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Westchester
County Pesticide Reduction Policy
As
an ever-increasing body of evidence links pesticides to health and
environmental problems, Westchester County has adopted a law to reduce the
use of pesticides on all county properties both indoors and outdoors. The
alternative method of dealing with pests is called Integrated Pest
Management (IPM), and places a first priority on prevention of pest
problems, then uses a variety of strategies to control pests. Chemical
pesticides are used as a last resort using the least toxic product
available; this is applied only at the affected site, eliminating broad
spectrum application.
The
Pest Management Committee
To
implement this policy the law established a Pest Management Committee
consisting of seven citizens appointed by the Board of Legislators (BOL)
in addition to ex officio representatives from several county departments
(Health, Public Works, Parks, Environmental Facilities). The Chair of the
BOL Committee on Environment acts as advisor and liaison to the Board.
Some
of the duties of this committee are :
- evaluate current pest
management practices and recommend changes
consistent with IPM.
- develop educational
materials; provide IPM training for staff
- select the least toxic
pesticides available
- act as a resource and in
conjunction with county departments
- monitor the progress of the
IMP program
- keep records and submit an
annual report
The
Pest Management Committee meets every three weeks from 3PM to 5PM at the
Cornell Cooperative Extension Offices in Valhalla. All meetings
are open to the public and interested persons are encouraged to attend.
Call 995 – 2800 (Board of Legislators) to check dates and/or
cancellations.
Reasons
for this policy
Pesticides;
- are toxic chemicals designed to kill living organisms; however, they also kill other life beneficial/necessary to our
ecosystem
- persist in the environment
from a few days to many years
- travel up the food chain,
becoming more concentrated at the top
- pollute our drinking water
- are carried hundreds of
miles by air you breath
- may be absorbed through the
skin or inhaled after spraying.
The
United States Environmental Protection Agency has stated that no
pesticide may be considered safe even if used as directed. The fact
that a pesticide is registered only means it performs as the label
asserts, to kill the target pest.
Chronic
exposure to pesticides has been linked to cancer, birth defects,
neurological disorders, liver, kidney, and respiratory damage, and immune
system dysfunction. In addition, recent studies suggest that toxic
chemicals can mimic our natural hormones causing endocrine disruption of
normal reproductive and developmental processes. The unborn and children
are at the greatest risk. |
