HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

CONTAMINANTS

When toxic contaminants -- such as pesticides, mercury pollution and diesel exhaust -- are released into the environment, their effect on human health can be profound. Since our pioneering work in the 1970s to get lead out of gasoline, NRDC has fought to get the most dangerous chemicals out of Americans' lives. We educate the public about the health threats posed by contaminants in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. We fight to make protecting children's health the basis for policy decisions that affect national environmental health standards and practices. We have been instrumental in developing federal laws related to toxic chemicals and health, and we continue to monitor their implementation and enforcement. And we strive to ensure that public health policy is based upon sound, independent science.

NRDC ANNUAL REPORT:
HEALTH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Source: The Natural Resources Defense Council
Mosquitoes are coming!!
Risk with Lawn Mowers
Working in homes and gardens
Preventing Risk factors at homes
Home repair for seniors and caregivers
HEALTHY HOME AND HEALTHY GARDEN

Don't Let Your Flowers Bouquet Become A Pest Buffet

by COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO Supervisor Greg Cox

imageWith spring in bloom, many people are paying more attention to the garden. Now is the time for troublesome pests like snails and aphids to make their appearance. It may be tempting to turn to pesticides to keep your yard, garden or potted plants healthy, but the pesticides you spray or scatter simply don't stay put on plants. While rainy weather is good for the garden, also is a reminder that the toxic chemicals in pesticides are easily washed into storm drains, and eventually into waterways and out to the ocean.

As one of the founders of the County's Project Clean Water, keeping the region's beaches and bays free of these toxics is vitally important to me. That is why the County has launched the "Healthy Garden - Healthy Home" campaign to encourage everyone to take control of pests and weeds in less toxic ways, thereby cutting risks to human health and the environment.

By using pesticides sparingly, if it all, we can each do our part to fight storm water pollution. The "Healthy Garden - Healthy Home" campaign offers tips for home gardeners to stop pests before they take over, offers less-toxic alternatives to pesticides, and gives advice on using the least toxic pesticides responsibly and only when necessary.

Some of the most frequent and unwelcome garden visitors after rainfall are snails and slugs. Instead of reaching for a chemical snail killer, try planting snail-proof plants such as impatiens, geraniums or begonias. Slugs and snails need daytime hiding places like under ivy, weeds or debris. Removing these cozy nooks can make your garden less desirable. You can also try simple chemical-free tools such as placing strips of copper around trees and around edges of raised flower beds since snails and slugs won't cross copper barriers.

For more tips on how to fight pests and grow a beautiful garden using non-chemical methods and least toxic pesticides, please visit http://www.projectcleanwater.org/ and click on "safe pest control information". By keeping our home gardens and potted plants beautiful while cutting back on the use of pesticides, we also help keep our region's beaches and bays free of pollution.

 

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