Ryan Conway Charlottetown Jan 14, 2008 15:47 pm

Hello everyone,

I hope you don't mind that this isn't strictly cbsm-focused, but I thought it would be a good place to ask: Is anyone aware of studies that have measured relevant health factors, such as rates of certain cancers, in a community after that community has enacted a pesticide ban or reduction strategy? The ban can be on the cosmetic use of pesticides or all uses, and any community will do, no matter where or how big or how small it is. I suspect such studies could be difficult to conduct, for reasons such as confounding variables and the relative new-ness of pesticide bans. However, this question has arisen several times in my work and I want to complete a thorough search before concluding that such studies have yet to be carried out---or, far better, the opposite. I am the Research Officer for the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Our Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment has been given the responsibility of exploring the implications of a province-wide ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides. Many individuals, groups and organizations have presented to the committee so far, and more are still to come. Several committee members have asked the question on pesticide bans and health outcomes, but to my knowledge no presenters have been able to provide the committee with actual studies. In addition to that question, my main research assignment was to inform the committee on relevant pesticide legislation in other Canadian and select international jurisdictions, legal challenges to this legislation, and some implications for banning cosmetic pesticides in PEI. This report will be presented in late January; if anyone would like a copy or would like me to make it available for posting on the FSB website, just send me the proper email address and I'll do it at that time. My second research task is to report on some educational initiatives jurisdictions have used to encourage compliance with their pesticide bans or reduction strategies, with the goal of finding programs that could possibly be used on PEI. I've read through all the "pesticide" discussions on the FSB website, and I intend to explore the variety of links that people have provided so far, and perhaps include them in my report. I also plan on giving a brief run-down of and "for more information" on community-based social marketing to explain why these programs are likely more successful than the information-only variety. In the meantime, if anyone is aware of pesticide/health studies, please let me know. I am also open to suggestions of other places to search for these studies. My apologies for the length of this message, and thanks for taking the time to read it.

All the best,
Ryan Conway,

Research Officer
Legislative Assembly
Coles Building PO Box 2000,
Charlottetown Prince Edward Island
Canada C1A 7N8
Tel 902 620 3766
Fax 902 368 5175
www.assembly.pe.ca
Email: [email protected]