TIP TALKS

Newsletter of the Toxics Information Project (TIP)

Summer 2004

LESS TOXIC LANDSCAPING CONTEST DEADLINE APPROACHES – “CANARIES & KIDS” CAMPAIGN WAITS IN WINGS -

SOCCER MOMS RECEIVE A CALL FOR ACTION

As the September 15 cut-off for submitting entries nears, we’re encouraging EVERYONE to consider writing something to share their concerns and knowledge about the use of lawn and garden pesticides and healthful alternatives. You absolutely don’t need to be a gardener to enter! If you do garden, any small tip that has helped you to avoid chemical use could be invaluable to others. If you have a pretty section of lawn or landscape, small or large, take a picture and send it in.

If you know nothing of gardening, it’s equally important to express your feelings and thoughts about wanting to live in a pesticide free environment. Pet lovers and parents should be especially interested in this. We have heard of five cats and five dogs that died after wandering on to a neighbor’s pesticided lawn (plus one cat that sickened but survived). Connections are being drawn between pesticides and such trends as the rise in childhood asthma, allergies and neurological/behavioral disorders. Greatly increased rates of leukemia have been found in children who live in a highly pesticided environment. Finally, runoff from non-point sources such as lawns are creating a huge problem with pollution of our water sources.

So, please consider speaking out for less lawn poisons – write a note to your neighbor, a letter to the editor, or to a government representative – state legislator, town council person, mayor, congressperson. Send it to us, send it to them as well if you wish. You may win one of the great prizes offered to Contest winners! Prizes now confirmed include:

CONFIRMED PRIZES FOR LTL CONTEST

E/The Environment Magazine - www.emagazine.com – Three subscriptions.

Green Circle Design, Kate Lacouture - 401-421-9499 Landscaping consultation - $75 one hour.

Landscape Architect Carol Julien. 781-293-1100 . Contained garden.

Natura-Lawn of America 401-658-5200 One full lawn program, including fertilizer applications, value $139.90, and a soil test, value $24.95.

Ocean State Scuba, Jamestown - 800.933.DIVE Two half-day single kayak rentals – 4 hours.

Recycle-A-Bike – recycleabike@yahoo.com One bicycle free - winner to pick out bike at location.

RI Resource Recovery Corp. (RIRRC) – 401-942-1430 Free garden composter.

RI Solar Energy Association - risolarenergyassociation@hotmail.com Free membership, including quarterly newsletter.

Frog & Toad. 401-831-3434. 795 Hope St., Providence. Rope hammock!

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TO ENTER THE CONTEST, FILL OUT AND RETURN THE ATTACHED ENTRY FORM

For information on Less Toxic Landscaping that may help you with your submission,

go to our website, www.toxicsinfo.org and click on the Have A Healthy Habitat logo.

Or, contact Liberty Goodwin, TIP Director, at 401-351-9193 to discuss a possible entry.

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OTHER TIP NEWS

On July 15, the entire RI Soapbox show on local cable TV was devoted to TIP and our Less Toxic Landscaping Campaign. Joining me on air were Barbara Ann Bourgette, who spoke about organic gardening, and Aimee Reisman with her cat, Mugwump, to express concerns about the effects of lawn pesticides on pets and children. Aimee and Mugwump volunteer to do Pet-Assisted Therapy with kids at the Ark and Head Start. Many thanks to Babs, Aimee & Mugwump for their great work on the show!

Reruns: Wednesday, September 1, 8:00 a.m and September 8, 8:00 a.m. Cox channel 13.

NEW & ONGOING OPTIONS FOR SUPPORTING TIP

E/THE ENVIRONMENTAL MAGAZINE. We are delighted with our new partnership with this excellent publication (non-profit) that includes very interesting news articles about both environment and health. We are now offering a free E-Magazine subscription with TIP memberships or donations of $30 or more. In addition, the magazine can be ordered through TIP for $18, a savings of $2 over the regular subscription price, with a large part of that cost going to support TIP and its work.

LESS TOXIC LANDSCAPING MATERIALS: We continue to offer the great “Have A Healthy Habitat” Less Toxic Landscaping 100% organic T-Shirts, now $1 off at $17 each, as well as LTL Tote Bags, $9, bumper stickers, $2, and lawn, window or office signs, $3. We also still have some lawn care books:

“Building a Healthy Lawn: A Safe and Natural Approach” by Stuart Franklin 184 pages, illustrations throughout. $14.95. This breakthrough book shows how to grow a lawn that is both beautiful to look at and organically maintained

Safe & Easy Lawn Care (The Complete Guide to Organic, Low-Maintenance Lawns) 1997, Taylor’s Weekend Gardening Guides, $12.95. Beautiful photos, excellent advice on landscape planning and maintenance.

