March 15, 1999

Pesticide Cautions

To help residents make good choices about lawn and garden maintenance, the Health Department is distributing two new brochures. The Health Department publication, "Pesticide Cautions", highlights risks associated with pesticides. "How to have a Beautiful Garden without Treating your Health like Dirt ", the new publication of the Westchester League of Women Voters, provides safe alternatives to toxic lawn chemicals. Both are available at many community locations and by calling the Health Department at 813-5000.

"With Spring just around the corner, many residents are considering using weed killers and other pesticides in combination with fertilizers on their lawns and gardens," stated Dr. Harold N. Adel, Westchester County Health Commissioner. "Chemicals applied to residential lawns and gardens can ultimately find their way into our bodies. Residents in areas that use well water are particularly vulnerable to chemicals applied to their lawns and gardens, as well as to sprays applied to their own property and that of their neighbors," stated Dr. Adel. "Excessive fertilizers and pesticides can contaminate our drinking water and our recreational waters."

"Pesticides are toxic materials designed to kill weeds, insects, or animal pests. Many pesticides are capable of causing both immediate and long-term health problems in people," stated Dr. Adel. "Avoid subjecting your family to known and potential health problems from pesticides by using less toxic methods of lawn maintenance," he continued.

Some nontoxic tips to beautify a lawn or garden in early spring are:

• Give your lawn a vigorous raking to wake it up
• Aerate your lawn to loosen soil for better nutrient and water absorption
• Use lime to neutralize soil acidity for efficient assimilation of nutrients.

• Weed by hand. Dig onion grass and dandelions with a sharp trowel.

• Plant insect repellants such as tansy, marigolds and nasturtiums.

• Use corn gluten to prevents weeds from re-seeding and to fertilize your lawn at the same time.

Before contracting with a lawn company for annual maintenance, identify what nutrients are needed on your lawn and garden. By purchasing unnecessary fertilizers and nutrients, you contribute to the pollution of waterways including streams, Long Island Sound, and the Hudson River. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of services offered by the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Soil testing and diagnosis of plant problems are available for a $5 fee on a walk-in basis, Tuesday – Thursdays, 1:15-3:15 p.m., at their Valhalla offices. They also maintain a Horticulture Hotline (285-4640) Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon.

The Westchester County Pest Management Committee indicates the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be effective in reducing pesticide use. The Committee was established in 1995 as part of the Westchester County law adopted to reduce the use of pesticides on all county properties both indoors and outdoors. IPM is necessary because an ever-increasing body of evidence links pesticides to health and environmental problems. IPM uses a variety of strategies to control pests and puts the first priority on prevention. Most pests can be controlled with non-chemical strategies, with only very limited use of the least toxic chemical pesticides.

For more information or for free literature, contact the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000.