HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-0302 Documents Submitted at Meeting
Wetlands, Streams and Riparian Corridors
Update of City Regulations
What is the
Water Resource Ordinance?
A proposed revision to the
Ashland Land Use Ordinance
(ALUO) to further protect wetlands,
streams and associated riparian
areas
Update Package
· Chapter 18.63 Water Resources
Protection Zone
· Chapter 18.62 Physical and
Environmental Constraints
· Water Resources Map
· Floodplains Map
· Adopt Local Wetlands Inventory (LWI)
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1
Chapter 18.63
Water Resource Protection Zones
Where the Regulations Apply
-Stream
-Wetlands
- associated
buffer areas
Water Resources Map
w..... Resourr. Prorectiotl
ZD_ ~"-h
DRAFT MAP
~_., Water Resources
2
Identifying the Regulated Area
· Determine location of water resource (wetland or
stream)
· Determine water resource classification
- Streams: Riparian Corridor, Local Stream or
Intermittent & Ephemeral Streams
- Wetlands: Locally Significant or Other
Possible
. Delineate Water Resource Protection Zone
Stream Bank Protection Zones
RiDarian Corridor
- 50 feet from top of bank
- e.g. Ashland Creek, Bear Creek
Riparian Corridors
riparian buffer
50,..t
riparian buffer
50 feet
Stream Bank Protection Zone
3
Stream Bank Protection Zones
Local Streams
- 40 feet from center line of stream
- e.g. Clay Creek, Hamilton Creek
Local Streams
riparian buffer
I
CenterlilM
Stream Bank Protection Zone
Stream Bank Protection Zones
Intermittent & EDhemeral Streams
- 30 feet from center line of stream
- e.g. Beach Creek, Roca Creek
4
Intermittent & Ephemeral Streams
riparian buffar
30 feet 30 feet
-~
Centerline
Stream Bank Protection Zone
Wetland Protection Zones
Locallv Sianificant - 50 feet from upland
edge of wetland.
Locally Significant Wetlands
5
Wetland Protection Zones
Possible Wetland - 20 feet from upland
edge of wetland.
Possible Wetlands
6
What the Regulations Cover
Approval Process
· Exempt Activities - No Permit
· Limited Activities and Uses - Staff Approval
w/notice
· Reductions in Protection Zone - Staff
Approval w/notice
· Hardship Variance - Commission Approval
w/notice
Exempt Activities and Uses
No Permit Required
Landscaping
· Routine maintenance of existing vegetation
. Fire hazard prevention - handheld equipment
· Planting local native plant species - handheld
equipment
· Removing non-native, noxious and invasive
vegetation - handheld equipment
· Installing trails - unpaved
. Outdoor use area - pervious materials
7
50-50 Zone
Str..m Bank Protection Zonlt
1-.
50 rHt
--1
5D%
Native
600/,
Native
, -ii'"
26'
100% Native Planting.
Exempt Activities and Uses
No Permit Required
Existing Structures & Infrastructure
· Maintenance and some replacement of
nonconforming structures
· Maintenance and replacement of
nonconforming streets, driveways and
utilities with minimal disturbance
· Building previously approved
nonconforming driveways and buildings
8
Limited Uses and Activities
Land Use Application Required
Landscaping
· Enhancement and restoration projects
· Removing non-native, noxious and invasive
vegetation - power equipment
. Removing noxious or invasive vegetation with
herbicides in conjunction with restoration project
· Fire hazard prevention - power equipment
· Multi-year maintenance plans - removal of
noxious and invasive vegetation with herbicides
as a possibility
Limited Uses and Activities
Land Use Application Required
Building, Paving & Grading
. New public streets, bridges, trails and utilities
. New private streets, bridges, driveways and utilities
. Maintenance and replacement of nonconforming streets,
driveways and utilities with significant disturbance
. Installation of storm water treatment facilities
. Replacement of nonconforming structures that aren't
exempt
. Erosion control
. Flood control measures
Protection Zone Reductions and
Hardship Variances
(
9
Project History
Project Timeline
Phase I
. City Council Goal
· Resource Inventory
Phase II
· Technical Advisory Comt.
. City Council Goal
· Inventory Finalized
Phase III
· PC Study Sessions
· PC Public Hearings
2001
2003-2005
2004-2005
2005-2007
2007
2007
2008
10
Key Issues
Planning Commission Review
· Top of Bank/Center Line
· Nonconforming Structures and Uses
· Previously Approved Nonconforming
Driveways and Building Envelopes
· Landscape Maintenance
· Native Plant Species Requirement
· Outdoor Use Area
· Use of Herbicides for Noxious and
Invasive Plant Removal
Regulating Herbicide Use
· Current Proposal
- Removal of noxious or invasive plants
, In conjunction with restoration projects
. In conjunction with multi-year maintenance plan
- Cross reference land use permit requirement in Ch.
9.28 Pesticide Policy
· Original Ch. 18.63 Approach
- Prohibit use in water resource protection zones
- Cross reference prohibition in Ch. 9.28 Pesticide
Policy
· Remove from Ch. 18 (ALUO)
- Develop city-wide herbicide policy
Purpose of Update
11
Why are streams and wetlands
valuable natural resources?
· Flood control
· Water quality
· Water
temperature
· Fish and
wildlife habitat
· Community
character and
quality of life
Why update wetland, stream and
riparian corridor regulations?
· Further Protection for Wetlands, Streams and
Riparian Corridors
· Ashland Comprehensive Plan Goals and
Policies
· City Council Goal
· Ashland Storm Water Management Plan
· Statewide Planning Goal 5: Natural Resources,
Scenic and Historic Areas and Open Spaces
12
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Tom Marr comments on Pesticide policy
I am here to ask that you ban the use of all pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides and herbicides
on our publicly owned and maintained lands,
We may debate the toxicity of each individual chemical, please keep in mind that every banned
pesticide was once considered safe and !egal. The chemical companies invent new pesticides faster than
the government can ban them.
A brief historj of these dangerous and persistent toxic substances tells the story of how their
widespread use grew out of irresponsible agricultural practices, greed and misinformation. It began in
the South less than 100 years ago. \lJhen cotton was king and monoculture farming provided the ideal
conditions for a Boll Weevil epidemic. As the Boll Weevils destruction grew so did the bounty on it.
Southern States put out huge cash rewards for the death of the bol! weevil. DDT scooped up those huge
rewards and hit the ground running. DOT killed most of the weevils in the first application, The surviving
weevils reproduced and needed to be resprayed, within a few generations farmers sprayed and
resprayed to the point of killing the cotton itself with their pesticide.
DOT's use in this country grew into the 1960's until Rache! Carson's book, Silent Spring. By that time DOT
was found in human mother's milk and had driven the Bald Eagle to the brink of extinction,
ByDefinition these chemicals are killers. Herbicide equals homicide, pesticides equals genocide.
Many of these chemicals were created as weapons of war. The organophosphates, Malathion and its
variations were derived from nerve gas banned even as a weapon of war. The phenoxy herbicides such
at 245T and 240 were the main ingredients in Agent Orange, sprayed on Vietnam, where more than 120
new types of birth defects occurred and persist to this day. 240 can be purchased at your local grange
coop. Most laws and regulations amount to read and follow the label. Even these manufacturer written
labels say to keep the substances out of the watershed,
Today the problem is ever growing. In the last year alone studies have shown that pesticides interfere
with salmon's ability to navigate back to their native spawning grounds. Research shows a 100 percent
increase of Parkinson's disease for those exposed to pesticides. Most experts agree that pesticides play
a major role in colony collapse disorder plaguing bee pollutions worldwide.
In the meantime cancer, Alzheimer's, autism and immune disorders rates are skyrocketing. Our oceans,
rivers, streams and the fish in them have !evels of toxins often too high for humans to be exposed to.
We can do our part to solve this problem. Stop sending our hard earned local tax dollars to chemical
refiners in Texas and India,
Instead let's use our Ashland tax dollars to put local residents to work. When Lithia Park was first
started, planted and maintained, pesticides had not even been invented yet and look what grew.
Herbicide versus hand weeding is not apples to apples. Hand weeding is clean, complete and long-
lasting, ~''Jhi!e herbicide use leaves a toxic site and the dead fibers behind. Often weeds are the only
thing that will grow again on a sprayed site, creating an addictive cycle of respraying.
Ashland Parks does not use herbicides on turf, believing that strong grass will outcompete v.:eeds. This
same principal should govern all our public grounds.
Herbicide treatment has externalities that are often ignored in by acre cost comparisons. \,AJhen we
figure in the cost of monitoring, studying, liability insurance, equipment and certification for applicators
herbicides are quite costly.
One case of cancer or one birth defect blows any alleged cost savings.
After the disastrous fish kill by TID and the many la':,,'suits that followed, TID us now a community leader
in finding non-chemicals means of dealing with moss and vegetation management.
I ask the City of Ashland to set an example for the community and help us all live, work and play in a
healthy environment.
Sincerely,
Tom Marr
TO: ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
FR: JULIE NORMAN, Ashland resident and member of the Northwest Coalition for Pesticides
DT: Monday March 2, 2009
Julie Norman
59611elman St
Ashland, OR 97520-1144
RE: draft language in the Water Resource Protection Zone Ordinance allowing limited herbicide
applications along stream banks and in wetlands, to be enforced on all mapped riparian areas on
City properties, City Parks, and private properties.
Dear Council Members,
Please accept these informational documents and questions into the land use ordinance record.
I have included materials on:
- Ashland's existing herbicide policies
- list of pesticides/herbicides used in 2007 and 2008 by Ashland Parks Dept.
- descriptions of alternatives to chemicals and the successful Seattle strategy
- information on DEQ's program to identify Persistent Pollutants (including
70 pesticides/herbicides that represent 40% of Oregon's pollutant load)
I hope these documents are useful in your efforts to refine the riparian ordinance. . n I L~ ~
*** ~ f1
RELATED CITY HERBICIDE POLICIES:
1. 1996 City Pesticide Ordinance #2790 (AMC 9.28). See attached. This "integrated pest
management" (IPM) policy requires all Ashland departments and divisions to "reduce or
eliminate the use of and exposure to pesticides." Ashland Parks and Rec Dept. is exempt from
this ordinance and have their own similar policy (see below).
2. City Parks Division Policy on the Use of Pesticides (revised 5/14/03) by Don Todt. See attached.
Requires Parks Division to "minimize the use of pesticides."
3. Ashland School District restrictions on timing of chemical applications on school grounds
QUESTIONS:
1. Shouldn't any new herbicide policy build upon and be consistent with the City's 1996 "integrated
pest management" (IPM) strategy, particularly in terms of steadily "reducing or eliminating" pesticide
uses and exposures?
2. How will the selection criteria be developed for the list of "approved" streamside herbicides?
3. Is the herbicide language enforceable on private property?
ATTACHMENTS:
· 2005 City Parks Division Policy on the Use of Pesticides
· 1996 Ashland Pesticide Ordinance #2790 (Ashland Municipal Code 9.28)
· 2007/2008 Summary of Ashland Parks Dept. Pesticide Uses (submitted yearly to ODA).
· ad for weed-flaming equipment and natural, low-toxicity herbicides
· Ten Step to Pesticide-free Parks, How to Create Healthy Public Spaces in Your Community,
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides of Eugene
· Flame-Weeding: A Hot Alternative to Herbicides, Journal of Pesticide Reform (Spring 2003)
· Non-chemical Methods for Removing Unwanted Blackberry Plants, Journal Pesticide Reform
· Pesticide Use Reduction Strategy, City of Seattle, Office of Environmental Management
· 2009 "Persistent Pollutant Listfor Oregon DRAFl~" DEQ (comment period ends Mar. 27)
· 2008 white paper on "Emerging Contaminants, " Natl. Center for Cons. Science and Policy
>t
;
CITY OF ASHLAND
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
PESTICIDE POLICY
I. Department policy is to minimize the use of pesticides including but not limited to
herbicides, insecticides, and growth retardants.
a. OnlY' the safest, lowest toxicity' products available will be used, No "restricted use"
pesticides will be used.
b. Cultural methods will be relied upon to encourage high quality turf; no large scale
broadcast applications of "weed killers" on lawns.
c. Primarily species which do not require high inputs of pesticide will be used in
landscaping.
d. Staff will monitor pest populations and rely on biological control when appropriate
and effective.
e. No spraying within 15' of a playground facility.
II. Department policy is to retain on staff a minimum of one employee trained and
licensed, as an Oregon Certified Pesticide Applicator. No pesticides will be used
without a Certified Applicator on staff.
III. As designated by the department Director, the Certified Applicator is responsible for
overseeing and authorizing all pesticide use by Parks Division staff.
a. No employee will use or apply any pesticide without prior training.
b. No employee will use or apply any pesticide mechanically or by hand without
event specific authorization.
c. An annual review of policies and procedures regarding the use and application of
pesticides will be presented to staff. Attendance at the review is mandatory for
ail Parks Division staff.
IV. The Park Superintendent and Certified Applicator are the only two staff persons
authorized to purchase pesticides.
V. All pesticides will be stored in a safe, secure environment. The Park Superintendent
and Certified Applicator will have exclusive access to the area.
VI. If pesticides having a greater acute toxicity than table salt (LD 50 = 2,500) are
applied, the area of application will be posted for the duration of the re-entry time
specified on the pesticide label or MSDS sheet.
VII. Violation of any of these policies by Parks Division staff will be grounds for
disciplinary action.
Ashland, OR: 1996 Ordinance Limiting the Use of Pesticides
(posted on the Green Policy Website as a model policy for integrated pest management)
'-- Type: Ashland Municipal Code (AMe 9.28)
Status: Adopted via Ordinance #2790 in 1996
Webli"k:
9.28 Pesticide Policy
9.28.010 Policy Adoption
The pesticide policy set forth in this chapter is adopted for all departments and divisions of the City of Ashland.
