Do You Use Pesticides?

When the summer hits, the temperatures are on the rise but so is the resilience of the pesky weeds and insects around our yards. An easy solution is using a pesticide or herbicide, but the Westwood Board of Health is warning residents of the health affects these chemicals have on our bodies.

According to the Board of Health website, using pesticides on those stubborn weeds and pests on lawns result in low level, but frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals.

“We put out the information when we think its something that residents would like to know about, we want residents to use pesticides safely,” said Westwood Board of Health Director Linda Shea.

For children who play outside in their backyards and playing in the grass, they have a higher risk of being exposed, especially from the hand on the treated grass to the mouth.

Carmen Boone, a pesticide specialist from the National Pesticide Information Center, said, “there is always risk when applying a pesticide. The risk depends on the toxicity of the product and the exposure to it. Pesticides can get into our body by skin contact, eating or drinking it, or by breathing it in,” she said.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the level of exposure and the toxicity of the pesticide chemical determine how much of a risk people are to adverse health affects. According to the EPA's website on pesticides, short-term exposure can lead to skin and eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, headaches and neurotoxicity. Long-term exposure includes nerve system damage, as well as endocrine and hormone damage. Some pesticides are known carcinogens. Long-term exposure can cause birth defects, and studies of farm workers exposed to pesticides showed an increased risk of cancer.

The Westwood Board of Health recommends seeking alternative weed killers and lawn treatments than pesticides. If one must use pesticides, the Board recommends teaching your child to stay off of the areas affected by the chemicals, to use the minimum amount necessary, following the instructions carefully and also reading labels carefully.

Boone suggested a number of different ways to decrease children’s exposure to the chemicals. “To reduce children’s exposure to sprays, keep them out of the area during application until the pesticide has dried,” she said. “You may also consider removing or covering toys, playground structures, sandboxes, or outdoor furniture to avoid accidentally spraying them.” 

If someone other than the owner treats a lawn, the Board of Health recommends asking to see the pesticide license and what is being put on a lawn is a good way to get answers.

Shea also recommends reading the manufacturer’s label carefully when applying pesticides on one’s property. “Make sure you wash your hands after using them and store them away from children and pets,” Shea said. “Also make sure you buy the right chemical for the right thing. Purchase the right pesticide for the pests they want to get rid of.”

Many fertilizers, while not pesticides, have a combination of fertilizer and pesticide chemicals in them. The Board says if the products offer both weed and insect control with an EPA registration number on the back, then it is a pesticide or herbicide.

For those interested in finding a lawn care provider who doesn’t use pesticides, contact the Northeast Farming Association at 978-355-2853.