THE LESS TOXIC LANDSCAPING BUMPER STICKER – ONLY $2.00!!

COMING THIS FALL: “Canaries & Kids: Protecting the Most Vulnerable”. With this campaign, we will be reaching out to medical facilities, nursing homes, schools, day care centers and other places and people serving children or those with impaired immune systems. People with asthma, allergies, lung and other medical conditions, the elderly and the very young are especially susceptible to the effects of common chemicals. Our concerns include cleaning materials and fragranced personal products, “air fresheners”, paints, carpet and other furnishings. We hope to make many public services and facilities more accessible to vulnerable populations without endangering their health. We will be providing more information soon on how you can support this campaign, possibly through letters, calls, passing along informational materials or circulating/signing petitions.

NEW BOOK OFFER: TIP has on order copies of “How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office”, by B. C. Wolverton, $16.95. This book is a wonderful guide to enhancing indoor air quality. It includes beautiful pictures, plant maintenance details and pollutant removal charts and could make a great gift!

Another great opportunity to take action to protect children has been brought to our attention by a sister organization in the struggle for less toxic living – Beyond Pesticides, based in Washington, D.C. See the article beginning on page six for details on how to counter a toxic threat to kids who play the enormously popular game of soccer.

CANARY CORNER

ODD ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGES

AND FRAGRANCE-FREE SHAMPOO

By Liberty Goodwin, TIP Director

At two of the Quaker conferences my husband and I attend, some laudable efforts have been made to accommodate those of us who have bad reactions to fragrance chemicals. Both established fragrance-free dorms (they meet on college campuses), and both urged all attenders to avoid the use of fragranced personal products. Unfortunately, this important accessibility move is a work in progress.

We actually stayed at the “fragrance-free” dorm, but a nasty unforeseen glitch occurred. I thought I noticed a faint fragrance when we moved into the room, and then found myself walking around with a mild headache all the next day. However, I attributed it to the usual low level of fragrance from people’s deodorant, soap, shampoo, lotions, shaving cream…The second night, the truth came out – literally. As my husband was lying in bed, he looked over and saw a small blue disc sitting on the inner side of one of the desks. To his horror, it turned out to be a stick-up “air freshener” – one of the most toxic items sold. Worse, in his rush to remove that one and another that he found stuck to the other desk in the room, the things came open and spewed terrible fumes throughout the room.

We were forced to hastily retreat to another room on the floor. Then, with half our stuff still in the stinky room, I realized that the chemicals were being absorbed by our belongings, causing them to reek. Comically, it was also apparent that not only could I not remove them for fear of getting sicker, but my husband couldn’t do it either – he would have become toxic to me as well. So we persuaded a passing dorm-mate to transfer our things to a third room, fortunately unoccupied, where they could outgas, with the help of an open window and fan. Irony indeed!

A more typical experience was that of being unable to tolerate the morning session in the auditorium – several hundred people with freshly used personal care products add up to a lot of scent, even if each is low level. And I had a really bad time when a maintenance worker continued mopping all the hallways with a really toxic cleaner just as I was heading to the room where I was to lead a workshop! Nevertheless, the concern and sincere efforts by the conference planners and attenders to avoid making others sick was very much appreciated. It’s a start!

Liberty Goodwin, TIP Director

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THE HARDEST LESS-TOXIC PRODUCT TO FIND?

Mother Earth News, April-May 2004, provides an interesting solution for the other problem that arose with the fragrance-free conference attempts. We “canaries” were told again and again that the one product folks had trouble finding was unscented shampoo. Even some health food stores only carry shampoo scented with “essential oils”, which, though natural, are not tolerated by some sensitive people. So, if you don’t have a Whole Foods Market or similar large natural supermarket nearby, what to do? An article titled “Greener Cleaners” includes recipes for making your own less-toxic housekeeping and personal care products, from expert Annie Berthold-Bond.. A shampoo recipe is included. I haven’t yet tried it – but I just washed my hair with plain Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Baby Mild Pure Castile (liquid) Soap (which includes olive oil, as included in this recipe). No definite verdict yet, but I think my head feels less itchy than usual.

SOME BASIC CLEANING CHEMISTRY

Another useful part of the Mother Earth News article is an explanation about how less-toxic products work: Says Annie: “And yes, these less-toxic products really do work because they’re based on simple chemistry: folk recipes were predicated on the pH scale of acid and alkaline. On this scale, 7 is neutral; anything greater than 7 is alkaline (examples include baking soda, washing soda, borax and lye) and anything less than 7 is acidic (including vinegar and lemon juice). Alkaline substances are effective cleaners of acidic materials, and acidic substances clean alkalines.”