This policy does not apply to the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department which is administered by the
Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission. The Ashland Parks and Recreation Department has a similar policy
in place. I .... ... ,
*- ~",. G~11&1> ,PST Mo,lA T .....'~
9.28.020 Purpose
This policy is designed to reduce the risk of illness or injury resulting from city employee and citizen exposure
to pesticides used in the course of performing city operations and also from the accidental exposure of
employees and other persons to such pesticides. The policy requires city workplace practices designed to reduce
or eliminate the use ot: and exposure to, pesticides.
9.28.030 Use of Pesticides ....
Use of pesticides, including but not limited to herbicides, insecticides and growth retardants, shall be eliminated I
l)y the city except as provided in this chapter.
A. Mechanical and cultural methods shall be utilized whenever practical for control of noxious vegetation and
pests. Practicality shall be determined by an Oregon Certified Pesticide Applicator and the respective
department head or the department head's designee. Worker safety and terrain shall be among the factors
considered in this judgement.
B. When mechanical and cultural methods are not practical, only the safest, lowest toxicity products available
shall be used. No "restricted use" pesticides shall be used.
C. Primarily, ~ecies which do not require high inputs of herbicide shall be used in landscaping.
D. City staff shall monitor noxious vegetation and pest populations and rely on biological control when
appropriate and effective.
9.28.040 Application of Pesticides
All pesticides shall be. applied by, or under the supervision ot: an Oregon Certified Pesticide Applicator. The
certified applicator shall be responsible for overseeing and authorizing all pesticide use by city staff.
A. If pesticides with active ingredients having a greater acute toxicity than table salt (LD 50 = 2,500) are
applied, the area of application shall be posted in advance and for the duration of the re-entry time specified on
the pesticide label or MSDS sheet. For those application areas within fifty feet of the property line of a
t"esidence, written notice shall be given to such residence by mail or personally delivered.
B. Effort shall be made to determine the ill 50 of inert ingredients prior to application of a pesticide. If
pesticides with inert ingredients having a greater acute toxicity than table salt (LD 50 = 2,500) are applied, the
area of application shall be posted in advance and for the duration of the re-entry ~me specifi~d on the ~esticide
label or MSDS sheet. For those application areas within fifty feet of the property tme of a resIdence, wntten
notice shall be given to such residence by mail or personally delivered.
- .~. Consideration shall be given to the possible short and long-term adverse impacts of the application upon
- humans, animals and plants of the proposed pesticide and of any chemical alternatives.
D. Different pesticides shall not be mixed.
E. No application shall be made when wind, rain, temperature or other environmental conditions would likely
cause the pesticide to drift off target or onto adjoining property.
F. A written record shall be kept of all pesticide applications. Such records are to include the following
information:
1. Name of applicator and date and time of application.
2. Substance used and location applied..
3. Mixing ratio.
4. Total amount used.
5 . Weather conditions.
6. Other pertinent information.
7. Name of certified applicator and department head who approved application.
9.28.050 Training and Authorization
~. No city employee shall use or apply any pesticide without prior training. Training shall include effective and
- Jtemative methods of pest control as well as safety considerations. The city administrator shall designate a city
employee to be responsible for the creating and overseeing a training and education program.
B. No city employee shaH use or apply any pesticide mechanically or by hand without approval of the
employee's department head or the department head's designee and event specific authorization from a certified
applicator.
9.28.060 Purchase of Pesticides
Pesticides shall only be purchased by the City Purchasing Agent after consultation with a certified applicator
and the approval of the respective department head or the department head's designee.
9.28.070 Storage of Pesticides
AU pesticides shall be stored in a safe, secure environment. The purchasing agent, certified applicators and
department heads shall have exclusive access to the storage area.
9.28.080 Annual Review
An annual review of policies and procedures regarding the use and application of pesticides shall be conducted
at the department head level. Attendance at the review is mandatory for all city personnel who apply pesticides.
9.28.090 Violation of Policy
Violation of any of any portion of this policy shall be grounds for disciplinary action.
--II
.etrieved from
"
_ Oregon Department of .LL\griculture
PURS
Pesticide Use Reporting
System
ASIlLIIN.b PIIJrt$
7i ~/('~ ~ LA f1'I /filiI ~
Reporting System 07 ~ 0 s:
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Use Site Category ~
Date
.2\) \) ~. 11- Urban/General Site with
17- Public
2008 Outdoor I<.cesS
10- Urban/General Site with
31. Outdoor Public
2008 Ac.cess
09- Urban/General Site with
30- Public
2008 Outdoor Ac.cess
08- Urban/General Site with
31- Public
20Q8 Outdoor Ac.cess
07- Urban/General. Site with
31- Public
2008 Outdoor Ac.cess
06- Urban/General Site with
30- Outdoor Public
2008 Access
05- Urban/General Site with
., . Public
, I - Outdoor
2008 Access
n" Site with
~.,- Urban/General
30- Outdoor Public
2008 At:.cess
03- Urban/General Site with
31- Public
2008 Outdoor Iv:.cess
02- Urban/General Site with
28- OUtdoor Public
2008 Access
01- UrbanI General Site with
16- Outdoor Public
2008 Access
I 1- Urban/General slte with
1JJG7 30- Outdoor Public
2007 Access
1 C- Site with
3 i- UrbanI General Public
Outdoor Access
Urban f Generat Site with
Ol.Jtdoor Public
ACCESS
Urbani GCltera.l. Site with
Outdoor Pubtic
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Display 20
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Hot
97520
Location Product(s) Used
MAKAZE
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RtVERDALE RAZOR HERBlCIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMfR(iENCE, tMJ<A1L7 FINALE
HERBICIDE, ULLY MILlER BlACKBERRY & BRUSH KILLER, AQUAMASTER HERBICIDE
RIVERDAl..E RAZOR HERBICIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE7 MAJ<AZE7 ANAlE
HERBlCIDEp UllY MIllER BlACK8ERRY & BRUSH KIllER, ORTHO ROSEPRtoE ROSE 8:
SHRUB DISEASE CONTROl CONCENTRATE
RlVERDALE RAZOR HERBICIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE, MJJ<AZE, FINAlE
HERBICIDE, UtlY MlUER BlACK8ERRY 8: BRUSH KILLER, ORTHO ROSEPRlDE ROSE &
SHRUB DISEASE CONTROl CONCBffRATE, ORTHO WEED B GOO CHICKWEED, ClOVER 8:
OXAUS KIllER CONCENTRATE, CONCENTRATE WORRY FREE BRAND WEED & GRASS
KIllER
RlVERDALE RAZOR HERBlCIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE, MAKAZE, FINALE
HERBlCI~ ULLY MlUER BlACKBERRY & BRUSH KIlLER, ORTHO ROSEPRlDE ROSE &.
SHRUB DISEASE CONTROl CONCENTRATE, CUTRINE-PL~ BAYER ADV 12-MONTH TREE &.
SHRUB INSECT CONTROl CONCENTRATE
RIVERDALE RAZOR HERBIODE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE7 MAKAZE, ANAlE
HERBICI~ lILLY MIllER BlACKBERRY 8: BRUSH KILlER, ORTHO ROSEPRlDE ROSE &.
SHRUB DISEASE CONTROL CONCBffRATE7 CUTRlNE-PlUS
RlVERDALE RAZOR HERBJCIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE, MAKA7.E, ANAlE
HERBICIDE, lILLY MILlER BlACK8ERRY & BRUSH KIllER, ORTHO ROSEPRIDE ROSE 8:
SHRUB DISEASE CONTROL CONCENTRATE
RlVERDAlE RAZOR HERBICIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE7 MAKAZE, ANAlE
HERBICIDE, UllY MlUER SULFUR DUST, ORTHO MALATIilON PlUS INSECT SPRAY
CONCENTRA~ SAFER BRAND INSECT KlWHG SOAP CONCENTRATE
RlVERDALE RAZOR HERBICIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGEHCE7 MAKA7E, ORTHO
WEED B GON CHICKWEED, CLOVER 8: OXAUS KILlER CONCENTRATE
CASORON 4G7 RlVERDALE RAZOR HERBICIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE7 LILLY
MIlLER POLYSUL SUMMER 8: DORMANT SPRAY CONCENTRATE, AQUAMASTER HERBICIDE
GREENVlEW PREEN GARDENS &. BEDS
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06- Urban/General Site with
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05- UrbanI General Site with
3 i- Outdoor Public 97520
2007 Access
Q4- UrbanI General Site with
30- Indoor Public 91520
2007 Access
03- UrbanlGeneral Site with
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2007 Access
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ORTHO WEED B GOO CHICKWEED, ClOVER 8: OXAUS KIllER CONCENTRATE
AQ.UAMASTER HERBlClDE7 RlVERDALE RAZOR PRO HERBICIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM
POSTEMERGENCE, ULl Y MIllER BlACKBERRY &. BRUSH KlllE~ ROUNDUP UL TRAM.c\X II
HERBICIDE
ULL Y MILLER BLACKBERRY &. BRUSH KIlLER, PREEN GARDEN WEED PREVENTER,
RlVERDALE RAZOR PRO HERBICIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE, CUTRINE-PLUS
ALGAECIDE/HERBICIDE, ROUNDUP UlTRAMAX 1\ HERBICIDE, TRAN5UNE, FINALE
HERBiCIDE, ORTHO ROSEPRlOE ROSE &. SHRUB DiSEASE CONTROL CONCENTRATE
ROUNDUP ULTRAMAX Ii HERBiCIDE, ULL Y MILLER BlACKBERRY ft BRUSH KILLER. FREE;-,
GARDg.~~~E~~ PRE~0:~.:. R!VE~?~L~ R.-A}9R,.?,R~ H~~BJ~l~E;BRS(::P ,S?r~~U!~r...-;-,
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ULLY MIllER BlACKBERRY & BRUSH KIllER, ORTHO ROSEPRIDE ROSE & SHRUB DISEASE
CONTROL CONCENTRA~ ROUNDUP UlTRAMAX II HERBICIDE, RIVERDALE RAZOR PRO :
HERBICIDE-BROAD SPECTRUM POSTEMERGENCE, GlY STAR ORIGiNAl
UllY MIlLER BlACKBERRY 8; BRUSH KJ~ ROUNDUP UlTRAMAX II HERBICIDE, ORTHO
ROSEPRIDE ROSE 8: SHRUB DISEASE CONTROl CONCENTRA~ Gl Y STAR ORlGlNAl7 00.
ROUNDUP ORIGINAL MAX HERBlODE, GORDOtfS PRO T 10 EMBARK TURF &. ORNAMENTAl Edi
GROWTH REGULATOR
ORTHO ROSEPRIDE ROSE a SHRUB DISEASE CONTROL CONCENTRATE, Gl Y STAR
ORIGINAl, SAFER BRAND o-INSEcnODAL SOAP CONCENTRATE, CASORON 4G
DlCHlOBENIL WEED AND GRASS KI~ AQUAMASTER HERBla~ ROUNDUP UlTRAMAX 00.
II HERBICI~ 0Rlli0 WEED B GON CHICKWEED, ClOVER 8: OXAUS KIllER Edi
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(40 Ibs), Adjustable fuel-regulating valve,
which you turn with one hand while holding
the torch with the other. We strongly
recommend the Flamer Squeeze-Valve & Pilot
at right,
180,000 BW HOME & GARDEN FLAMER
Torch is 210" long (including shaft).
PWCS02 (6/b),....,............... $69.99
400,000 BTU HEAVY DUTY fLAMER
AvTorch is 33" Itmg, including shaft,
PWCS01 (5/b)........,.,................. $79.99
BACKPACK FLAMER
Set-up includes a 400,000 BTU torch, 3-gallon fuel
cylinder, hose and fittings, and backpack frame.
pwC511 (29IbJ. ~c.. ""~'~'~~~~:', ..,.... .J1~~.o.O
More available online: www.GroWOrpnk.ceID
\ ' . H'h' 'd'
j->dternanve left leI. es
WEED z.AP'nt.~
-" ,._"---,.',,,.......""~-....._,~"""- .,-."'.""~',..,....'"'-........"--..'<.""~-,_.,,...;;-~,,....~-,~...-.~ ,
All natural, broad spectrum,
nonselective, conract herbicide
that when foliarly applied
"zaps" small broad leaf and
grassy weeds. Best results when
applied to actively growing
emerged green vegetation six
inches in height or less.
Controls both annual and
perennial plants, but does not
translocate, and only affects
plams actually coat~d with the
spray solution, Conrains 90% clove and cinnamon oils.
Mix 4 oz per gal water, or 3 gal/lOO gal water per acre.
PWC230 QUART (3Ib)................... .$29.99
PWC23S GALLON (II/b)................. .$79.99
4-7. . . . . . . .. 10CM. off 8+. . . . . . . . . . . 20CM. off
." ~'>-'-~"'" ~;<",..<-,-~~. _.-.....:,-.-cc.,..-,;.-'-,.,i..-..
..""', ~;i;[;(6~';:::~;" ,"~;;,
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IQIr-,j I'-
Nonie End.,~,...)-J Tank End
Worth every penny! Add this to your Hand-held or
Backpack Flamer to regulate fuel release and to help keep
your tank from freezing (not for the Sievert Flamer). Due
to the relationship of temperature to pressure and volume,
propane will freeze if you use a lot of fuel at once or if you
let the fuellevcl drop too low. Squeeze valve allows you to
release fuel as desired, while the pilot keeps the flamer lit,
with minimum fuel OUtput.
PWCSI~(l.5 /b)..:. . ..............,.... .$49.99
All-natural, non-selective herbicide
for broad leaf and grass weeds.
Active ingredient includes clove oil,
other ingredients include vinegar
and citric acid. 100%
biodegradable, breaking down into
inert ingredients once in the soil.
