By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published June 16, 2005, The Forecaster

On a recent Saturday, my husband and I went running through a dog-friendly local park. We met many other early morning denizens on the paths, including children and animals running freely across the fields. We also happened upon something that caused us concern: around the edge of the lawn, apparently unseen by parents and pet owners, were small signs advising caution, and urging individuals to stay off the grass. There had been a pesticide application two hours before.

Pesticide applications seem inevitable this time of year. Our state is home to an abundance of bugs. Some of these are merely annoying, while others are associated with serious diseases. We have Lyme Disease-causing deer ticks, mosquitoes linked to West Nile Virus and Brown Tail Moth Caterpillars that elicit severe skin reactions. Many towns and private citizens counter this pestilence with pesticides. In addition, an effort to keep playing fields playable and lawns lush leads to herbicide use. These chemicals, while helpful in eradicating pests, are not without risk.

Pesticides that are known to be harmful, such as DDT, are banned in this country. By law, pesticides must be tested for their potential health impacts and registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately, some of the chemicals currently in use cannot be guaranteed safe in the long term. While manufacturers can tell us whether their products are likely to cause skin, eye and lung irritation, they can’t tell us what exposure to small amounts of these chemicals do to us over time. The build-up of these chemicals, which are often stored in our body fat, is called “body burden.” An increased body burden has been implicated in childhood cancers, miscarriages, birth defects, Gulf War Syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We simply don’t know how pesticides may eventually impact our bodies, our children or other creatures that inhabit this earth with us.

Knowing the questions that still exist regarding pesticides, we should not take their use lightly. These chemicals can be absorbed into our bodies through our lungs, our skin and our mouths. They can “drift” from their original application site, and be found in the air, the soil, and eventually the groundwater as far as several miles away. Thus it is prudent to give them a wide berth. Ideally we should make an effort to decrease pesticide spraying, in favor of Integrated Pest Management techniques (see www.epa.gov). Those choosing to apply pesticides or herbicides to their property should consider informing their neighbors of this fact, then use, store and dispose of them carefully. The rest of us (including our pets) should stay away from pesticide application zones for at least forty-eight hours. People who have been in a recently sprayed area should remove their shoes before entering their house, remove and wash their clothes, and wash their hands and/or body before eating. We should do the same for our children, and others who can’t do this for themselves.

Like it or not, insects are a part of living in Maine. Pests make pesticides a reality for us as well. We need to be aware of their potential risks, and make every effort to minimize our exposure. We can enjoy spending time in the park, as long as we stay off the grass when warned.