”My daughter learned about acids and alkalines in third grade in an easy way, and you can try this, too: Simply cut a red cabbage into wedges and boil in just enough water to cover. Let cool, then strain the juice into a jar. Cabbage juice has a neutral pH — when added to acids, it turns pink; when added to alkalines, it turns yellowish green. If you want to neutralize an odor or a stain but don’t know its pH, try this test, then use an alkaline cleaner on acidic stains and an acidic cleaner on alkaline stains.”

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CALIFORNIA DREAMING? BILL PROPOSES TO REGULATE PERSONAL CARE CHEMICALS!

The following August 18, 2004 Los Angeles Times editorial (found on latimes.com) gives us the faint stirrings of hope for some regulation of the chemical stew known as “cosmetics” or “personal care products” (Copyright 2004 Los Angeles Times).

More Than Cosmetic

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-cosmetics18aug18,1,1546769.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

California legislators sometimes try to fill gaps where federal regulators have fallen short, as with pollution controls. This year, the subject is cosmetics, not tailpipes. Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) is attempting to pry from cosmetic makers the names and amounts of possibly hazardous additives in creams, soaps, makeup and hair dyes. Her first bill, introduced earlier this year, died from overreaching. It called for a blanket prohibition on certain chemicals, including phthalates, additives that among other things make nail polish stronger and the scent of air fresheners and perfumes last longer. The chemical industry argued that although some animal studies suggested that phthalates could harm male reproductive organs, there was no evidence that the traces in personal care products caused harm. The bill correctly went nowhere.

Chu's back, with a watered-down version, AB 2012, that deserves passage. Under federal regulations, cosmetic companies aren't required to fully disclose the chemicals they use for fragrance and coloring, which are considered trade secrets and can be omitted from labels. Chu's bill would help close this loophole, at least in California, requiring companies to detail all ingredients to scientists in the state's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The state Senate may vote on it today.

The cosmetic industry still charges that the legislation could foment what it calls consumer chemo-phobia. And of course, cosmetic companies want to keep their formulas from competitors. That is why Chu would have companies send their data not to some public website but to the health hazard assessment office, which could then report the data to the Legislature. This is very small potatoes, but at least ingredients will have been reported to someone. The hazard office already helps administer Proposition 65, a voter-passed law requiring posted warnings about the presence of cancer-causing pollutants. Such warnings are now so ubiquitous as to be invisible and are ignored. That, however, is no argument for concealing potential dangers.

There isn't a lot of research on cosmetic-product dangers. A 2001 report by USC researchers suggesting a link between bladder cancer and the frequent, long-term use of hair dyes containing coal tar is a solid scientific exception. The very scarcity of data argues for the improved reporting that the Chu bill would require. Every year, U.S. taxpayers and drug companies spend billions of dollars seeking chemicals that could help cure cancer. Much less goes to identifying chemicals in the environment that may cause cancer in the first place. Chu's bill at least takes one small step toward improved epidemiology.

GUESS WHO IS AFFECTED BY PESTICIDE USE? … WHO ISN’T?

NEW YORK, May 14, 2004 (IPS) - This week, the San Francisco-based Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) released an analysis of data on 34 pesticides collected from more than 9,000 people by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a U.S. government agency that monitors public health

Their report found that among people who had both their blood and urine tested, 100 percent showed pesticide residues. Two insecticides --chlorpyrifos and methyl parathion -- were found at levels up to 4.5 times greater than what the U.S. government deems “acceptable”.

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BRAVO TO A GREAT ALLY

Beyond Pesticides, 701 E Street SE #200, Washington, DC 20003

E-Mail: info@beyondpesticides.org Tel. 202-543-5450

The very first organization to provide significant help to me in 2001 when I became concerned about pesticides in schools and day care centers was Beyond Pesticides, based in Washington, DC. They provided model legislation for me to bring to my wonderful State Senator, Rhoda Perry, for submission here in RI. Though it took close to a year and a special State Senate Commission to adapt the bill, it was passed in 2002. Soon after, I founded TIP. And Beyond Pesticides continues to be a valuable resource for information on pesticide hazards and health effects, as well as alternatives to their use. We’ve linked to Beyond Pesticides in the Resources section of our TIP website, but to give you just a taste of the riches you’ll find there, here’s a list of the articles found on just one page during one trip there, at http://www.beyondpesticides.org/NEWS/DAILY.HTM

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School Pesticide Monitor,

Vol. 4, No. 4, July/August 2004

Beyond Pesticides!