Use around fences, sidewalks,
patios, trees and shrubs. Spray
directly Onto plams umil wet.
Perennials may require 2 sprayings.
Mix I gallon of concentrate with
2-3 gallons of water. Comrols
weeds such as chickweed, plantain,
dandelion, pigweed, oxalis,
mustard, foxtail, morning glory
and more. Best results occur when
spraying young actively growing
weeds in spring/summer on a warm, sunny day, but it may
be sprayed year round. This pest coorrol is exempt from
registration and reporting under Federal & California
EPA standards and therefore requires no Pest 10#,
PWC212 'h GALLON, READY-TO-USE (5 /b).. .$16.99
6-11 . . . . . . .. 10CM. off 12 +. . . . . . . . . . 20% off
PWC211 2.5 GALLON CONCENTRATE ~
(28 /b) 2 can ship togerlm ..................... .$79.99
4-7. . . . . . . .. 10CM. off 8+. . . . . . . . . . .201MJ off
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Ten Steps to Pesticide-free Parks:
How to Create Healthy Public
Spaces in Your Community
Arbor Lodge is one of Portland, Oregon's first pesticide-free parks.
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
PO Box 1393
Eugene, OR 97440
NCAP IS A RESOURCE FOR YOU
The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) can help your group to
strategize and create a plan. We can also provide you with helpful materials. This toolkit is meant
to cover the basics and provide you with most of the materials you need, but you can contact us at
(541) 344-5044 for additional guidance and support.
NCAP's website has a number of valuable documents, including:
1) "Pesticide-free Parks: It's Time!"
2) "Pesticide-free Parks Programs in the Northwest"
3) "Non-herbicidal Weed Control Strategies Implemented by City Parks Staff in the Northwest,"
a series of reports.
All of the documents are available at www.pesticide.orglpfp.html
NCAP may also be able to email our members and other contacts in your city when your efforts
are new to help you gather support.
NCAP wants this resource to be useful for groups that are working to establish pesticide-free
parks. We welcome your feedback on the steps that worked well and where we could improve the
information here. We especially want to know about your experiences establishing pesticide-free
parks. Contact us at (541) 344-5044 or email us at pesticidefreeparks@pesticide.org.
You are making a difference! Thank you for your commitment to creating a pesticide-free
world!
JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/WINTER 2006 · VOl. 26, NO.4
. ALTERNATIVES
FLAME-WEEDING: A HOT
ALTERNATIVE TO HERBICIDES
and home garden usage.
Flame-Weeding in Agriculture
Flame-weeding as we know it has
been around since the mid-1800s. The
first agricultural flame-weeder, or flam-
er, was patented in 1852.2 However, it
wasn't until the 1940s that flame-weed-
ing became recognized as an effective
tool in such crops as cotton, sugar
cane, and com.2 By 1965, there were
roughly 25,000 flame weeders in com-
mercial use, but as herbicides became
popular, flame-weeding nearly died
out. By 1990, flame-weeding was in use
on approximately 10,000 acres around
the U.S. 3 In recent years, with the re-
newed interest in non-chemical weed
control, gardeners and farmers are tak-
ing another look at flame-weeding.
Non-Agricultural Uses
Flame-weeders have also found favor
among home-owners as
a maintenance tool for
around the yard and
driveway. Flame weed-
ers are great tools to
use around fence lines,
around brick and other
garden paths, and on
gravel driveways or in
driveway cracks. How-
ever, don't use them
around the lawn; they
will leave brown burnt
spots that aren't very
attractive! Parks depart-
ments are using them to
maintain cracks in side-
walks and parking lots,
around sign posts, and
to weed baseball fields.
What Is Flame-
Weeding?
Flame-weeding uses
the heat generated from
one or more propane
BY BRAD COHEN
S inee the beginning of dviliza-
tion; fire has been a tool for managing
vegetative growth in the landscape.
One source lists eleven major uses of
fire by Native Americans: for hunting,
crop management, improving growth
and yields, fireproofing, insect collec-
tion for consumption, pest manage-
ment, warfare, "economic extortion,"
clearing areas for travel, felling trees,
and clearing riparian areas.! However, it
took quite some time to figure out how
to control fire for modern agricultural
.
Brad Cohen is an intern with NCAP. He is cur-
renlly finishing his B.S., with a focus in Sustainable
Agriculture at Evergreen State College in Olympia,
Washington.
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Flame-weeders are very effective for weeding hardy perennial beds,
as well as for gravel paths and cracks in driveways.
burners to kill weeds.4
Flame-weeders can be either hand-
held with the propane tank carried
in a cart or in a backpack, or tractor-
mounted. They all work in the same
way. Intense heat sears the leaves of the
weeds, causing the cell sap to expand,
damaging cell walls. This causes leaves
to wilt and prevents water from moving
from the roots to the leav~s. In a short
period of time, the plant withers and
dies.s The plant is not actually burned.
How to Flame-Weed in One
Easy Lesson
Flame-weeding, like other forms of
weeding, must be done in a timely
manner. It is very important to catch the
weeds at a young state when the cotyle-
dons, the first true leaves, are first begin-
ning to show, usually when the plant is
one to two inches tall. Broadleaf plants
are much more susceptible to flaming
then grasses, because of the thinner,
larger leaves. To be effective, the flam-
ing wand is slowly passed three to six
inches above the target weeds.2 An ol:r
servable "sag" in the weed indicates that
it has been heated long enough.
Plants do not die instantly. In fact,
there may be little noticeable difference
after treatment for a couple of hours,
even up to a day. Remember, it is not
necessary to bum the plants to the
point of ashes; the sag indicates that
the weed has been killed.
Please be very careful when flame-
weeding. Make sure to check for fire
bans in dry areas. Always wear protec-
tive clothing: gloves, pants, and closed-
toe shoes.
Three Methods of Use
There are three basic ways of using
flame-weeders in gardens and on farms:
selectively "spot-flaming," non-selec-
tively treating entire beds, and as a treat-
ment before planting. With spot flaming,
specific weeds are targeted and flamed
directly. 1bis method is generally used
when the desirable plants or crop are
big enough to be readily distinguished
from the weeds.
Non-selective flaming is used when
both the weeds and desired plants are
at a similar height. With certain hardier
plants such as com, onion, and garlic,
the tops in their early stages of develop-
6
NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP
P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440 / (541)344-5044 / www.pesticide.org
JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/WINTER 2006 · VOl. 26, NO.4
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ment can be flamed without doing any
lasting damage.7 The plants may tempo-
rarily die back, but should recover with-
out reducing yields while the adjacent,
less hardy weeds are destroyed.
Before seeds are planted, or after
seeds, have been planted and before
they have emerged from the ground,
flame-weeding can be used to destroy
the first emerging round of weeds
when they are very young. This helps
cut down on the weed pressure the
newly emerging crop seeds will ex-
perience. Flaming can also be used to
reduce weed pressure in garden beds
that are being readied for transplants.4
Where to Find Them
Flame-weeders can often be found at
your local garden or farm supply store
and are also available online. A small
number of companies manufacture and
sell flame-weeding products.6 Expect to
pay less than $100 for a model suitable
for home use. If the price seems high,
maybe you could chip in and buy one
with several friends and neighbors.
Advantages
One other big plus for flame-
weeding is that it is easier on your
body, cutting down on the amount
SOME PERSONAL ExPERIENCES
Megan Kemple, Public Education
Coordinator at NCAP, has been us-
ing the Flame Engineering "Weed
Dragon"7 for several years around
her yard and loves it.s It cleans
up weedy areas quickly, including
driveway cracks, garden paths, gar-
den beds and the edges of hardier
perennial beds. Megan has also
used it in pestidde-free parks in
Portland, Oregon. It makes quick
work of large areas when helping
hands are few. Flame-weeders work
very well on young dandelions and
young grass, though not so well on
ivy, blackberries, or hardier plants,
according to Megan.
Melissa Barker, farm manager at
the Evergreen State College in Olym-
pia, Washington, uses flame-weeders
in the spring and fall for bed prepa-
ration and stale beds.9 She also uses
flaming in large open areas, and
on the tops of garden beds before
plant emergence. Barker finds flame-
weeders most effective on broadleaf
weeds and believes that the flame
weeder to be a great value in that
it rarely uses more than five gallons
of propane in a year.
Jim Barngrover, the Agriculture
and Food Program Manager for
the Alternative Energy Resources
Organization of Helena, Montana,
considers flame-weeding the best
option for some situations. He states,
"Flame-weeding carrots just prior to
emergence at about seven to nine
days after seeding has worked ex-
ceedingly well at removing the early
germinating weed seeds in the carrot
rows."lO
The author of this article, Brad
Cohen, also has considerable expe-
rience with flame-weeders on farms
and has used them to create a very
manageable weed control program
routine in conjunction with hoes,
and the most basic tool of all, his
hands. With a flame-weeder as the
main tool, and a hoe as back-up,
two people (we had a little bit of
help throughout the season) were
able to mostly maintain five acres
of vegetables, herbs, and flowers
in London, Oregon, at the Territo-
rial Seed Co. seed trial farm. A hoe
was used to catch those few weeds
the flame-weeder missed. In gen-
eral, hoeing may be better suited
for weeding in-between rows and
areas that may be too small for the
use of a flame-weeder. When you
find weeds that are too close to
your crops to hoe, then it's time to
hand weed.
of time you need to spend bent over
hoeing or hand weeding. However, the
backpack flame-weeder is quite heavy,
so be careful when using it. Whatever
method you use, staying ahead of the
weeds is key to keeping your garden
and property at its best.
Flame-weeders are very efficient
tools when used correctly. Used along
with a hoe, there should be no need to
ever use herbiddes in the small farm,
garden or around the yard. ....
References
1. Williams, G.w. 2003. References on the Ameri-
can Indian use of fire in ecosystems. USDA
Forest Service, Washington, D.C. http://www.
blm.gov/heritage/docum/Fire/Bibliography%20-
%20Indian%20Use%200f0Al20Fire.pdf.
2. Daar, Sheila. 1987. Update: Flame-weeding on
European farms. IPM Practitioner. 11(3):1-4.
3. Heinlger, R.W. 1998. Controlling weeds in organic
crops through the use of flame weeders. Organic
Farming Research Foundation. www.ofrf.orglpub-
lications/Grant%20reports/94.43.Heiniger.pdf.
4. Grubinger, V. 2004. Flaming stale seedbeds for
weed control. Univ. of Vermont Extension. www.
uvm.eduMvegandberrylfactsheetslflameweeding.
htmt.
5. Rifai, N. 1997. Flame-weeding in organic veg-
etable farms. Nova Scotia Agricultural College.
www.nsac.ns.caIeng/researchJflame_weedinLor-
ganic_ veLfarms.htm.
6. Diver, S. 2006. Flame weeding for vegetable
crops. Has a good list of flame-weeder manu-
factures and supplies. http://attra.ncatorg/attra-
publflameweedveg.html.
7. Available from Flame Engineering Inc., La Crosse,
Kansas. Their "weed burners" range in price from
$55-$90. www.FlameEngineering.com.
8. Kemple, M. 2006. Personal Communication. No-
vember 9.
9. Barker, M. 2006. E-mail interview. November 8.
10. Bamgrover, J. 2006. Email interview. November
7.
NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP
P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440/ (541)344-5044 / www.pesticide.org
7
JOURNALOF PESTICIDE REFORM/SPRING 2003. VOL.23. NO.1
. ALTERNATIVES
NONCHEMlCAL METHODS FOR REMOVING
UNWANTED BIACKBERRY PLANTS
BY CAROLINE COX
Many Northwesterners have
conflicting attitudes about wild black-
berries. A handful of ripe berries or a
piece of fresh blackberry pie is a
scrumptious treat. On the other hand,
it's easy to hate the brambles that take
over a back fence or a creek bed.
If you decide to get rid of unwanted
blackberries, you'll be faced with a
resilient and thorny plant. It's not tme
that removal of these plants "must rely
on foliage-applied herbicide treat-
ments. "1 With a little persistence you
can remove unwanted blackberries
without using chemical poisons.
Basic Biology
The common weedy blackberry in
the Pacific Northwe:-;t is the Himalayan
blackberry, Ruhus discolor. Despite its
name, it is a native of Europe. It is
widespread in southern Briti:-;h Colum-
bia, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and
northern California and is also common
.
Caroline Cox is JPR's editor.
clt
in the northeast V.S.2 It thrives in dis-
turbed moist areas and at all eleva-
tions up to 5,000 feet.3
Blackberry branches, called cane:-;,
are known for their stout thom:-;. Canes
are biennial, producing lateral branches
which bear fruit in their second year.2
Himalayan blackberrie:-; are robust.
They can be 10 feet tall and their canes
can grow as much as 20 feet in a
season. Trailing canes can root where
they contact the soil, producing "dense,
impenetrable thickets.,,2
At the base of a blackberry cane is
an irregularly shaped crown. Roots
extend from this crown, and have been
recorded up to 30 feet 10ng!4
Blackberry seeds are transported by
birds and mammals that eat the fmit.
Seeds can remain viable in the soil for
several years."
New plants can also develop from
crowns and underground stems.1
There are several native blackberry
species in the Northwest.3
Focus on Desirable Plants
Start a blackberry removal project
by thinking about what plants you
want in the area that's now blackber-
ries. Planting desirable seeds or nursery
fitock once the berry plants are re-
moved is often critical.
Blackberry removal techniques are
site specific. What works well in one
site might not be compatible or effec-
tive at a different site. Choose a tech-
nique that fits in with your goals for
the site after the blackberries are gone.
Don't Get Discouraged!
Many of the characteristics of the
Himalayan blackberry make this plant
difficult to remove. Don't get discour-
aged when you tackle a blackberry
removal project without herbicides.
Remember that, according to the Uni-
versity of California, "blackberry plants
usually regrow following herbicide a p-
plication."l All techniques for remov-
ing blackberries require persistence.
