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Government Regulation
According to The Crop Protection Institute of Ontario only 15% of the Canadian population realizes that pesticides
and their use in Canada is strictly regulated by the government of Canada. Canada currently has one of the most
stringent pesticide regulatory systems in the world. Before a pesticide can be offered for sale or use in Canada it
must be approved by Health Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
It costs chemical companies $50-$100 Million and up to 10 years to get a new pesticide approved.
In many cases pesticides undergo more testing than pharmaceutical drugs. The reason for this is that they have to
prove that they can interact with the environment as well as humans, without undue risk.
Registered Pesticides must be reviewed and re-registered every 5 years in order to prove that they are safe for use
under current guidelines. This insures that products used today are safe for use under today's guidelines.
Any person in Ontario that applies pesticides on a commercial basis must be registered with the Ministry of
the Environment as a "Licensed Exterminator" or "Pesticide Technician." Both exterminator and
technician will have had to have had to pass Ministry of Environment exam(s) with a passing mark of 75% or greater
before they are legally allowed to apply pesticides in Ontario. Our people that perform the applications on your yard
have been carefully chosen, carefully trained, thoroughly tested, and finally licensed with the Ministry of the
Environment before they qualify to make a single application on your property.
Research on Safety
Since 2,4-D is such a widely used turf herbicide, there have been many questions regarding its safety to those
applying it as well as those members of the household who may come in contact with it.
Two studies were conducted by the University of Guelph and the Canadian Centre for Toxicology to look at the amount
of exposure to:
- Applicators, and bystanders during application and
- To recreational users of turf
- The study showed that there was no detectable amount of 2,4-D found in the applicators that used protective
equipment properly. The study also showed that there was no 2,4-D detected in any other members of the volunteers'
household (bystanders).
- Volunteers were asked to walk, sit and/or lie on treated turf for an hour, beginning 24 hours following
application. None of the volunteers exposed 24 hours after application had detectable levels of 2,4-D in their bodies.
Factual Information From Reliable Sources
I have provided some quotes as well some as reputable organizations you can contact in order to address any concerns
you may have with regards to the use of pesticides on your property. If you do not have time or desire to research
the facts please contact us and we will provide you with an information package compiled from the various organizations
listed below, free of charge.
"There really is no risk to the consumer from the use of lawn pesticides when used as directed."
Dr.C.Everett Koop, Former Surgeon General, U.S.A.
The National Cancer Institute of Canada reported "...it was not aware of any definitive evidence to suggest that
synthetic pesticides contribute significantly to overall cancer mortality..."
It also concluded, "...it did not believe that any increased intake of pesticide residues associated with
increased intake of fruits and vegetables poses any increased risk of cancer..." (1997 American Cancer Society;
Cancer 1997; 80; 2019-33).
Contacts for Information on Pesticide Safety
Our Views in Brief
Our Views in Brief
We too are homeowners who have children and pets. We are very concerned that only the safest products are registered
and available for use. If there is an opportunity to improve the level of safety we support it 100%. We are the
applicators who apply these products to your lawns, trees, and houses. We are at the greatest risk of exposure to
these products. We are not exposed to these products once, twice, three or four times per year, rather we are exposed
to them all day, everyday during spring, summer and fall. We are very concerned about the possible health risks. We
have attended seminars and panel discussions that include doctors, scientists and environmentalists and we draw
conclusions based on what these people have had to say. We have gathered and researched our information from various
government organizations, independent laboratories and various reputable health organizations, some which are listed
directly above. We have chosen to accept what these organizations have proven through scientific research. We will
continue to accept good reputable scientific research. We have always been, and always will be completely committed to
the safety of both our applicators and customers alike.
In the past 13 years of operation not a single one of our own applicators that apply these products all day long has
suffered any ill effects from the products. As with any work place, as long as all safety precautions are observed
the job is safe.
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Sun Parlour Weed & Spider Control
R.R. #3, Wheatley, Ontario, N0P 2P0
Phone (519) 825-7307 |
E-mail info@sunparlourweed.on.ca
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