National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides

701 E Street, SE, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20003

(202) 543-5450

Pesticides and Playing Fields: An Unhealthy Mix

Set apart from dangerous streets, in the protective setting of school grounds, athletic fields should be safe places for children to spend their energy. However, hidden dangers may lurk in the grasses when hazardous pesticides are used on playing fields, especially since bodies of children and youths are often in direct contact with the grass. Despite these concerns, last year TruGreen ChemLawn signed on as a sponsor to US Youth Soccer (USYS), the largest youth sports association. TruGreen expects increased business out of the deal, since it is publicly pledging a “percentage of every purchase made by members and supporters of US Youth Soccer back to US Youth Soccer.” In other words, the 3.2 million soccer parents and other members of USYS will be solicited in hiring TruGreen to treat their own lawns, since doing so will result in TruGreen donating money to the youth sports association. The donated monies will go toward “field refurbishment across the United States,” giving the company even more business, as it is now signed on as the “exclusive lawn care, turf care and landscape maintenance provider” of the sports organization. The partnership is up for renewal in December 2004, with a two-year option.

Beyond Pesticides and other child health advocates agree that this partnership is inappropriate in that it encourages the use of toxic lawn care pesticides around young children. Especially in light of the fact that the U.S. EPA has stated “Childhood exposure to pesticides is an environmental health risk facing children today.” Children face higher risks than adults from pesticide exposure due to their small size, tendency to place their hands close to their face, engaging in activities on or near the ground, greater intake of air and food relative to body weight, developing organ systems, and other unique characteristics.

Of the 36 most commonly used lawn pesticides, 14 are probable or possible carcinogens, 15 are linked with birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 24 with neurotoxicity, 22 with liver or kidney damage, and 34 are sensitizers and/or irritants. Worse yet, these hazardous lawn chemicals have been found indoors. The most common lawn pesticide 2,4-D, linked with cancer, mutagenicity and acute adverse health effects, was recently found in 63% of dust samples of homes tested. Furthermore, research found that 2,4-D is easily tracked indoors, contaminating the air and surfaces inside residences and exposing children at levels ten times higher than preapplication levels.

Athletic fields don’t need poisons to be healthy and green. Most weeds, insects and grass diseases result from lawn stress. Pest management begins by addressing the conditions that cause this stress, which may include soil compaction, improper mowing height, unsuitable grass species, too much or too little irrigation or fertilization, accumulation of thatch, and uneven grading. By using knowledge of the local pest and the conditions it favors to relieve the lawn stress, the problem can be reduced or eliminated. For example, chinch bugs indicate drought, and brown patch disease suggests excessive fertilization with soluble nitrate fertilizers.

Several minor changes can make a world of difference to the health of an athletic field. First, replenish soil’s organic matter by leaving grass clippings to decompose on the lawn. Second, mowing to a proper height (most athletic field grass varieties are fine at 2.5 to 3 inches) will decrease chances for weeds to germinate. When horticultural practices are not sufficient to control pests, flamers and nematodes provide direct control. As a last resort, least-toxic options such as fatty acid soaps, oils, garlic and vinegar-based broad spectrum products are available.

TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT SOCCER KIDS ON THE FIELDS & AT HOME!

Voice your concerns about the US Youth Soccer/TruGreen ChemLawn partnership by contacting US Youth Soccer Marketing Director Chris Branscome at 800-4 SOCCER,

write him at 1717 Firman Drive, Suite 900, Richardson, Texas 75081,

or E-Mail: cbranscome@usyouthsoccer.org

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TOXICS DRIFT INTO SCHOOL HALLWAYS

Recent pesticide-poisoning incidents in Massachusetts, California and New York exemplify the need for better regulations to protect school children from pesticide drift. Pesticide drift is an inevitable problem when pest management strategies rely on spray and dust pesticides. Three incidents in one month show that it is a problem that government and school officials need to address. On May 21st, the Spofford Pond Elementary School in Boxford, Massachusetts was. evacuated after a pesticide, containing the active ingredient malathion, drifted onto the school property after a neighbor applied it to his property, according to the TheTown Transcript. Seven children reported feeling dizzy and nauseous from inhaling the strong odor that overtook several of the schools’ classrooms. It was reported that the chemical spray was carried 200 feet into an open window at the school. The fire chief, Peter Perkins, told the Transcript, “The homeowner had no idea that what he was doing was causing a problem.” Two children later went to the hospital.