Plan to follow up your removal work.
Don't Forget Disposal
All blackberry removal techniques
(except grazing) will leave you with dead
or dying plant material, most of it thorny.
Before you start, figure out how you
will cope with this material.
In an urban setting, your own com-
post pile is a good solution. Alterna-
tively, find out if your community
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Blackberries' ability to resprout from crowns and roots, their abundant seed production, and their thorns make them a difficult plant to manage.
10
NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP
P. O. BOX 1 393, E U G ENE, 0 REG 0 N 97440 / (541) 344 - 5 0 4 4
JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SPRING 2003. VOL. 23. NO.1
offers a composting program, or if a
local business accepts yard waste for
composting. Then decide how to
bundle and transport your material.
In natural areas, the waste material
can be piled and left to decompose.
Sprouting from these piles is rare, and
the piles will disappear relatively
quickly.6 Smaller amounts of blackberry
stems and crowns can be piled on
logs, or hung from trees to dry out.o
Dress for Success
Whatever removal technique you
choose, protect yourself from thorns.
Leather gloves, sturdy boots, a long
sleeved shirt, and jeans or other tough
pants are all essential.
Removal techniques
Mowing and cutting: One tech-
nique for removing unwanted berries
is mowing or cutting. "Cut back the
vines to ground level," recommends
Oregon State University extension
weed scientist Jed Colquhoun, "espe-
cially in the spring when the plant is
most actively growing. Cutting vines
continually back will eventually kill the
plant, although it may take some
time."7 If you're trying to turn a black-
berry patch into lawn this is an ideal
technique. The repeated mowing that
your lawn requires, along with the
competition from grasses, will kill the
blackherry plants. You'll probably want
to cut and remove the stems and leaves
of good-sized plants before you mow
for the first time. In a small area,
loppers or weed whackers can substi-
tute for a mower.
Covering the soil after cutting or
mowing can be an appropriate way to
kill roots and crowns. A thick dark
material w:n keep light from reaching
new sprouts from roots or crowns so
they can't grow,H Use this technique
to transfonn, for example, a blackberry
patch into next year's garden.
Digging: Digging out blackberry
crowns is another effective removal
technique. The Nature Conservancy
calls digging hlackberries "a slow but
sure way of destroying"9 this plant.
This technique, which specifically tar-
gets blackberries, is useful in areas
where preserving the neighboring veg-
etation is important.
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Goat Grazing: Goats have a long
history of use for blackberry control,
particularly in Australia and New
Zealand where they have been w.,ed
since the 1920:.;;. Goats eat blackber-
ries readily, and seem to prefer them
over other plants.IO An economic
analysis in Australia showed that nm-
ning goats on a blackberry-infested
pasture was cheaper than using her-
bicides to manage the berries.u Clearly
goats are not suitable in all locations,
but in pastures they may be an excel-
lent option. Ufo;e of goats could also
be considered in firebreak.,,12 utility
rights of way, and other similar sites.
Conclusion
Many people in the Pacific North-
west :.;;ympathize with the Oregon resi-
dent who reputedly said, "If we all
left the valley, in three years Hima-
1ayan Blackberry would prevent us
from getting back in,"2 However, with
an understanding of the biology of
this weed and a little persistence, it is
not difficult to manage blackberries
without pesticides. +
References
1. University Of California Agriculture and Natural
Resources. 2002. Wild blackberries. Pest Notes
Publ. 7434. www.ipm.ucdavis.edu.
2. Oregon State Univ. Horticulture Dept. Undated.
Landscape plants: Images, identification, and in-
formation. Vol. 3. http://oregonstate.edu/deptl
Idplants/rudis.htm.
3. Ertter, B. 1993. Rubus. In The Jepson manual:
Higher plants of California, ed. J.C. Hickman.
Berkeley: University of California Press.
4. Amor, R.L. 1974. Ecology and control of blackberry
(Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) Weed Res. 14: 231-238.
5. Brinkman, KA 1974. Rubus L: Blackberry,
raspberry. In Seeds of woody plants in the
United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 450.
C.S. Schopmeyer, ed. Washington, D.C.: Forest
Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Pp. 738-743.
6. Interview with D. Kruse and P. Hamilton, Friends
of Tryon Creek. Portland, OR. Feb. 5,2003
7. Oregon State Univ. Extension. Undated. Black-
berries take time and persistence to control.
Gardening Information. www.eesc.orst.edu/
agcommwebfile/garden/F ruitJblackberries. htm!.
8. Drliik. T. 1996. Stumps and brambles. Common
Sense Pest Control 9:21.
9. The Nature Conservancy. 1989. Elemental stew-
ardship abstract for Rubus discolor (Rubus
procerus), Himalayan blackberry. http://
tncweeds. ucdavis.ed u/esadocs. htm!.
10. AgResearch Crown Research Institute. 1998.
Goats for weed control. AgFACT No. 240.
www.agresearch.cri.nz/ag r /p ubs/agfact/pdf/
240goatsforweedcontrol.pdf.
11. Vera. D.T. and P.J. Holst. 1979. Using goats to
control blackberries and briars. Agricultural Ga-
zette of New South Wales 90; 11-13.
12. Kiester, E. 2001. Getting their goats. Smithsonian
Magazine (October). www.smithsonianmag.si.edu.
NORTHWEST COALITION FOR AL TERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP
P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440 I (541)344-5044
r/
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Removing blackberry crowns is the key to a
successful digging technique .
In Oregon's Tryon Creek Natural
Area, enthusiastic teams of volunteers
led by two dedicated coordinators are
successfully removing blackberries
from large areas using this method.
Volunteers (nearby residents, employee
teams from a local utility, and county
community service crews) provide the
labor. According to coordinator Dave
Kruse, effective digging doesn't take
special techniques. He tells the volun-
teers to dig out the crown and tells
them they don't need to worry about
all the little roots. Generally, they have
found that persistence determines suc-
cess. They don't clear areas that they
don't have time to maintain. They go
back about a year after the original
dig and remove any new plants. Typi-
cally the number of blackberries at
that point is about 1/4 of the original
amount, but they are easier to dig he-
cause they don't have large crowns.
After that work is done, they find they
only have to check on an area about
once every three years. They also plant
native conifers in newly-cleared areas,
since blackberries don't thrive in shady
areas. In four years, the volunteers
have taken care of most of the black-
berries in half of the 645 acre park.6
Digging blackberries doesn't require
any tools other than an ordinary shovel
or spade.<l However. some diggers
have found a claw mattock useful. The
"claw" pulls out plants like a claw on
a hammer pulls out nailsY
11
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It is the policy of the City of Seattle to promote environmentally sensitive landscape pest
and vegetation management by phasing out the use of the most hazardous pesticides
and reducing overall pesticide use while preserving landscape assets and protecting the
health and safety of the public and our employees. The following strategy describes
how the City will achieve these goals and establishes pesticide reduction targets and
timelines.
Background
The City of Seattle's Environmental Management Program was developed in 1999 to
promote environmental stewardship in City operations. The pesticide use reduction
strategy is an outgrowth of two policies developed under that program. The Landscape
and Grounds Management policy promotes the design, construction and maintenance
of City landscapes in a way that protects and enhances the region's natural resources
and public health. The Landscape and Grounds Management Guidelines were
developed to implement that policy, including promoting the use of Integrated Pest
Management (IPM), which favors the use of pest prevention/tolerance over control.
It is the City's policy to reduce the toxicity and amount of hazardous materials used in
City operations. The Chemical Use Policy sets forth a framework for evaluating
hazardous materials used by the City and prioritizing products for phase-out and
replacement with less hazardous alternatives.
Regional Integrated Pest Management Initiative
The listing of Puget Sound Chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act has
heightened awareness of the impact common practices have on the environment.
Recent studies documenting the presence of pesticides in area streams and effects of
pesticides on salmon point to the need for public agencies to serve as models of
environmental stewardship in landscape management.
Representatives from local jurisdictions in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties
developed a model Tri-County IPM Policy and Guidelines in support of the goal of
reducing the potential impact of pesticide use on threatened and endangered species.
This pesticide use reduction strategy is consistent with the Tri-County Policy and
Guidelines.
Strategy Approach
The two main components of this strategy are (1) to eliminate the use of the most
hazardous pesticides (as defined below) and (2) to achieve a 30% reduction in overall
pesticide use. The following paragraphs discuss the approach to achieving these goals.
City of Seattle Pesticide Strategy
Office of Environmental Management
1
Eliminatina use of the most hazardous pesticides
Based on the general criteria in the Chemical Use Policy, pesticide-specific review
criteria were developed. A hazard assessment was then conducted on the pesticides
used by the City to prioritize products for phase-out. Products were categorized into
three tiers ranging from greatest potential hazard -Tier 1 to least -Tier 3. New products
considered for use will undergo the same analysis and product tier designations will be
re-evaluated, as additional information becomes available.
Products meeting any of the following criteria were placed in Tier 1.
Tier 1 Criteria
Products assigned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
Hazard Category-I: Signal word DANGER appears on label
* Restricted use pesticides - use of the product is restricted to certified pesticide
applicators (except aquatic herbicides 1)
* Products that cannot be disposed of because of dioxin contamination
* Products with active ingredient on the state list of acutely dangerous wastes (P
list- Washington State Dangerous Waste Regulations)
* Products with known, likely, or probable carcinogens as active ingredients (as
identified by U.S. EPA, State of California, National Toxicology Program, or
International Agency for Research on Cancer)
* Products with reproductive toxicants as active ingredients (California Proposition
65 list)
* Products with known or probable endocrine disruptors as active ingredients
(State of Illinois EPA)
* Products labeled as highly toxic or extremely toxic to birds, aquatic species,
bees, or wildlife. (Exceptions for products used only indoors; exception to bee
toxicity will be needed for products intended to control bees, wasps, or hornets)
* Products that are persistent in the environment - defined as those with active
ingredients with soil half-lives greater than 100 days. (Possible exception for
products used only indoors.)
* Products that move readily in the environment and may impact ground or surface
water - defined as those with active ingredients with mobility ratings high or very
high or with specific label warnings about groundwater hazard. (Possible
exception for products used only indoors.)
1 Note: aquatic herbicides are not included in this criterion because all aquatic
applications in the state are restricted because of the need for a permit rather than
because of particular properties of the chemicals involved.
...v /' Target: Tier 1 herbicides and insecticides have been targeted as first priority for phase-
r( / out. Exceptions to the restriction will be considered as described below. Affected
, departments will designate IPM Coordinators to evaluate exception requests.
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PFS7/C-I])ts,
City of Seattle Pesticide Strategy
Office of Environmental Management
2
Exceptions
Exceptions to the restrictions will be considered based on:
a description of the pest problem,
ratioraale for chemical control with the proposed product,
a description of how the product will be used,
legal requirements,
public health and safety considerations,
preservation of landscape assets, and
an evaluation of all feasible alternatives including non-chemical and no action alternatives;
the safety, health, and environmental impacts of the alternatives also will be evaluated.
Exceptions may be granted on a one-time-only basis or as a programmatic exception
that applies across all departments.
One- Time-Onlv Exceptions - The Departmental lPM Coordinator and the Office
of Environmental Management will be responsible for evaluating and approving
one-time-only exceptions within each Department.
Proarammatic Exceptions - DepartmentallPM Coordinators and the Office of
Environmental Management will meet, as necessary, to evaluate and approve or
deny programmatic exceptions. All programmatic exceptions will be re-evaluated
annually by the IPM Coordinators and the Office of Environmental Management
based on a review of alternatives and a re-evaluation of the need for the control.
For all exceptions granted, a Best Management Practice will be required to minimize
human health and environmental risk.
Overall Pesticide Use Reduction
City staff have already significantly reduced the amount and toxicity of pesticides used
through IPM. In order to identify ways to reduce pesticide use further, a survey of
specific pest management strategies was conducted and general alternative controls
were suggested. Many of the suggestions came from City gardeners based on their
knowledge and experience. Specific pest management strategies were evaluated for
ornamentals, turf, trees/woody brush, electrical substations, rights-of-way, and golf
courses. Alternative pest management strategies identified include:
Pest prevention techniques like mulching, irrigating, fertilizing, and using pest-
resistant species;
Mechanical pest control techniques like flame weeding, hand pulling, string trimming,
and hot water weeding; and
Alternative chemical controls like neem oil products, active bacillus products, and
potassium bicarbonate products.
Increasing pest tolerance thresholds was also suggested. Pesticide use reduction decisions
will consider preservation of the landscape asset, safety, and legal requirements.
~ Target: Reduce overall pesticide use by 30% by the end of 2002. !tCffIFVW
43% /~EJ>iL(TfVtJ
J N PA-t:-jCS
$ J3~. IN GJd ~~.~
City of Seattle Pesticide Strategy
Office of Environmental Management
3
Seattle Public Utilities -- Yard
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SlaH Di:ectolY
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Services About SPU Engineering i Directory
Billing I Garbage i Recycling I Yard I Water I Drainage & Sewer
_~ul
(. This Department
B Contact Us
Ray Hoffm:Jn, Acting Director'
Yard
Composting food and yard waste saves landfill space and helps reduce impact on climate
change. Learn methods to make lawn and garden care safe and easy.
Food and Yard Waste Collection Services
Find collection day information, rates, what's acceptable, storage tips, and more.
At Your House I Apartment Residents I Apartment Owners I Commercia!
Natu ral Lawn and Garden
Backvard Compostinq
How to compost yard waste and kitchen scraps, and use compost in your yard.
Natural Lawn & Garden Care
Safe and easy ways to care for your lawn and garden that also save water, recycle waste and
reduce the use of chemicals.
For Landscape Professionals
Integrated Pest Management solutions, information on landscape maintenance plans, irrigation
tips, developing heatthy soil in the Puget Sound region, and resources for your clients.
