The petition
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We the undersigned would like to see the immediate reduction of — and eventual phase-out of — consumer and agricultural pesticide-use in Ulster County.
We understand that this call for a prohibition of lawn-care pesticides in the village of New Paltz represents a first step toward this goal, and we support its adoption.
Why? Because pesticides are poisons. These poisons are on our lawns, crops, and orchards, as well as in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods that we eat. These poisons, even at low levels of exposure, may cause serious adverse health effects in people, our pets, and wildlife. It is our birthright to breathe fresh, toxic-free air. Other towns and counties all over the country have adopted pesticide-free laws and have thrived; we can too.
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Many pesticides are known carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disruptors. Women exposed to pesticides are at risk for breast cancer and reproductive system disruptions and failure. The breast cancer rates here in New Paltz, for example (according to the New York State Cancer Registry),¹ recently exceeded the "expected" statistics by 50 to 100 percent. In fact, the Hudson Valley overall has a very high incidence of cancers, with some areas faring worse than others.
Children are particularly vulnerable to ill health effects when exposed to pesticides and are at risk for cancer, neuro-behavioral impairment, compromised respiratory and immune systems, liver and kidney damage, and other health problems. And pesticides are teratogens — they can cross the placenta and adversely affect developing fetuses, even at very low doses that don't harm adults. Pesticides are not only a problem in the air we breathe outside, but pets and others who walk on treated lawns can track the pesticides into our homes, where these toxins persist for years and years. We know about the terrible health effects of about 50 pesticides in use today, but there are many more that have not been adequately tested to determine their effects on people or the environment, and the EPA acknowledges this. ²
For these reasons and more, we believe it is in the interest of all those who reside in (and visit) Ulster County to live in a pesticide-free environment and to adopt organic gardening and landscaping techniques, as well as integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
¹ http://www.health.state.ny.us/...
² http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/...
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