Several municipalities in Canada have chosen to maintain their parks and playgrounds using ecological methods, the committee says, and others should follow. Many will find the changes recommended by the report hard to swallow. Although the committee heard lots of worrying information about pesticides, what they didn't hear was any hard proof linking them to ill effects. And with no proof, the committee is bound to find itself in a battle with the pesticide industry. Unfortunately, very little is known about the long-term effects of phenoxy herbicides on mammals.
More research is desperately needed, the report concludes.
Organophosphates in common insecticides such as Diazinon, Malathion and Dursban kill by interfering with the nervous system. They inhibit the enzymes needed for proper functioning of the central nervous system, causing dizziness and sometimes convulsions that may lead to death. A number of chronic effects of carbamate exposure have also been reported, including lowered sperm counts, reduced fertility and lower haemoglobin. The U.S. Environmental Protection Association recently announced a ban on Dursban, citing its potential health risks to children. Canada says it likes the approach the Americans are taking and will follow suit.