The individuals in support of this petition call upon the Board of the Heatherlea of Arlington to adopt a policy that bans the use of pesticides on Heatherlea property.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND:

Risks. Risks from lawn-care pesticides include cancers, asthma, reproductive and endocrine problems, neurological diseases and learning disabilities. Children and pets are particularly vulnerable.
Alternatives. Property values and beautiful lawns and landscapes can be maintained with cost-effective, non-toxic products.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Pesticides and herbicides that are harmful to humans and animals have been banned in the Province of Ontario, Canada and over 80% of cities in Canada. This ban includes 33.5 million Canadians  (including 5.1 million people in greater Toronto). These laws are supported by the Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), Ontario College of Family Physicians, the Learning Disabilities Association, Registered Nurses Association and others.

Read a Summary of the Ontario Pesticides Act
Read the full text of the Ontario Pesticides Act

Risks from lawn-care pesticides include cancers, asthma, reproductive and endocrine problems, neurological diseases including learning disabilities, and Parkinson’s. Acute exposure can cause flu like symptoms, headache, fatigue, slow pulse, nausea, diarrhea and depression. Children and pets are particularly vulnerable. The U.S. President's cancer panel April 2010 identified environmental causes of cancer including pesticides. Read more about the risks from these organizations and authorities in the field:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

National Institute of Health (NIH) President's Cancer Panel, Annual Report
Risks from Lawn Care Pesticides, Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI) see pp 23-25
Dr. David Suzuki, Prof. Emeritus, University of British Columbia
City of Toronto
Pesticides-Induced Diseases Database, Beyond Pesticides

In Canada, water quality in urban streams improved by 86% one year after the ban of certain lawn pesticides. Streams feed into our sources of drinking water and pesticides migrate into well water. Read the report from the Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of Environment

Beautiful lawns and landscaping can maintain property values without the use of hazardous pesticides. Healthy alternative products and cost effective practices are now available. For more resources, see:

Beyond Pesticides Lawns and Landscapes Page
Safe Lawns
Glenstone

Pesticides do not stay where placed and people are at risk from even their neighbors' applications. People have a right to be protected from involuntary exposure to pesticides in the air, water and soil that inevitably result from chemical drift and contaminated runoff to our houses and our water supplies.Risks from Lawn Care Pesticides, Environment and Human Health, Inc. 

Heatherlea occupies 7.65 acres in the County of Arlington, Virginia, adjacent to the Four Mile Run stream, and there are many people in the municipality who are impacted by its choices.

Arlington County "highly recommends" the use of natural, non-toxic alternatives to the traditional fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to prevent stormwater pollution.