Commercial Landscapes
Free services to evaluate how your irrigation system can save water, financial assistance
programs for irrigation upgrades.
<;ArnPL~ S\cf\TTL~
f\A;~U~ ~DlA Cftl)V,J
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Copyright @ 1995-2009 City of Seattle
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Call (206) 684-3000
sPU News
I'Jormai
Collections for
Holiday
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on MLK Holiday
High Alert for
Rain &. Flooding
Reguiar Yard
Waste Resumes
Garbage on
Normai Schedule
Volunteer!
8e a Creek
Steward
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Stencii a Storm
Dram
Environmental
Grants
Advi sorv
Commttees
3/1/2009 12:59 PM
SENATE BILL 737
DEVELOPMENT OF A PRIORITY PERSISTENT
POLLUTANT LIST (P3L) FOR OREGON
1.:J(il
Water Quality Division
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
811 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97204
(505) 229-6251
MARCH 21 2009
DRAFT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
ml!l
Draft Final Priority Persistent Pollutant List
March 2009
175 Pollutants organized by chemical classes with examples
Slate 01 Oregon
0eplI/tment of
Environmental
Quality
Benfluralin - turf grass herbicide
Oxyfluorfen - pesticide
Pharmaceuticals & 27 pollutants 15% of P3 List
Personal Care
Products
Triclosan - antimicrobial in consumer
products
Codeine - analgesic drug
Musk tetralin - fragrance in consumers
products
Polychlorinated 18 pollutants 10% of P3 List
Biphenyls (PCBs)
Enclosed electrical systems, otherwise a
legacy pollutant
Industrial Chemicals 14 pollutants 8% of P3 List
Octachlorostyrene - incineration processes
that combine carbon and chlorine
Polycyclic Aromatic 14 pollutants 8% of P3 List
Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
No specific uses; by-products of incomplete
combustion processes
Halogenated Flame 9 pollutants 5% of P3 List
Retardants
TBPH - PVC plasticizer for wires & cables,
coated fabrics
TBBPA - epoxy printed circuit boards
Inorganic and Organic 6 pollutants 3% of P3 List
Metals
Arsenic - legacy agriculture
Lead - industrial processes, legacy plumbing
For more information about DEQ's Draft Priority Persistent Pollutant list, visit: b_t!g_JLY'!_y.{~_._gs_g:sJ~1g:gI:.l,i2L~_B7~2
For more information about DEQ's Draft Priority Persistent Pollutant Ust, visit: bj:!.Q~Uwy'y~.de(1.:~.t'Jte.QG~l~Z~?
Oregon DEQ: Water Quality Permit Program - Mining
http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq!SB737/
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])EQ
SB 737 Implementation: Addressing Priority Persistent
Pollutants in Oregon's Water
DEQ has released a draft list of 175 priority, persistent pollutants that
affect the toxicity of Oregon's rivers and streams. DEQ will refine the
list as part of its efforts to better identify and eventually reduce toxics
in the environment, and would like public comment on the draft list by
March 27.
...... :-................-:;r
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WQ Info Guides:
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Public Comment Period on Draft Final Priority Persistent
Pollutant List
The public may submit comments on the Draft Final Priority Persistent
Pollutant List (P3) from March 2, 2009 until March 27, 2009 at 5:00
PM. Several public information sessions will also be held across the
state during March.
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PDF
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and /'tt: ,:1-; :-'";(2 '., t:::: PDF
i--.,-,;- PDF
PDF
PDF - This appendix details the fate of
each pollutant considered for inclusion in the list, documenting
either its rank or the step in the process where it was removed.
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PDF
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C:. _ t..;~"l ~.:. f
Pendleton: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 4:00 -7:00 PM
St. Anthony's Hospital, Cascade Room
1601 SE Court Avenue, Pendleton
Coos Bay / North Bend: Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 5:30 _
8:00 PM
North Bend Library, Large Meeting Room
1800 Sherman Avenue, North Bend
lof2
CA~
'50 ') T2-29'f 55' f
UPDATE: The !::Ledford meeting has been moved to Klamath
Falls. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Klamath Falls: Wednesday, March 11,2009, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
~~
'3 os .I'\;l~ 3/1/20092:21 PM
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Emerging Contaminants: A Review with Policy
Recommendations
Prepared by
Vicki Tripoli, Ph.D.
National Science Advisory Board Member
National Center for Conservation Science & Policy
and
Cindy Deacon Williams, M.S.
Senior Scientist
National Center for Conservation Science & Policy
Aprill, 2008
P.O. Box 729
84 4til Street
Ashlan~ OR 97520
(541) 482-4459
(541) 482-7282 (fax)
@
Emerging Contaminants:
A Review with Policy Recommendations
Prepared by
Vicki Tripoli, Ph.D., National Science Advisory Board Member, and
Cindy Deacon Williams, M.S., Senior Scientist
National Center for Conservation Science & Policy
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
When streams restored to apparently healthy conditions still could not support salmon and subtle
reproduction anomalies began appearing in small populations of people, awareness of the
potential effects of emerging contaminants became more widespread. This paper reviews current
scientific literature to explain in clear terms what these contaminants are, where they come from,
where they end up, and what kinds of problems are associated with them. It will review the five
categories that contain the bulk of relevant contaminants and make suggestions about what to do
about their adverse effects to people and wildlife.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including chemicals used in plastics, fire retardants,
surfactants, and pesticides, are resistant to breakdown: Many chemicals in this category that
were banned 20-30 years ago still have a global distribution, and new ones have been developed
and have only recently been. Chemicals in this group accumulate in fatty tissues and
concentrations get magnified in the food chain. All humans have stored levels of these
compounds in their bodies, the highest being in people in the Artic where products made from
the chemicals have never been used. Effects vary widely but the most profound are related to
fetal exposure. Chemicals used in plastics and as fire retardants have been associated with
feminization of male infants and with inhibiting sperm production in fathead minnows.
Feminization offish also was found with exposure to surfactants, chemicals used in detergents.
Reproduction alterations associated with pesticides have been severe enough to cause extinction
in some aquatic species and may lead to autism in humans. Fetal exposure to PCBs appears to
be linked with ADHD and cognitive function in children.
Pharmaceuticals such as estrogens, antidepressants and antibiotics have been detected in tap
water and are linked to reproductive problems in frogs and fish. A big concern is that antibiotics
in the environs will lead to resistant pathogens, increasing the pool of infectious agents that we
currently are unable to treat.
There also is growing concern about potential health problems from nanotechnology particles,
those small materials that are engineered on the atomic scale. Add to this mix the effects of
standard pollutants, inorganics like lead and mercury, and radioactives and one wonders what
can be done.
@
Recommendations for action are offered in four categories. The National Center strongly urges
that steps be taken immediately to respond to this emerging human and environmental health
problem.
Prevention
. Enact stricter guidelines for introducing new chemicals and drugs to the marketplace
. Mandate testing for persistent organic pollutants and pharmaceuticals in drinking water
. Enforce wetlands protection and strongly encourage 'green' urban planning
Regulation
. Continue to ban toxics suspected of posing environmental or human health risks
. Legislate and regulate on 'weight of evidence' not 'cause and effect'
Remediation
. Require sewage treatment plants to remove persistent organic pollutants and pharmaceuticals
prior to discharge
. Establish standards for disposal of sewage treatment sludge contaminated with persistent
organic pollutants and pharmaceuticals
Responsible Government
. Sign and comply with international protocols and assist developing countries to do same
. Support interdisciplinary cooperation
. Act to lessen the influence that polluting industries have over legislation and regulation
. Take action to rectify environmental justice issues related to contaminant exposure
11
BACKGROUND
The study of emerging contaminants has been the focus
of a myriad of scientific and news journals in the last
few years. Although not as colorful and robustly
presented as global warming, a look at the current
literature will provide evidence that this issue is just as
urgent.
The sidebar vignettes throughout this paper illustrate
the kinds of problems resulting from the dispersal of
what are now being called emerging contaminants.
Coinciding with this dispersal has been a subtle rise in
ecosystem health problems particularly in young
developing organisms, including both wildlife species
and humans. This, along with the mysterious
disappearance of honeybees and mass amphibian die-
offs, around the world is cause for pause and
investigation.
After first defining what emerging contaminants are,
this paper will review their classification, sources, and
what currently is known about their effects. Although
the focus will be on the types of known or suspected
endocrine disruPtors.,. other classifications of
, widespread contaminants will be mentioned as they
contribute to the mixture present today in the
environment. A theory explaining exactly how these
contaminants may be contributing to human
reproductive problems will be presented. Finally and
most importantly, recommendations for what can be
done to prevent or curb the predicted negative effects
of these mixtures will be discussed in detail. This
paper is directed towards policy makers and members
of the interested public in general; therefore the
information will be presented in a concise, clear and
non-biased manner.
Wong (2006) defines emerging contaminants as
chemicals (including veterinary and human
pharmaceuticals) that currently are being used and
released into the environment and are of special
concern due to widespread occurrence and potential for
toxic effects. It also includes ~etabolites (break down
products produced as chemicals or other organic
compounds are metabolized) of past-use chemicals and
1
(j)
In one of many efforts to revive
the salmon fisheries of the Pacific
Northwest, extensive restoration
work was undertaken to remedy
habitat problems in Longfellow
Creek near Seattle, Washington.
Significant money was spent to
reestablish healthy stream
characteristics. Attention was paid
to restoring geomorphologic
features such as deep pools, large
woody debris, meanders, and
riparian vegetation; and water
quality parameters such as '
temperature, dissolved oxygen, and
sediment.
A return to successful salmon
spawning was expected to occur in
this extensively restored stream, but
little or no response in salmon
populations resulted Intensive
field and laboratory studies. by
NOAA -Fisheries demonstrated
surprisingly lar e negative effects
on several Ii e stages 0 coho
~almon from deKraded stormwater
despite a strict adherence to
pesticide ~idelines and current
wastewater re~lations (Sholtz et
al. 2004). The culprit appears to be
the unanticipated combined effects
from the mixture of oil, wease,
pesticides and other pollutants
carried in ~tormwater gurgling off
streets, parking lots and farms
upstream.
In any case, adult female salnlon
returning to Longfellow Creek
suffered a pre-spawning death rate
of 20% to 90%. Many embryos
growing from eggs that were laid
by salmon that survived to
spawning exhibited developmental
abnormalities in growth of blood
vessels to the nlid-brain. These
embryos died before hatching.
@
mixtures, both of which are poorly understood. This review highlights the current state of
knowledge on the source, occurrence, environmental fate, and possible effects of a number of
major types of emerging and modem organic pollutants. There are five categories that contain
the bulk of relevant contaminants: 2ersistent organic pollutan~ pharmaceuticals, inorganics,
~anotechnology particles, and radioactives. See Table 1 for a summary. ----
PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
By far the most studied classification of contaminants, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) still
can be labeled as 'emerging' because of unique characteristics that.keep them circulating in the
biosphere at ever changing concentrations despite the fact that some of them were banned 20-30
years ago. Adverse ecological effects now are being
found due to their metabolites (Kodavanti 2005).
Moreover, n,~y.e.=e.ffe.c.ts.increasingly are being found
at very IQW ley-.cls of exp~e (Gerstenberger and Tripoli
2001). The United Nations Environment Programme
defines POPs as chemicals resistant to photochemical,
biological, heat and chemical degradatiQ_n. Thus, they are
transported in the atmosphere and ocean currents and
have been found in relatively high levels even in the
Arctic and Antarctic areas where they have never been
used (Parris 2003). In addition, they have low water
solubility and high lipid solubility leading to their
bioaccumulation in fatty tissues, where concentrations
can become magnIfied to 70,000 times background levels
found in the environment (Bilcke 2002). DDT is the
most well known example, a POP brought to public
attention by Rachel Carson in her book Silent Spring for
its eggshell thinning effects on fish eating birds.
A Great Lakes community has
experienced significant declines
in the rate of male births. World
wide, sex ratios range from 102
to 108 males for every 100
females, or slightly over 50%
males. In this U. S. community
located near a large aggregation
of industries the birth rate for
males has dropped to 34% over
the last five years (Mackenzie, et
al. 2005).
Sex ratios have been suggested
as a monitor of reproductive
health of a population (Davis et
al. 1998) and while there have
been reports of sex ratio skew in
wildlife (Reeder et a11998) and
laboratory animals
(Gerstenberger & Tripoli 2001)
from exposure to endocrine
disrupting chemicals, not much is
known about how these
contaminants affect humans.
Today people world-wide are exposed to numerous
chemicals, and as a result have approximately .500_
chemicals stored in their bodies (McGinn 2000). Adverse
health effects have been observed in high trophic level
wildlife species and humans. Evidence has strongly
implicated POPs in immune dysfunction, r_eproductive
impa~nt, develop-m~ntal abnQrmalities and
neiiiOlogical disorders (Tripoli 2000, Ross and Birnbaum
2003). There increasingly is concern that even low level exposure during fetal, neonatal and
childhood development may have ~vere heal1bjgIj)~~~ for generations to come (Damstnl"2002).
Of the thousands of contaminants in this group, this review will focus on the most common and
those that are known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC). This group (summarized in Table 2)
includes chemicals used in pla~!i~ in the manufacture of ~tici~s, surfactants used in cleaning
products, and industrial chemicals, like ITHs and fire ~ts. Many of the synthetic
chemicals discussed come under more than one use or category and the chemical names can be
complex, so they will be mentioned in relation to use and by product name when possible.
2
(~.)
(f)
.~ , \.
the fate and occurrence of radioactive medical waste, but as yet have reached no significant
findings (perez and Barcelo 2008).
