: Pesticides sales in Québec - 2008 Did you know that in Québec, herbicides accounted for the largest segment of 2008 lawn maintenance pesticide sales? Domestic herbicide sales represented 70% of all lawn care maintenance pesticide sales (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides). Herbicides sold in the green space maintenance sector (residential green space package treatments, golf courses and commercial and municipal property) represented also 70% of all pesticide sales.
Source: Pesticides sales in Québec - 2008
Be a wise consumerIF, DESPITE PREVENTIVE LAWN MAINTENANCE AND EARLY PEST-CONTROL ACTIONS, THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CAUSE DAMAGE, ASSESS THE SITUATION. Remember, pesticides only correct a situation temporarily. To avoid dependence on these products, you must first modify your practices that need to change.
N.B.: If the answer to any one of these questions is "No", I should not apply the treatment. I will contact a professional or reassess the situation.
The first step is to consult a salesperson to discuss your problem; you will be advised to use, preferably, the following products:
Wear adequate protective clothing and use appropriate safety equipment during preparation and application. If the label does not indicate the appropriate type of protective gear to be worn given the nature and extent of the risk involved, it is recommended that you wear a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, and waterproof gloves and boots. After use, rinse contaminated equipment and wash contaminated clothes separately from the rest of your laundry. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND
SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR MIXTURE PREPARATION (CONCENTRATED PESTICIDES) AND PESTICIDE
APPLICATION Behave responsibly. Advise neighbours concerning
scheduled treatment. Close the windows of your house to avoid pesticide
infiltration. During treatment, ensure that any object that could be contaminated
is removed (e.g.: toys), and cover objects that cannot be moved (e.g.: sandbox).
Never prepare or apply pesticides near an individual tube well since pesticides
could contaminate your source of drinking water. Remember to observe
the 3-metres distance requirement from rivers, lakes and streams. Make sure that no human or pet is nearby during pesticide preparation or application and that they have no contact whatsoever with treated surfaces for at least 24 hours. After a pesticide application, post the sign provided by pesticide retailers. In case of accidental spillage, quickly cover the spilled product with a sufficiently thick layer of absorbent material (cat litter, vermiculite, newspaper, etc.) and wait until it has been soaked up. Never hose down with water. Put the pesticide-soaked material in a plastic bag and throw it away in a garbage can lined with another plastic bag.
Drain empty receptacles carefully and rinse using the triple rinsing technique. Crush then perforate the rinsed containers to ensure that they will not be used for any other purpose. Throw them out with your domestic garbage; they should under no circumstances be burned or buried. Never throw pesticides (concentrates, leftover prepared pesticides, waste water from the container-rinsing process, past-date products, etc.) down the sink, into the sewer system (sewage treatment plants are not designed to treat water containing pesticides) into a ditch or on the ground near a well, watercourse or septic tank. Leftover pesticides (both concentrates and diluted) must be stored above 0° Celsius and kept away from children. Check with your municipality and dispose of leftover pesticides when your municipality collects hazardous domestic waste.
In cases of false or misleading representation of a good or service, or of breach of contract, you can file a complaint with the Office de la protection du consommateur (Québec consumer protection office). For more information To learn the regulatory requirements for pesticides that govern green space maintenance services, please refer to the document entitled “Protecting the environment and health in green spaces.” To learn the rules governing pesticide use that must be observed in places frequented by children, please refer to the document entitled “Protecting the environment and health in childcare centres and schools.”
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Store
pesticides in a safe place in order to reduce the risk of poisoning
and to maintain their effectiveness. Always put pesticides away under lock
and key or in a place that is securely clasped. Keep pesticides in their
original containers. Never transfer them to receptacles that formerly contained
food or drink for human or animal consumption since the pesticides could
be erroneously ingested.