A similar incident took place earlier that week at the Terrace View Elementary School in Grand Terrace, California. Students got sick from pesticides drifting onto the school property on May 19th, according to the Mercury News. Twenty-one students complained of nausea and stomach cramps and were taken to a nearby hospital. Local authorities believe that the students felt ill after inhaling fumes released from a malathion container that was on a field adjacent to the school. The school closed early that day. Only one month earlier, New York Newsday reported that fifteen high-school students in Bronx, New York were treated after exposure to an herbicide that park employees were spraying nearby. “There are thousands of reported complaints of off-target spray drift each year,” states the U.S. EPA. For more information, see “Getting the Drift on Chemical Trespass,” from Beyond Pesticides’ Summer 2004 issue of Pesticides and You. Contact Beyond Pesticides tor a copy at 202-543-5450.

What You Can Do About Pesticide Drift

When possible, advocate for sustainable, organic alternatives to pesticide use in your community. If smaller steps seem more realistic, you can work toward these technical fixes, which have limited ability to control drift:

Buffer Zones. To protect against vapor chemical drift, meaningful buffer zones require a two-mile radius around the school property. Aerial applications should have a larger buffer zone, at least three-miles encircling the designated property. No-deposit buffer zones, which reduce the impact of particle drift, should encompass a minimum of400 ft.

Time of Day. Ultimately, buffer zones should be in effect at all times of the day, and at a minimum, during commuting times and while school property is in use.

Communication. School officials and nearby farmers should meet to talk about pesticides planned for use, emergency plans for accidental exposure, and share schedules.

Notification. Ideally, pesticide applicators should provide 48-hour prior notification to a school, which should include application tune and location, pesticide product name, known ingredients, and applicator contact information.

Wind Breaks. The use of natural or artificial wind shields or breaks can help deflect and contain spray drift away from sensitive areas.

Pesticide Choice. Because completely eliminating drift is virtually impossible, growers and pesticide applicators should use the least toxic substances. Products with label temperature restrictions should be avoided. It is also important to avoid using chemicals that volatilize rapidly from moist soil, such as butyl ester or butoxyethanol ester, because they are more likely to result in vapor drift. Application of the most toxic pesticides should be prohibited from use.

Application Equipment. Drift increases significantly as boom height on spray equipment increases. Sprayers should be set up to produce the largest droplets (at least 200 microns). Ultimately, aerial and other problematic spray technologies should be prohibited altogether.

Weather. Application of a pesticide should never take place when a school is downwind, no matter the wind speed. Other weather considerations include: air temperature, relative humidity, topography and atmospheric stability.

Enforcement of Pesticide Regulations. State pesticide agency inspectors should routinely inspect planes, equipment, and application sites to ensure that regulations are being followed, and to prevent potentially damaging exposure to drift from pesticide applications. Drift incidents should be reported to state enforcement agencies.

Eat Yogurt and Support Beyond Pesticides!

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/photostories/index.htm

(June 24, 2004) The philanthropic people at Stonyfield Farm are running a fundraising contest on their yogurt products, and you can help Beyond Pesticides raise significant and much-needed funds for their campaigns to stop toxic pesticide use and protect people and the planet. Stonyfield Farm is donating $100,000, with each of the three participating groups receiving an amount proportional to votes cast.

Here is how you can help raise funds for Beyond Pesticides.

-- MAIL LIDS, your name and address, and Beyond Pesticides’ name as the group that you’d like to support, to the address on the packaging. Each lid will count as one vote. Please send Stonyfield as many lids as you can (no limit). Voting ends October 31, 2004, and specially-marked lids should be on store shelves July through August.

For sending in lids, you can choose a gift: a zip-pull compass (10 lids); a six-month Beyond Pesticides membership & subscription to Pesticides and You (20 lids); an El Lobo: Song of the Wolf DVD (30 lids).

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TIP TALKS Summer Issue, 2004

MEMBERSHIPS/DONATIONS

Babs Bourgette, Maryanne Paolucci, Susan Warren, Linda Leete, Aimee Reisman

THANK YOU: E/The Environment Magazine, Green Circle Design, NaturaLawn of America, Ocean State Scuba, Recycle-A-Bike, RI Resource Recovery Corp. (RIRRC), RI Solar Energy Association, Frog & Toad. Barbara Ann Bourgette, Aimee Reisman & Mugwump.

TOXICS INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP)

P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940

Telephone (401) 351-9193

E-Mail: TIPTALKS@toxicinfo.org

Web: www.toxicsinfo.org