CONTAMINANT MIXTURES AND COMPLEXITIES
The bulk of human and wildlife exposure to emerging contaminants does not occur one
contaminant at a time. Exposures typically occur in the form of random complex mixtures, the
effects of which have never been studied. As this fact has become increasingly apparent, a
somewhat new field of study has been launched. Researchers have found that some
contaminants produce greater effects when combined than when exposure is singly. This has
been documented as true with PCBs and mercury (Bemis and Segal 1999). In fact, those
particular contaminants frequently are found together in fish and have been known to adversely
affect neurodevelopment in infants of fish eating mothers. Fish advisories that inform pregnant
mothers what fish to avoid have helped, but because the fetus is subject to a mother's lifetime
storage of contaminants the risk to infants still remains. To make matters worse, fish is rich in
the omega 3 oils and folic acid that is essential during pregnancy for healthy fetal development.
Oken et al. (2005) found that higher fish consumption in pregnancy was associated with better
infant cognition, but higher contaminant levels were associated with lower cognition. So these
authors recommended women should continue to eat fish but try to find varieties with the least
contaminants. Often this is a tenuous balance.
The ecological implications of contaminant mixtures in the environment can be significant. One
particularly alarming ecological reality is the fact that pesticides and other persistent organic
pollutants often co-occur in streams adjacent to urban areas or farmlands as mixtures that often
also include pollutants from the other categories of emerging contaminants. Laboratory data
indicate that the negative effects from a wide variety of chemicals that disrupt endocrine function
appear to be additive. Thus, chemical contaminants may reach concentrations detrimental to fish ~
and other wildlife even where the individual chemicals are used legally, and the residues found \
in the environment for each chemical are below thresholds that would cause impairment. i-----1
Furthermore, in investigations of ecosystem health, Macdonald et al. (2003) suggest that it is not
enough to simply expand consideration of the separate negative impact of various emerging
contaminants to a consideration of contaminant mixtures. Resource extraction, habitat
destruction, eutroph~cation, the introduction of exotic species, and climate change all interact
with one another and alter contaminant pathways. For example, larger fish and marine mammals
at the top of the food chain have some of the highest contaminant load levels. Global warming is
shrinking their habitat and making it harder for them to find food. This persistent hunger is
hastening the mobilization of contaminants as these top predators bum their fat tissue or die
(Patterson et al. 2005). Another effect of climate change on emerging contaminants is the
renewed use of the pesticide DDT. The United Nations allowed a temporary exemption on the
ban ofDDT for malaria control (Kapp 2000). Mosquitoes spread malaria. A warmer climate
increases mosquito populations and expands their range. It is clear that new innovative ways of
dealing with emerging contaminants and their effects must be found.
9
~ L>L-- .
.~, ~" .~~~, -'., '. ~-v., -,...._
I .
G rowi:ng' T re nd~,/~~//
. i(."'--
. .
Successful Strategies for Reducing c=>
- -
. .
. .
. .'. Pesticides in Public Places '.... .
. "
. . .
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I
AW~_~hi~gtontoxics Coalition Report. '.
. ~ ~.' l:r C-r:~-~ i v-c ~. N, ~+ .--f1-J- .
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~.. _ .. Growing Trends
~
Chapter 6:
All-Organic Port
of Seattle
Since 1998, the waterfront properties,
parks, bike trails, greenbelts and habitat
restoration sites that make up the Port of
Seattle have all been maintained using
organic methods. This might seem
surprising because seaports are generally
-highly toxic,chemical ~ladeI1areas,
reeking of oil and the exhaust of com-
mercial spaces. Craig Chatburn, head of
the landscape department at the Port,
has simply adopted a different philoso-
phy that looks at landscapes as opportu-
nities to benefit
the public and
the environment.
This requires that
other factors be
taken into con-
sideration along
wi th traditional
landscape aesthet-
ics, such as
increasing water
conservation and
wildlife habitat,
and eliminating the use of toxic pesti-
cides and synthetic fertilizers.
ilU...~~.."fiJm~~;i~~~.;;:i'~~='$'~lii::_
"We do not miss using
pesticides, and none of our
landscapers would go back
to using them."
-Craig Chatbum
Head of Landscape Department
Port of Seattle
~~~~~~;2f7~-iilm.....~~-=."..,.~~~~~~~~~
The Hard Sell
When Craig made the decision to switch
from a chemically dependent program at
the Port to an all-organic one, he was
met with some resistance and doubt
from his staff. His team of landscapers
had spent their careers depending on
chemicals to solve their problems. Many
of the experienced members of the
landscape crew were skeptical that the
new mechanical and cultural means to
solve pest, weed and disease problems
would be successful. Through the
success of the program over time, how-
ever, the group has come to fully support
the organic approach. The crew now
regularly attends the annual Green
Gardening seminar, which offers alterna-
tives to pesticides for professional land-
scapers, as well as courses offered
through the University ofWashingrons
ProHort program.
The Big Switch
To implement the organic approach,
Craig put together a plan based on
information obtained from Seattle Tilth
and the Soil Food Web on alternatives to.
pesticides and then began to educate his
crew. They took things slowly and tried
the new practices on smaller park areas
to prove that there was no noticeable
change in the quality of appearance of
the landscapes and no added cost. After
this test period, they made the commit-
ment to eliminate all toxic pesticides and
synthetic fertilizers in the lO-plus acres
that they maintain, using only least-toxic
pesticides such as insecticidal soap.
The Way it Works
The landscapers at the Port have become
more knowledgeable in identifying pest
or disease problems and in using this
information to indicate the changes that
can be made to avoid the problem in the
future. This also means that new
plantings are done with drought tolerant,
disease-resistant exotic species and native
plants, with the goal of Craig and his
staff being that ultimately all plantings
will be made up of at least 700/0 native
plants. The Pon crew suppresses weeds
20
Growing TrendsA:_ ~
~.~
~~-..:~
with a thick layer of coarse wood-chip
mulch, obtained from chipping woody
material from the trees on the Port and
park landscapes. In using this mulching
method, the crew aims to simulate the
ecosystem of the forest floor, insulating
the soil and increasing organic matter.
The focus is more on controlling weeds
than on eradicating them, making for a
far more realistic form of maintenance.
Money Matters
While the Port of Seattle has eliminated
all pesticide use, the cost of labor has
stayed the same. All of the changes that
had to be made to accommodate the new
organic methods were done within the
operating budget. For the calendar years
of 2000 and 2001, zero dollars were spent
on pesticides or pesticide use. In the
beginning, all unopened pesticides were
returned to the distributor and the money
was used to buy needed equipment.
The Port crew is currently conducting
experiments to make use of other re-
sources that are already on site, including
grass and weed clippings, as well as
sediment picked up in sweeping of the
storm drains. The crew hopes that some
of these projects might help to make the
port even more IPM focused and environ-
mentally sound.
The Real Reason
When asked what suggestions he could
make for other groups or landscapes that
were considering the organic option,
Craig stated that going 1000/0 at the very
beginning is the only way to go, despite
its challenges. He states, "we do not miss
using pesticides, and none of our land-
scapers would go back to using them."
While Craig was well supported by the
public and Port officials, he worked hard
to get his crew behind the rigid 1 000/0
organic policy. By being proactive in
being completely organic, the program
eliminates any gray areas, and promotes
alternative strategies as the only option.
This is important in a landscape like a
city port, in that both industry and the
public can see the success of the pro-
gram.
21
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1\ f
Ashland, OR Limiting the Use of Pesticides in the
City
From Green Policy
Type: Municipal Code
Status: Adopted via Ordinance #2790 in 1996
Source File: http://www.ashland.or.us/CodePrint.asp?Branch=True& CodeID=2469
Text:
9.28 Pesticide Policy
9.28.010 Policy Adoption
The pesticide policy set forth in this chapter is adopted for all departments and divisions of the City of
Ashland. This policy does not apply to the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department which is
administered by the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission. The Ashland Parks and Recreation
Department has a similar policy in place.
9.28.020 Purpose
This policy is designed to reduce the risk of illness or injury resulting from city employee and citizen
exposure to pesticides used in the course of performing city operations and also from the accidental
exposure of employees and other persons to such pesticides. The policy requires city workplace
practices designed to reduce or eliminate the use of, and exposure to, pesticides.
9.28.030 Use of Pesticides
Use of pesticides, including but not limited to herbicides, insecticides and growth retardants, shall be
eliminated by the city except as provided in this chapter.
A. Mechanical and cultural methods shall be utilized whenever practical for control of noxious
vegetation and pests. Practicality shall be determined by an Oregon Certified Pesticide Applicator and
the respective department head or the department head's designee. Worker safety and terrain shall be
among the factors considered in this judgement.
B. When mechanical and cultural methods are not practical, only the safest, lowest toxicity products
available shall be used. No "restricted use" pesticides shall be used.
C. Primarily, species which do not require high inputs of herbicide shall be used in landscaping.
D. City staff shall monitor noxious vegetation and pest populations and rely on biological control when
appropriate and effective.
9.28.040 Application of Pesticides
All pesticides shall be applied by, or under the supervision of, an Oregon Certified Pesticide Applicator.
The certified applicator shall be responsible for overseeing and authorizing all pesticide use by city staff.
10f3
2/11/2009 11:26 PM
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A. If pesticides with active ingredients having a greater acute toxicity than table salt (LD 50 = 2,500) are
applied, the area of application shall be posted in advance and for the duration of the re-entry time
specified on the pesticide label or MSDS sheet. For those application areas within fifty feet of the
property line of a residence, written notice shall be given to such residence by mail or personally
delivered.
B. Effort shall be made to determine the LD 50 of inert ingredients prior to application of a pesticide. If
pesticides with inert ingredients having a greater acute toxicity than table salt (LD 50 = 2,500) are
applied, the area of application shall be posted in advance and for the duration of the re-entry time
specified on the pesticide label or MSDS sheet. For those application areas within fifty feet of the
property line of a residence, written notice shall be given to such residence by mail or personally
delivered.
C. Consideration shall be given to the possible short and long-term adversE' impacts of the application
upon humans, animals and plants of the proposed pesticide and of any chemical alternatives.
D. Different pesticides shall not be mixed.
E. No application shall be made when wind, rain, temperature or other environmental conditions would
likely cause the pesticide to drift off target or onto adjoining property.
F. A "Written record shall be kept of all pesticide applications. Such records are to include the following
information:
1. Name of applicator and date and time of application.
2. Substance used and location applied.
3. Mixing ratio.
4. Total amount used.
5. Weather conditions.
6. Other pertinent information.
7. Name of certified applicator and department head who approved application.
9.28.050 Training and Authorization
A. No city employee shall use or apply any pesticide without prior training. Training shall include
effective and alternative methods of pest control as well as safety considerations. The city administrator
shall designate a city employee to be responsible for the creating and overseeing a training and education
program.
B. No city employee shall use or apply any pesticide mechanically or by hand without approval of the
employee's department head or the department head's designee and event specific authorization from a
certified applicator.
9.28.060 Purchase of Pesticides
Pesticides shall only be purchased by the City Purchasing Agent after consultation with a certified
applicator and the approval of the respective department head or the department head's designee.
9.28.070 Storage of Pesticides
~ of3
2/11/2009 11:26 P1-1
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All pestICIdes shall be stored In a sate, secure enVIronment. The purchasIng agent, certItied applIcators
and department heads shall have exclusive access to the storage area.
9.28.080 Annual Review
An annual review of policies and procedures regarding the use and application of pesticides shall be
conducted at the department head level. Attendance at the review is mandatory for all city personnel
who apply pesticides.
9.28.090 Violation of Policy
Violation of any of any portion of this policy shall be grounds for disciplinary action.
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2/11/2009 11:26 PM
JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/WINTER 2004. VOL 24. NO.4
. HERBICIDE
FACTSHEET
GLYPH 0 SATE
Glyphosate herbicides (one common brand name is Roundup) are the~~ommo!!-Iy_~..!!!d.!'erbicides in the U.S.
and the world. In agriculture they are widely used with genetically-modified gJYjiliosate-tolerant crops, but they are
also widely used in yards, gardens, and other nonagricultural areas.
Symptoms of exposure to glyphosate include eye irritation, burning eyes, blurred vision, skin rashes, burning or itchy
skin, nausea, sore throat, asthma and difficulty breathing, headache, lethargy, nose bleeds, and dizziness.
Glyphosate and glyphosate-containing herbicides caused genetic damage in laboratory tests with human cells, as
well as in tests with laboratory animals.
Studies of farmers and other people exposed to glyphosate herbicides have shown that this exposure is linked with
increased risks of the cancer non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, miscarriages, and attention deficit disorde~. For each of the
hazards identified in these studies there are also laboratory studies with results that are consistent with the studies
of exposed people.
There is also laboratory evidence that glyphosate herbicides can !educe production of sex hormones.
Studies of glyphosate contamination of water are limited, but new results indicate that it can commonly
contaminate streams in both agricultural and urban areas.
Problems with drift ~f 9IyphO!~!:_~~~!~cid_e~~c.~c:~~!~"~~~!'"~~. Only one other herbicide causes more drift incidents.
Glyphosate herbicides caused ~netic dama!le an~ damage to the immune system in fish. In frogs, glyphosate
herbicides caused genetic damage and a.bnonna. de,,!~~~":~~
Application of glyphosate herbicides increases the severity of a variety of plant diseases.
By CAROLINE Cox
GYPhosate (see Figure 1) her-
bicides are "among the world's most
widely used he-rbiddes."l a1lCI glyphosate
is "the world's leading agrochemicaL,,2
Although glyph().<;ate herbicides have
been popular since they were..lh:s
marketed in 1974, their use in agricul-
ture has expanded recently with the
increased use of crops that have been
genetically modified to tolerate gly-
phosare treatment.3
Roundup is a popular brand name
for glyphosate herbicides,l although
many other brand names are used."
Glyphosate i<; marketed in more
than 100 countries by a variety of
manufacturers, but.:M<m--<;aill.<!_ Company
has heen and continues to be the major
.
