The real cost of 'safe' pesticides
A huge thanks to Michelle Kavanagh who arranged for a local landscaper to write an article on her experience with the after-effects of pesticide sprays. Many companies tout them as being safe, but it’s buyer beware. They want to make a sale but what’s the real cost?
The article, written by Sarah Soberg of Raven's View Landscaping in Utterson, is attached below.
Contact info:
Website: www.ravensviewlandscaping.ca
Facebook: @ravensviewlandscapinginc
>> Please note these sites are under development and will be available in May
Email: ravensviewlandscaping@gmail.com
Thank you, Sarah, for writing this eye-opening article!!
Contact info:
Website: www.ravensviewlandscaping.ca
Facebook: @ravensviewlandscapinginc
>> Please note these sites are under development and will be available in May
Email: ravensviewlandscaping@gmail.com
Thank you, Sarah, for writing this eye-opening article!!
Muskoka, the land of fun and sun. As a child, I was told that at our cottage, we had five seasons: ‘Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, and Bug Season!’
When we think of our time at the cottage, we usually think about lazy days spent in the sun, enjoying the warm breeze while being next to the lake. Bonfires with the aroma of crisp marshmallows as the moon rises high above the detailed treetop landscape. Or the thought of being out on the water catching the ‘big one’ with a family member.
When we think of these fun moments, we forget the high-pitched whine that keeps us up at night or the quick and involuntary slap of our skin as the enemy lands for a snack. What about the constant itching behind our ears and the nape of our neck, caused by neglecting those areas with the spray of the communal insect repellent?
In recent years a new product has been introduced to local homeowners and cottagers. Yes, I am talking about external Mosquito Repellant. This product is sprayed within the treeline, along the outside perimeter of the living spaces on your property. Anywhere you want to enjoy your outdoor living spaces to be free from ‘harmful’ insects. This sounds great, but do you know how it affects other insects and wildlife? What about the compounds and ingredients that are used to create this fairly new product?
How about I tell you about why I am authoring this article? It’s about my experience with these products and why I feel it necessary to share this information. As a landscaper, I have had to work all over Muskoka and in all the seasons, including bug season! Because this product is gaining in popularity, I have been onsite of many residences that have used this product.
On one occasion, I arrived at a site an hour and a half after the pesticide was sprayed. At first, I did not think much of it. Yes, there was a particular scent in the breeze as well as a residual moisture in areas the sun could not reach, but it was the odd behaviour of various insects that caught my attention. I heard the chirping from two Cicadas. This is not anything out of the norm on a hot summer afternoon, but on this day, it was different. I quickly found the first Cicada; it was in a state of paralysis, aside from one quick vibration to create their famous mating call.
The part that was worrisome, the entrails were being exuded from its abdomen. I felt sorry for this creature and thought it was calling on its friend for help, or to hide from an unknown predator. I decided to look for the other, and when I found it, the same circumstance.
At first, I thought a parasite had gotten hold of these unfortunate beings. Obviously, I did not have the capabilities to inspect for such a thing and thought what a weird occurrence.
I resumed work and thought nothing more of it. A while later while weeding along a granite walkway, I noticed a Two-Striped Grasshopper with the same symptoms: Paralyzed with entrails! Ok now I am starting to think about a common factor, and just as I realize that the area I am working in is still moist from the pesticide, I watched as a Dragonfly fell into a patch of Sweet Woodruff. I watched in disbelief as it fluttered slowly, then stopped. It tried one more time before its abdomen curled inwards, and finally excreted its organs. I moved closer to inspect only to be faced with the facts that I am watching this beautiful creature slowly die.
I ended that day by searching the web for any information I could about these products. I would like to share a few highlights of the information found:
Some of these spray products contain Allium Sativum and/or Pyrethroids. Allium Sativum is created by garlic. It has a sulphur compound called allicin. Allicin emits a strong odour which has been known to deter mosquitos, hence why it used in these pesticides.
However, garlic is known to be highly toxic to bees and their larvae, and should never be sprayed during pollination. As we all know, pollination happens over the entire summer months; if we can see the bees, they are out pollinating. Garlic is also known to be a scent that repels birds. During my research, I had read that in some cases, garlic will cause oxidative damage to tissues that leads to the destruction of red blood cells, causing anemia in birds. This in turn causes injury to the kidneys and thus, results in a shortened lifespan.
Now Pyrethroids are a different additive altogether as they are a manufactured chemical. They have been created to mimic the natural structure of Pyrethrins, which are found naturally in some Chrysanthemum plants. Pyrethrins have been used against insects since the 1950’s.
But due to the difficulties in impurities, the chemical, pyrethroids, was produced and found to last longer. It has been documented that pyrethroids are practically non-toxic to birds but highly toxic to honeybees.
