The Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Newfoundland and Labrador (CAP-NL) is alerting the general public to the risk of exposure to toxic pesticide being used to remove vegetation along roadsides throughout the province. The Pesticides Control Section of the Department of the Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, has announced extensive roadside spraying of the herbicide Tordon 101 which has the chemical 2, 4-D as an active ingredient. The manufacturer of this product has issued warnings and precautions pertaining to this pesticide as follows:

 

Cautions:

MAY CAUSE SKIN AND EYE IRRITATION

HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED

MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN

DO NOT GET IN EYES

AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING

AVOID BREATHING SPRAY MIST

DO NOT INHALE FUMES

 

Precautions:

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

MAY CAUSE SKIN AND EYE IRRITATION

HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED

MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN

DO NOT GET IN EYES

AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING

AVOID BREATHING SPRAY MIST

DO NOT INHALE FUMES

 

The provincial government in July of this year announced “that 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid),will no longer be permitted for application on lawns.”

Dr . Ian Simpson, Co-Chair of CAP-NL says that his organization is pleased that the provincial government announced the banning of pesticides with the active ingredient 2,4-D for use on lawns. However he is alarmed at the contradictory increase in the use of the 2, 4-D pesticide, Tordon 101 along our roadways. Dr. Simpson references that on June 19, 2012 the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) strongly recommended that the public reduce their exposure to pesticides wherever possible, based on the findings of its second comprehensive review of research on the effects of pesticides on human health. The review showed associations between pesticide exposure and various neurological and respiratory diseases, as well as reproductive problems. Covering 142 studies, the review also demonstrates that children are particularly vulnerable to pesticide exposures that occur during pregnancy.

The Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP-NL) is a provincial coalition of health and environmental organizations and citizens who are concerned about the risks posed by the use of pesticides to the health of children, adults, animals, and the environment. The Coalition is advising the general public to keep their windows closed when driving in areas where toxic pesticides are being used along our roadways and not to engage in any recreational activities in these areas such as berry picking, fishing and camping where there is danger of exposure to the pesticides.

A pesticide is anything that is used to control or destroy a pest. Pesticides used to kill insects are known as insecticides, those used to kill weeds are called herbicides, those used to kill rodents are called rodenticides, and those used to kill fungi are called fungicides.

CAP-NL is urging the provincial government to be consistent in their pesticides policy and alternatively use more environmentally sustainable and less health threatening means of vegetation management along roadways. The Coalition suggests establishing more environmentally sustainable vegetation bordering roadways that requires less maintenance by manual physical treatment.

 

For further information please contact:

Dr. Ian Simpson, Co- Chair CAP-NL (Contact Information)

 

Link to petition “Please stop poisoning our province”:

http://sprayadvisory.blogspot.ca/2012/07/persistent-toxic-pesticides-to-be.html

 

 

Appendix:

 

 

PUBLIC NOTICE

 

#1

Please be advised that weather permitting Newfoundland and Labrador Vegetation Control will commence an Herbicide Spray Program for WST starting August 2, 2012

 

Route 1 TCH

Adeytown – Clarenville,

Bonavista underpass to Port Blandford Route 210

TCH at Goobies to North Hr. Intersection.

The products that will be used in this spray program are Tordon 101 Reg# 9007.

Any questions or concerns please contact NLVC Office @  (709) 673-5898, 8 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday, or Fax us @  (709) 673-5899, or Pesticide Control Section @ 1 800 563-6181.

 

 

#2

Please be advised that weather permitting Newfoundland and Labrador Vegetation Control will commence an Herbicide Spray Program for WST, starting July 30, 2012.

 

Botwood Highway Route 350

Bay D’Espoir Highway Route360

Route 1 TCH GrandfallsWindsor – Badger

Botwood Airport and Road

The products that will be used in this spray program are Tordon 101 Reg# 9007.

Any questions or concerns please contact NLVC Office @ (709) 673-5898, 8am – 5 pm Monday to Friday, or Fax us @ (709) 673-5899, or Pesticide Control Section @ 1-800 563-6181.

 

 

#3

Please be advised that weather permitting, Newfoundland and Labrador Vegetation Control will commence a Herbicide Spray Program for WST, starting July 30, 2012.

 

Route 1 TCH

Birchy Narrows to McIsaacs Brook

North Branch River – McDougall Brook

Burgeo Road Intersection to Route 490 Intersection

Route 490 Intersection to 461 Intersection

Route 401 towards Howley , off TCH

Route 420 Clam Pond Road to Taylors Brook Road

St. Andrews Airstrip

The products that will be used in this spray program are Tordon 101 Reg # 9007.

Any questions or concerns please contact: NLVC Office @  (709) 673-5898, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, or Fax us @  (709) 673-5899, or Pesticide Control Section @ 1 800 563-6181.

 

 

#4

Please be advised that weather permitting Newfoundland and Labrador Vegetation Control will commence an Herbicide Spray Program starting July 9,2012.

 

Route 100 Argentia Access Rd. at TCH to approx. 300m West of Route 101 to Long Harbour.

Route 92 at North Hr. Interection to Branch

Route 100 South of Pointe Verde to South of Ship Cove

The products that will be used in this spray program are Tordon 101 Reg# 9007, Garlon XRT, PCP # 28945.

 

 

Any questions or concerns please contact NLVC Office @ (709) 673-5898, 8am – 5 pm Monday to Friday, or Fax us @ (709) 673-5899, or Pesticide Control Section @ 1 800 563-6181 .

 

 

#5

Please be advised that weather permitting Newfoundland and Labrador Vegetation Control will commence an Herbicide Spray Program for WST starting July 30, 2012

 

Route 1 TCH Foxtrap, Paddy’s Pond to Butterpot Park

Route75 Veteran’s Memorial Highway from TCH to North River

Route10 Southern Shore Highway from CapeBroyle to Renews – Cappahayden

Route 63 Avondale Access Rd. from TCH towardsRoute 60

Route 13 Witless Bay Line from km 13 to TCH

Route 101 – Long Hr. Road from Route 100 intersection to Route 202 Intersection

The products that will be used in this spray program are Tordon 101 Reg# 9007.

Any questions or concerns please contact NLVC Office@  (709) 673-5898, 8am – 5 pm Monday to Friday, or Fax us @ (709) 673-5899, or Pesticide Control Section @ 1-800 563-6181.

 

 

 

NLVC will be in the following areas The week of July 30,2012 to August 11,2012……

NL Power Gander to GFW (136 L – 102 L)

Tordon 101 reg# 9007

Sylgard

 

5ha for test plot (Dupont Navius Herbicide)

 

WST Roadside Spray

 

Avalon Route 1 TCH Fox Paddy’s Pond to Butterpot Park

Avalon Route75 Veteran’s Memorial Highway from TCH to North River

Avalon Route 10 Southern Shore Highway from Cape Broyle to Renews Cappahayden

Avalon Route 101 Long Harbour Rd. from Route 100 Int. to Route 202 Int.

Avalon Route 63 Avondale Acess Road from TCH interchange toward R60

Avalon Route 13 Witless Bay Line from km 13.4 from TCH interchange to Route 10 Int.

Eastern route 1 TCH from 1.7 km East of Adeytown to Clarenville

Eastern Route 1 Bonavista Peninsula Underpass to first Intersection to Port Blandford

Eastern Route 210 TCH at Goobies to North Harbour Intersection

Central Route 350 Botwood Highway km 12 – km 19

Central Route 360 Bay D’Espoir Highway km 49 – km 60

Central Route 360 Bay D’Espoir Highway km 80 – km 84

Central Route 360 Bay D’Espoir Highway km 113 – km 125.4