Caroline Cox is NeAP's staff scientist.
Figure 1
Glyphosate
o 0
II II
HO - C - CH2 - N - CH2 - P - OH
I I
H OH
N -(phosphonomethyf)glycine
commercial supplier worldwide.3
Use Estimates
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EP A) recently estimated that
annual use of glyphosate in the U.S. is
. betweenf?3 and JJ3 millk.?!l.Eou~E-".5_
Gtvphosare is used more than any
other" pesticide: jtL., the most cc;nl::
moruy used agricultural pesticide, and
the second most commonly used
pesticide around and in homes and
gardens. Home and garden use totals
over 5 million pounds per year. 5
According to Monsanto Company,
there are more approved uses for
gl,vhosate than for any other herbicide. 1
How Does Glyphosate Kill
Plants?
Glyphosate blocks the activity of an
enzyme used hy plants to make cer-
t.ain importanr amino add". Without
these amino acids; the plant cannot
make proteins required for various life
processes, resulting in the death of
the plant. 1,6
Gl}vhosate b a broad spec--rnnn her-
hicide, so it kills most types of plants. (,
Overview
It is often said that "there is no
indication of any human health con-
cem"4 for glyphosate and that gly-
phosate "is virtually nontoxic to mam-
mals, birds, fjsh, insects, and most
10
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JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/WINTER 2004. VOL. 24, NO.4
bacterb."; However, this herbicide can
actually pose significant hazards. to
human and environmental health. Till<;
article summarizes the research docu-
menting those hazard;", with a focu;"
on research published since 2000.
Inert Ingredients
Like most pesticides, commercial
glyphos3.re herbicides contain L'1gredi-
ents other than glyphosate which, ac-
cording to U.S. pesticide law, are called
"inert. "i') Publicly available information
about the identity of these ingredients
in glyphosate products is incomplete.
For information about the hazards
of some of the inert ingredients in
commercial glyphosate products, see
"Inert lngredients," at right.
Research studies about glyphosate
sometimes use commercial glyphosate
herbicide products, and other times
use glyphosate alone. In tlus article
we identify as accurately as possible
which was used in each study
dbcussecL
Symptoms of Exposure
According to reports made to the
California Pesticide Illness Surveillance
l}rogram, symptorn."i of exposure to
glyphosate herbicides include eye irri-
tation and inflarrmlation, bwning eyes,
blurred vision, skin rashes, burning or
itchy skin, nausea, sore throat, asthma
and difficulty breathing, headache, leth-
argy, nose bleed, and dizziness.9
"Irritation" can seem like a less se-
rious symptom than those caused by
other pesticides. However, it can be
significant. For example, Italian der-
matologists in 2004 reported treating
a patient who knelt on the ground
where her son had just sprayed a
glypho:-;ate-containing h<:'"':rbidde. She
then put on clothing that had been
on the ground where he had sprayed
and napped. Within hours her skin
was burning and she developed a blis-
tering rash on her back, legs, and feet
that lasted for a month.lO,ll
Ability to Cause Genetic
Damage (Mutagenicity)
Four laboratory studies published
in the late 1990s demon<;trated the abil-
ity of glyphosate and glyphosate-con-
taining herbicide products to cause
"INERT" INGREDIENTS IN
GLYPHOSATE HERBICIDES
Inert ingredients in commercial
glyphosare herbicide products, with
examples of their hazards, include
the following: .
· 5-ChIoro-2-methyl 3(2H)-iso-
thiazolonel caused genetic dam-
age and allergic reactions in labo-
ratory tests. 2
· FD&C Blue No. 11 caused ge-
netic damage and skin tumors in
laboratory tests.3
· Glycerinel caused genetic dam-
age in tests with human cells and
laboratory animals. It also reduced
fertility in laboratory tests:i
· 3-Iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbam-
atel Caused thy-Toid damage and
decreased growth in laboratory
tests. '5
· Light aromatic petroleum
distillate (Chemical Abstract
Services No. 64742-95-6)1 re-
duced fertility and growth of new-
l"x--:>rns in laboratory reMs.()
· Methyl p-hydr~xybenzoatel
caused genetic damage in labora-
tory te:stsJ
· Polyoxyethylene alkylaminel is
an eye irritant.8 It is also toxic to
fish.9
· Propylene glycoll caused ge-
netic damage, reduced fertility,
and anemia in laboratory tests.IO
· Sodiunl sulfitel caused genetic
damage in teste:; with both labora-
tory animals and human cells.u
· Sodium benzoatel caused ge-
netic damage in tests with hu-
man cells and laboratory ani-
mals. It also caused developmen-
tal problems and reduced new-
born survival in laboratory
tests.12 .
· Sodium salt of o-phenylphenoll
is a skin irritant. It also caused
genetic damage and cancer in
laboratory tests.13
· Sorbic acidl is a severe skin. irri-
tant and caused genetic damage
in laboratory tesrs.14
1. U.S. EPA. Office of Prevention. Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. 2004. Response to Freedom
of Information Act request of October 19, 2004. Washington. D.C. Response dated November
17.
2. National !nstitute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2003. RTECS: 4-lsothiazo!in-3-one. 5-
ch loro-2 -methyl-. www.cdc.gov/niOSM/rtecs/nx7c76b2.hIml.
3. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2000. RTECS: Ammonium, ethyl (4-{p-
(ethyl( m-su Ifobenzy I)ami no)-a lpha -( o-su lfophenyl)benzyl idene) -2,S-cyclohexadien-1 -ylidene) (m-
sulfobenzyl)-, hydroxide, inner salt, disodium salt. www.cdc.gov/niosh.irtecs!bq481908.htmL
4. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2003. RTECS: GlyceroL www.cdc.gov!
niosrJrtecslma7adSSO.htmL
S. U.S. EPA. Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1997. Reregistration eligibility decision
(RED): 3-lodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC). www.epa.gov/pesticides. p. 7.
6. National Institute tor Occupational Safety and Health. 1998. RTECS: Solvent naphtha (petro-
leum}, light aromatic. www.cdc.gov/nioeh!rtecsJwi33e140.html.
7. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2003. RTECS: Benzoic acid, p-hydroxy-,
methyl ester. www.cdc.goviniosh/rtecsidh256250.html.
8. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 1997. RTECS: Ethomeen Ti15. www.cdc.gov/
n iosh/rtecsik092dda8.html.
9. W.T. Haller and Stocker R.K. 2003. Toxicity of 19 adjuvants to juvenile Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill
sunfish). Environ Toxicol Chern. 22:615-619.
10. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2003. RTECS: 1,2-Propanediol.
www.cdc.gov/nioshJrteCSity1e8480.html.
11. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2003. RTECS: Sodium sulfite. www.cdc.gov/
niosh.rtecs/we20ce 70 .htm!.
12. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2003. RTECS: Benzoic acid, sodium salt.
www .cdc. gov/niosh/rtecsfd h65 7890. htmt.
13. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2003. RTECS: 2-Biphenylol, sodium salt.
www.cdc.gov/nioshirtecs!dv7S7e20.html.
14. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 1998. RTECS: Sorbic acid. W'u'NJ.cdc.gov!
n ioshirtecSiwg200b20 .html.
NORTHWEST COALITION FOR AL TERNA TIVES TO PESTICIDES/NeAP
P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 974401 (541 )344-5044/www.pesticide.org
11
JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/WINTER 2004. VOL. 24. NO.4
Figure 2
Ability to Cause Genetic
Damage in Human Blood
Cells
5
(j)
0
(1)- 4
0>(1)
<Go.
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-og>
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~~
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~-
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~
o
-0
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o
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0.0.
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.9~~
~3:e
(/)00)
oO:.c:
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Source:
Bolognesi, C. et ai. 1997. Genotoxic
activity of glyphosate and its technical
formulation Roundup. J. Agric. Food
Chern. 45:1957-1962.
Figure 3
Ability to Cause Cancer
c-
o 4
~
(/)
-0
-0
.9.-
en 3
1=
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.c:
a.
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-; 2
-e
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-0
o
I
C:
o
e
'0
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0: 0
Unexposed Exposed
Note: line on and above bar
is a 95%. confidence interval.
Source:
De Roos, A.J. et aL 2003. Integrative
assessment of multiple pesticides as risk
factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among
men. Occup. Environ. Med. 60(9):E11.
Exposure to glyphosate herbicides has caused genetic damage in laboratory tests, and use of
glyphosate by farmers is associated with an increased incidence of lymphoma.
genetic damage.12-1S
Two of the studies, both done hy
scienti:';ts at Italy's lnstituto Nazlonale
per la Ricen.--a ~1I1 Cant. TO eXfX-:>sed mice
to glYl)hosate and a Roundup herbi-
cide hy injectiony,13 One study also
exposed human blood cells to the
same chemicals.12 The fjrst study
showed that in mice both glyphosate
and the Roundup herbicide damaged
DNA (the genetic mateIial in celL';) in
the liver and kidney and caused a dif-
ferent kind of genetic damage in bone
marrow cells. Both suhstances also
caused a third type of genetic damage
in human blood cells. (See Figure 2.)
In general, the Roundup used in the:,;c
experiments was more potent than
glyphosate.12 The second study
showed that a Roundup herhicide dam-
clged DNA in the liver and kidney of
mice.13
The other two srudies were done at
the Universita della Basilicata (Italy).
Both used blood cells, one from cows
and the other from humans. Both
showed that gl}1)hosate caused a sig-
nificant increase in the number oLah-
'i1':.'1-,----
normal c'bllomosol~s h. '_"
-xn1~mm (2004) study from
the Institute of Biology and Environ-
mental Sciences (Germany) showed
that DNA damage occun'ed in human
connective tissue cellsll when they
v,'-ere exposed to glyphosate and hy-
drogen peroxide, a molecule that i<;
commonly found in living thingsY;
The National Institute fQ.LOccupa=-
tional S~nCIHealth describes
g1)Tphosate a's a~geI-0f7
Ability to Cause Cancer
(Carcinogenicity)
Three recent snlClies have demon-
strated a link between glyphosate ex-
posure and non-Hodgkin':-; lymphoma,
a type of cancer:18-20
· A 2001 :-;tudy of Canadian men
showed that the risk of nOl1-
Hodgkin's lymphoma for men
exposed to glyphosate more than
two days per year was two times
greater than the risk for men who
were either unexposed or exposed
for less than two days per year. Tht'
study was conducted at the Univer-
sity ~)f Saskatchewan (Canada).lti
· A 2002 study of Swedish men
showed that glyphosate exposure
was signit1cantly associated with an
increa::;ed risk of non-Hodgkin's lym-
phoma. The study was conducted
hy oncologists at Orebro University
(Sweden). 19
· A 2003 review of three earlier srudies
of !vIidwestern farmers showed that
exposure to glyphosate was associ-
ated with an in<:.Teased incidence of
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The
studies were conducted by the
National Cancer Institute.2o (See
Figure 3,)
A fourth :Study, an analysis of re~
suits from the Agricultural Health
Study, did not find an association be-
tween non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and
glyphosate exposure, However, the
incidence of another cancer, multiple
myeloma, showed a "suggestive asso-
ciation" with glyphosate exposure. The
Agricultural Health Study is sponsored
by the National Institutes of Health
and EP A. 21
Several mechanisms by which
glyphosate herbicide exposure could
cause cancer have recently been iden-
tifjed. Researchers at the University of
Minnesota found L1)at hoth glyphosate
and Roundup caused a rapid in<..lease,
in cell division'rIJi111U.man T;reds(-can-
rel- cells~~~Jnaa(fmon~ sdentists atthc-
centre National de ia Recherche
Scienrifjque (France) showed that five
glyphosate-containing herbicide prod-
ucts dL<;rupted c:~Lc.furi~i9!l)n sea ur-
chin ~ryos~ which are-commonly
used as a model system [or studying
cen division. The type of dismption
found in this study is "a hallmark of
tumor celL-. and human iancers:-;;-:z:>
- ,~assifies glyphosate as a qrouR-
E pesticide. This classjfication mean'i
tIiaitI1eagency has found "evidence
of non-carcinogenicity for humans~_'!:.--
.- ' ----
Effects on Pregnancy
Glyphosate exposure has been
linked to inc.Teased fisks of miscaniages
12
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JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/WINTER 2004. VOl. 24, NO.4
(spontaneous abortions).l1 In a study
of Omario, Canada farm families,
glyphosate llse in the three months
prior to conception was associated with
an increased risk of late (between the
12th and 19th week.~f pregnancy)
miscaniages. (See Figure 4.) The study
was conducted by researchers from
Health Canada and Carleton University
(Canada).25 .
Glyphosate-containing herbicides
have also ca used pregnanc'y problems
in lalxJratory tests. In a 2003 study
conducted by scientists from two Bra-
zilian universities, a Roundup herbi-
cide fed to pregnant rat.;; during the
middle part of rheir pregnancy caused
an increase in the numher of offspring
with ahnormal skeletons. The inc'fease
in abnomlalities was significant at all
dose levels tested in this experiment.26
Effects on Hormones
Hormones are chemical messengers
that regulate all biological processes,
including the reproductive system.27
Scientists at Texas Tech University
studied the effect of a glyphosate-
containing herbicide on hormone pro-
duction. They looked at h0l1110ne pro-
duction by Leydig cells, located in the
testes, because these cells "'play a
crucial role in male reproductive
function." The scientists showed that
exposure to a Roundup herhicide
reduced sex hormone production in
.r~se__ ~~l1S ....l2Y_~_pe:~L2~ (See
FIgure ).)
