For immediate release: April 13, 2005

Contact: Kay Rumsey, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, 541-344-5044 x19

The Northwest Coalition For Alternatives To Pesticides Joins National Pesticide-Free Lawns Campaign

The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides is joining with the newly formed National Pesticide-Free Lawn Coalition to urge consumers to go organic in their lawns. By working together, the environmental and consumer groups hope to greatly increase awareness about the hazards of lawn pesticides. They emphasize that more natural methods are available to produce attractive lawns and gardens.

With 'alternatives to pesticides' always a central part of their work, NCAP is now focusing on reaching many more people with information on alternatives for their lawns, gardens and homes. The Healthier Homes and Gardens program provides an easy way to find out about topics such as natural lawn care. Anyone can sign up to receive a free monthly email that offers pesticide-free tips for a common weed or pest problem.

Scientists are finding increasing evidence of the harmful effects of pesticides on health and the environment. Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide effects. With 90 million pounds of pesticides are being used on private lawns and gardens every year, there is cause for concern. Annual use of weed and feed amounts to 7 to 9 million pounds. Kay Rumsey, NCAP's Information Services Coordinator, said "Most people think that weed killers are not toxic. But the kind of herbicides found in weed and feed products were linked to a higher risk of birth defects in the children of Minnesota farmers. Just last year, a veterinarian published a study which showed that weed and feed use increased the chances of bladder cancer in Scottish terriers."

Lawn pesticides -- herbicides, insecticides, fungicides -- do not just stay on the lawn. Rain washes the chemicals into urban rivers and streams where they can harm aquatic animals, including endangered salmon. In a study of the Puget Sound area, every stream tested was contaminated with lawn care pesticides. An earlier study in the Willamette Valley also found lawn chemicals in water.

It's not just environmental activists that are concerned about such pollution. Some government agencies are trying to do something about it. Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality recently launched a new 'healthy lawns' web site which provides information on natural lawn care.

"It's great that there are more and more resources to help people have a lawn that's healthy for them and the environment," said Kay Rumsey.

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