Ten Reasons to Reduce

Pesticide Use in Rental Housing

April, 2009

1. Pesticides are hazardous to human health.

Common insecticides with EPA-identified cancer concerns

bifenthrinpossible human carcinogen

cypermethrin possible human carcinogen

fipronilpossible human carcinogen

malathionsuggestive evidence of carcinogenicity

permethrinlikely to be carcinogenic to humans

piperonyl butoxide (synergist)possible human carcinogen

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2008. Chemicals evaluated for carcinogenic potential. http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/turf/chemseval.pdf.

Common insecticides with NIOSH-identified concerns about reproductive harm

cypermethrinreduced male fertility; birth defects

deltamethrinreduced newborn survival; birth defects

fipronileffects on newborn behavior

imidaclopridmiscarriages; birth defects

permethrinreduced fertility; reduced newborn survival

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2008. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/rtecs/gz1312d0.html; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/rtecs/gz12d068.html; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/rtecs/uq4399aa.html; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/rtecs/nj88b80.html; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/rtecs/gz132658.html.

2. Pesticides cause special problems for children.

For their size, children drink more water and eat more food than adults do. Their play exposes them to pesticides.

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Exposure to a common insecticide

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2005. Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. http://www.cdc.gov/ExposureReport/pdf/thirdreport.pdf.

3. Pesticides often contaminate food.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Agricultural Marketing Service. Science and Technology Programs. 2008. Pesticide Data Program: Annual Summary, Calendar Year 2007. www.ams.usda.gov/pdp.

72% of broccoli samples contaminated with imidacloprid

39% of frozen potato samples contaminated with imidacloprid

45% of cherry samples contaminated with bifenthrin

21% of celery samples contaminated with malathion

46% of celery samples contaminated with permethrin

Common insecticides found by USDA on common food items

4. Pesticides are particularly hazardous for pesticide applicators.

Linked to pesticide use:• cancer• depression• retinal degeneration• neurological problems• asthma and other breathing problems• diabetes

http://aghealth.nci.nih.gov/

Agricultural Health Study

Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Environmental Protection Agency

5. Pesticides are hazardous to pets.

“We looked over the U.S. EPA's database of reported incidents involving domestic animals, from all products containing pyrethrins and pyrethroids. We found numerous cases of animals whose skin was burned, animals that had seizures and vomiting. We found tens of thousands of reported incidents, including thousands of deaths.”

Joel Grover and Matt Goldberg.NBC-Los Angeles. 2009. Pet Products Investigation. Mar 24. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Pet_Products_Concern.html.

6. Pesticides contaminate water and air.

Common insecticides in a survey of 30 California streams

bifenthrin - 100%

permethrin53%

cyfluthrin - 97%

Robert W. Holmes et al. 2008. Statewide Investigation of the Role of Pyrethroid Pesticides in Sediment Toxicity in California’s Urban Waterways. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (18): 7003-7009.

7. Pesticides are hazardous to fish and birds.

cypermethrin

“For freshwater fish, invertebrates, and estuarine/marine fish, invertebrates, technical grade cypermethrin is very highly toxic on an acute basis.”

--U.S. EPA

deltamethrin

“moderately to highly toxic to fish”

--National Pesticide Information Center

fipronil

“highly toxic to bobwhite quail and pheasants”“highly to very highly toxic to marine and freshwater fish”

--National Pesticide Information Center

imidacloprid“highly toxic to the house sparrow, moderately toxic to upland game birds”

--National Pesticide Information Center

malathion

“considered moderate to very high in toxicity to fish”

--National Pesticide Information Center

permethrin

“highly toxic to both freshwater and estuarine aquatic organisms”

--U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

8. Pesticide health and safety testing is conducted by pesticide manufacturers.

9. Pesticides have too many secrets.

10. Pesticides don’t solve pest problems.

Solving a pest problem means changing the conditions that allow a pest to thrive.

Definition of “Integrated Pest Management” in California law

Healthy Schools Act of 2000 (Assembly Bill 2260)

"…a pest management strategy that focuses on long-term prevention or suppression of pest problems through acombination of techniques such as monitoring for pest presence and establishing treatment threshold levels, using nonchemical practices to make the habitat less conducive to pest development, improving sanitation, and employing mechanical and physical controls. Pesticides that pose the least possible hazard and are effective in a manner that minimizes risks to people, property, and the environment, are used only after careful monitoring indicates they are needed according to pre-established guidelines and treatment thresholds."

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Successful IPM in New York City apartments

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IPM

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Barbara L. Brenner et al. 2003. Integrated Pest Management in an Urban Community: A Successful Partnership for Prevention. Environ Health Perspect 111:1649–1653.

Costs of successful IPM

“The costs of adopting buildingwide IPM in a typical

East Harlem apartment building were calculated to be

$46–69 per unit in the first year (including repairs) and

$24 per unit per year in subsequent years. In

comparison, the costs of traditional, chemically based

pest control are estimated to be $24–46 per unit per

year.”

Barbara L. Brenner et al. 2003. Integrated Pest Management in an Urban Community: A Successful Partnership for Prevention. Environ Health Perspect 111:1649–1653.

Reducing pesticide use is good for tenants, good for property managers, and good for the environment.

Caroline Cox

caroline@ceh.org