Association with Attention
Deficit Disorder
E.~posure of parents to glyphosate
has heen linked with an in...c.rQ:?dd in-
cidence of attention deficiLdisQr er in .
children. A 2002 study conduc~v
researchers at the llnlversitv of Mu{-
nesota found "a tentative a~sociation
betweenADD/ADHD [attention defi-
cit disorder] and use of this herbicide"29
by i\linnesota fann families.29
The results of two laboratory stud-
ies are consistent with the results of
the University of Minnesota study in
that they ~how glyphosate ~nd
glyphosate herhicides cause brain and
I!~rye da~ge. One s~onJ~a-
at the Universidad Nacional de San
Luis (Argentina) showed that feeding
pregnant rats gl)l)hosate-comaminated
water caused changes in the activity
of several enZ\'1nes in the bra ins of
their fetuses.3ft - A second smdy, from
the University of Liverpool (United
Kingdom) shO\ved that Roundup ex-
posure inhihited the growth and de-
velopment of nerve cells.31
Soil Persistence
Glyphosate's persistence in soil var-
ies widely. According to data com-
piled by the USDA's Agricultural Re-
search Service, ~lyphosate's_.half-life....
varies from 2 to 1.~}!:s..tZ}The half:'
life is the aiIiOUi1t of time required for
half of the applied glyphosate to break
down or move away from the treat-
ment area.)
Contamination of Water
Glyphosate is not induded among
the pestkides being studied by the
U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS's) Na-
tional Water-Quality A<;sessment l}ro-
gram,33 50 there are no comprehen-
sive national statistics about contami-
nation of rivers and streams by
Figure 4
Ability to Cause Miscarriages
3
:2
~
en
"0
"0 2
~
Q)
01
m
.;::
<a
(.)
!.?
'E
'0
.:r:
CIJ
a:
Note: Line on
and above bar is
a 95%
confidence
interval.
glypho5ate.
A regional study, however, indicates
that glyphosate can be a common con-
taminant. In a USGS Toxic Substances
Hydrology Program survey of ..Midwest
streams in 2002, glyphosate was found
in over a third of the samples col-
lected. The primary breakdown prod-
uct of glyphosate was found in over
two-third., of the samples. The study
also showed that gIyphosate contami-
nated water from spring through fall
and descrihed glyphosate in samples
taken at harvest time as "unexpected"34
because researchers had "presumed
that glyphosate would degrade by this
late in the growing season."3ti
USGS has also found glyphosat(-'\
contamination in a smdy of urban
streams in King County, Washin~lSton:-
Glyphosate was f()tmd in all six stream.s
that were tested in this study.3)
Drift
Drift incidents involving glyph os ate
are common. In 1999, the American
Association of Pesticide Control Offi-
cials surveyed state pesticide regulatory
Figure 5
Ability to Disrupt Sex
Hormone Production
500
~
~ 400
(j;
0-
CIJ
E 300 -
ClS
OJ
o
c:
5. 200
<l>
c:
o
~ 100
CD
Cl
o
0::
I-
t
o
Unexposed
Exposed
o
Source:
Arbuckie, T.E., L.Lin, and LS. Mary.
2001. An exploratory analysis of the effect
of pesticide exposure on the risk of
spontaneous abortion in an Ontario farm
population. Environ. Health Persp.
109:851-857..
I
Unexposed
Exposed
Source:
Walsh, LP. 2000. Roundup inhibits
steroidogenesis by disrupting
steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR)
protein expression. Environ. Health
Persp.108:769-776.
Exposure to glyphosate herbicides is linked with an increase in the risk of miscarriage. In
addition, a glyphosate herbicide reduced sex hormone production in a laboratory test.
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13
JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/WINTER 2004. VOL 24. NO.4
agencies and asked which pesticides
\vere most commonly involved in pes-
ticide chift complaints. Glyphosate was
the seconcr most corrimon pesticide;
only the herbicide 2.4-D caused more
codtplaint".3(,
Even the labels on glyphosate her-
bicides acknowledge dIift prohlem,;.
For example, the Roundup Pro label
states "Avoid contact of herbicide with
foliage, green stems, exposed non-
~voody roots or fruit of crops, desir-
able plants and trees, bec.ause severe
injmy or destnlction may result. Avoid
drift. Extrem.e care must be used when
applying this product to prevent in-
jmy to desirable plants and crops. "3'
Researchers at Carleton University
(Canada) and Environment Canada
who studied g!yQh~~!~~r!ft describe
its potential effects as "severe ecologi-
cal changes. "38
Effects on Birds
Figure 6
Effects on Sexual
Development of Frogs
Exposed
Source:
Howe, C.M. et al. 2004. Toxicity of
glyphosate-based pesticides to four North
American frog species. Environ. Toxicol.
Chern. 23: 1928-1938.
Glyphosate use can impact binJs
when the plants killed by the treat-
ment are plant., that birds use for food Exposure to glyphosate herbicides caused tad-
or shelter.- Glyphosate treatment of for- poles to develop with abnormal sex organs.
ests after logging !~duced the nesting
success of songbirds-:--according t()a- damage in insects. In a study of fruit
study conducteCfl5y'.niologists at the flies, significant incre-ases in mutations
University of British Columbia and the occurred when larvae were exposed
Canadian" Wildlife Senrice.39 According to glypho.-;ate duriJlg development. The
ro reviews by the U.S. Geologk.-al Sur- experiment was conducted by re-
vey, ,treatment of cauaiLrnarshPs with searchers from Akdeniz University
~odeo (a glyphosate herbicide used (Turkey) and t.he Universitat Autonoma
iIlWe'tareas) has reduced populations de Barcelona (Spain).45
of the marsh wren~:_an(rthe...soraJI =-
- Effects on Spiders
Effects on Fish
Glyphosate-containing herbicides
can cause genetic damage in fish, and
also cliJitup'Lrheir in1llli~S+S~TTI-..s~__
A study conducted at the Univer-
sidade de Bra..."ilia (Brazil) showed that
injection of a Roundup herbicide in
Tilapia increased damaged chromo-
somes in red blood cells.42A3
A study conducted at the Univer-
sity of i\lexandda (Egypt) showed that
exposure to Roundup reduced two
measures of inllnune system function
in spleen cells from Tilaria. The re-
duction occurred at all dose levels
tested in this experiment.44
Effects on Insects
Glyphosate can cause
14
genetic
Spider populatkms can be reduced
by herbicide treatment when the her-
bickle kills the vegetation they use for
shelter. An experiment conducted by
zoologists from Oxford University and
t..l-te Royal Agricultural College (United
Kingdom) l{Klked for this kind of ef-
fect in the edges of agricultural fields.
These margiI1s "play an impol1ant ag-
ricultural role in providing a refuge
for benet1dal invertebrate predators,,46
which prey on pest insects in the fields.
The zoologbt., found that treatment
with a Roundup herbicide~reduced ~
spider numbers hy over 50 pe~~~:_.
-..-----------.---..--------
Effects on Frogs
Glyphosate herbicides can harm
<1mphibians in a variety of ways,
including causing genetic damage and
dismpting their development.47-49
A 1997 study shc)\ved that a
Roundup herbicide caused~mage t9__
DNA (genetic material) in bullfrog tad-
poles. The University of W'indsor
(Canada) biologists 'I.vho conducted the
study concluded that its "genotoxidrv
at relatively low concentrations" was
of concem.47 ~
A 2003 study showed that a gly-
phosate-containing herbicide caused
hoth mortality and malfoffi13tions (if .a
common neotropical tadpole. The
study was conducted by scientist,,; at
three research institutes in Argentina. 4H
A 2004 study showed that "envi-
ronmcmaliy relevant" concentrations of
several Roundup herbicides caused a
common North At.nerican tadpole not
to grow to its nomlal size and to take
longer than normal to develop. In ad~
dition, between 10 and 25 percent of
the Roundup-exposed tadnoles \verf:--
intersex (having abnormal sex or~ans).
The study was conducted by biologists
at Trent University, Carleton Univer-
sitv, and the University of Vk1:oria
(Canada):~9 (See Figure 6.)
Plant Diseases
Use of glyphosate herbicides has
been linked to increased problems with__
a variety of~nf(Useases.
For example, glyphosateherbicides
increased the severity of fusarium head
blight in cereal crops?} the severity
and frequency of sudden death syn-
drome in soybeans, 51 the severity of
Pythium root rot in sugan....ane.52 and
t.he severity of white mold in .soybeans.53
These studies were conducted by
scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Fo(xl
Canada, Iowa State University, Loubi-
ana State University, and Michigan State
University. 50-53
Resistance
Resistance is the "inherited ability
of a plant to survive and reproduce
following exposure to a normally le-
thal dose of herbicide."54 The devel-
opment of herbicide resistance is an
increasing p~7orldwTJe~5
The first gl}-phosate-resistant weed:'\
were reported in 1996 in Australia,
There are now 6 glyphosate-resistant
weeds reported from 7 countries,56 ..
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JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/WINTER 2004. VOl. 24, NO.4
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non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and hairy cell leuke- cally modified crops: A case study with
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2. Baylis, A.D. 2000. Why glyphosate is a global ..~ non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among men. Occup. f-' ests. The Auk 119:685-694.__..___,
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3. Williams, G.M., R. Kroes. and I.C. Munro. 2000. glyphosate-exposed pesticide applicators in the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, \ ;Iii
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Act ~ 2(a) and 2(m). scipolyioscpendo/edspoverview/primer.htm. herbicides. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 36:40-46.
9. Calif. EPA. Dept. of Pesticide Regulation. Worker (2'8\ Walsh, LP. 2000. Roundup inhibits steroidogen- 46. Bell, J,R. et al. 2002. Manipulating the abundance
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tnbuted to exposure to glyphosate, alone or 10 conception, and sex of children born to pestl- ~iGenotoxjcity of select herbicides in Rana
combination. Unpublished database printout. cide applicators living in the Red River Valley of catesbeiana tadpoles using the alkaline single-
/ Nov. 15. Minnesota, USA. Environ. Health Persp. cell gel DNA electrophoresis (comet) assay.
( 10. Amerio, P. et a!. 2oo4.~$kin toxicity from gly- 110(SuppL 3):441-449. !. Environ. Mole. Mutagen. 29:277-288.45
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<:
NORTHWEST COALITION FOR AL TERNA TIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP
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15
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Publications
November 2008
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Linked to Herbicides in Two New Studies
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a group of different types of malignant lymphatic diseases that share some
features but not others. In two recent health surveys, herbicide exposure was highlighted as a significant NHL risk
factor. A Swedish study focused on risks of exposure to various types of pesticides while a German study
concentrated on occupational risk factors for a mostly rural population.
Both studies compared two groups of people who were similar with respect to age, sex, and regional residence.
Using information from responses to survey questions as well as subjects' medical records, researchers compared
people who had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma over a set period of years and others who did not
have non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Pesticide Exposure
Swedish scientists, following up on earlier studies, investigated the role that pesticides might play in the development
of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In their new study, they found that a significant risk factor was exposure to both
herbicides and wood preservatives. Researchers did not find any overall increased risk from exposure to
insecticides, fungicides or rodenticides.
Confirming earlier studies, phenoxy herbicides were found to be a link to increased risk for NHL. Researchers
grouped data relating to 2,4-0 and 2,4,5-T together to mirror pesticide use in earlier studies.
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.. Examined separately; MCPAwas found to have the highest risk factor for NHL. In the United States, MCPA is used
on lawns and in agrictllttlre.,' 'q"
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Exposure to all (other herbi~id~s (i.e. non-phenoxy herbicides) also increased cancer risk. Of this group, glyphosate
- the chemicarfrlRoLindup"products - posed the greatest risk.
Researchers noted that the use of herbicides in Sweden has changed over the years. Sweden banned 2,4 ,5- T in the
1970s and later also banned of 2,4-0 because of concerns about contamination by various dioxins. The use of
MCPA and newer herbicides such as glyphosate became more prominent.
In Sweden, the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has Ie veled off in recent years and the researchers suggest
this trend may result from the move away from 2,4,5-T and 2,4-0 and other pesticides like DOT. New protective
measures may also have reduced risks. .
Occupational Risk
To assess occupational factors associated with NHL, German researchers surveyed residents of mostly rural
counties in northern Germany, asking about work history and exposure to 50 "agents," such as herbicides, textile
dust, electromagnetic fields, and paints.
The study looked at long-term employment trends. The results showed that those who worked in agricultural
occupations (including forestry and fishermen) had an elevated risk for both high malignancy and low malignancy
NHL when compared to their counterparts in the study.
Researchers also found elevated risk of high malignancy NHL for people with estimated exposure to herbicides.
Farmers and gardeners who worked in horticulture or tree nurseries were the main occupations categorized as likely
to be exposed to herbicides.
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11/26/2008 3:01PM
~on-H?dgkin L~hcma Linked to Herbicids in Two N~ ~
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Other occupations were also linked. Technical salesmen, manufacturers' agents and construction workers had
elevated risk for both the high and low malignancy groups. Low malignancy NHL was more common among
blacksmiths, toolmakers, and machine tool operators.
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Other occupational agents associated with both high and low malignancy NHL included diesel fuel, nitrates, organic
dusts, chlorophenols and arsenic compounds. Potential exposure to arsenic compounds was largely linked to
horticultural and tree nursery workers. The published study did not explain how these workers would have been
exposed to arsenic, but arsenic has been used as a wood preservative and pesticide in Sweden.*
SOURCES
Eriksson, M. et al. 2008.
Pesticide exposure as risk factor for non-Hodgkin lymphoma including histopathological subgroup
analysis.
International Journal of Cancer 123:1657-1663
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Richardson, 0.8., Terschuren, C., and W. Hoffmann. 2008.
Occupational risk factors for non=Hodgkin's lymphoma: a population-based case-control study in
Northern Germany.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine 51 :258-268.
.A.bstract
01: Navas-Acien, A et al. 2002. Occupation. exposure to chemicals and risk of gliomas and meningiomas in Sweden. American
Journal of Industrial Medicine 42(3):214-227.
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11/26120083:01 PM