In another document, it was made clear that pyrethroids are highly to very highly toxic to fish, amphibians and aquatic insects. This means that any overspray into any forms of water is adversely affecting the water habitats.
This product can also leach into water systems as pyrethroids are harder to break down. Should a contracted company be scheduled on a windy day, there is no guarantee that this product can be maintained to a certain location or property. And due to the volume of chemical sprayed, it does not always hit the targeted areas and falls to the ground.
In tests, mammals that have been subject to pyrethroids have been noted as having trouble breathing, failed pregnancies and in some cases, acute tremors.
These are only two active ingredients that have been used within these pesticide sprays. Although these ingredients show adverse side effects, they do and are approved by the Canadian and American Governments.
As a landscaper and fellow Muskokan, I understand the annoyance that comes with the whirring and buzzing of our national bloodsuckers. And I am a heavy user of bug repellent with a favourite brand used.
However, I am for saving our ecosystem; these insects are all part of our ecosystem. I feel that the use of these items is causing acute decimation of the population of our pollinating insects as well as our birds that feed on these prey. I urge everyone to do their own investigating into these products. Understand what they do, how they work and ultimately what the adverse effects are on the environment and your health. I was witness to these effects on that fateful day, and I fear that overuse of these products will be the extermination of many species.
When we think of our time at the cottage, we usually think about lazy days spent in the sun, enjoying the warm breeze while being next to the lake. Bonfires with the aroma of crisp marshmallows as the moon rises high above the detailed treetop landscape. Or the thought of being out on the water catching the ‘big one’ with a family member.
When we think of these fun moments, we forget the high-pitched whine that keeps us up at night or the quick and involuntary slap of our skin as the enemy lands for a snack. What about the constant itching behind our ears and the nape of our neck, caused by neglecting those areas with the spray of the communal insect repellent?
In recent years a new product has been introduced to local homeowners and cottagers. Yes, I am talking about external Mosquito Repellant. This product is sprayed within the treeline, along the outside perimeter of the living spaces on your property. Anywhere you want to enjoy your outdoor living spaces to be free from ‘harmful’ insects. This sounds great, but do you know how it affects other insects and wildlife? What about the compounds and ingredients that are used to create this fairly new product?
How about I tell you about why I am authoring this article? It’s about my experience with these products and why I feel it necessary to share this information. As a landscaper, I have had to work all over Muskoka and in all the seasons, including bug season! Because this product is gaining in popularity, I have been onsite of many residences that have used this product.
On one occasion, I arrived at a site an hour and a half after the pesticide was sprayed. At first, I did not think much of it. Yes, there was a particular scent in the breeze as well as a residual moisture in areas the sun could not reach, but it was the odd behaviour of various insects that caught my attention. I heard the chirping from two Cicadas. This is not anything out of the norm on a hot summer afternoon, but on this day, it was different. I quickly found the first Cicada; it was in a state of paralysis, aside from one quick vibration to create their famous mating call.
The part that was worrisome, the entrails were being exuded from its abdomen. I felt sorry for this creature and thought it was calling on its friend for help, or to hide from an unknown predator. I decided to look for the other, and when I found it, the same circumstance.
At first, I thought a parasite had gotten hold of these unfortunate beings. Obviously, I did not have the capabilities to inspect for such a thing and thought what a weird occurrence.
I resumed work and thought nothing more of it. A while later while weeding along a granite walkway, I noticed a Two-Striped Grasshopper with the same symptoms: Paralyzed with entrails! Ok now I am starting to think about a common factor, and just as I realize that the area I am working in is still moist from the pesticide, I watched as a Dragonfly fell into a patch of Sweet Woodruff. I watched in disbelief as it fluttered slowly, then stopped. It tried one more time before its abdomen curled inwards, and finally excreted its organs. I moved closer to inspect only to be faced with the facts that I am watching this beautiful creature slowly die.
I ended that day by searching the web for any information I could about these products. I would like to share a few highlights of the information found:
Some of these spray products contain Allium Sativum and/or Pyrethroids. Allium Sativum is created by garlic. It has a sulphur compound called allicin. Allicin emits a strong odour which has been known to deter mosquitos, hence why it used in these pesticides.
However, garlic is known to be highly toxic to bees and their larvae, and should never be sprayed during pollination. As we all know, pollination happens over the entire summer months; if we can see the bees, they are out pollinating. Garlic is also known to be a scent that repels birds. During my research, I had read that in some cases, garlic will cause oxidative damage to tissues that leads to the destruction of red blood cells, causing anemia in birds. This in turn causes injury to the kidneys and thus, results in a shortened lifespan.
Now Pyrethroids are a different additive altogether as they are a manufactured chemical. They have been created to mimic the natural structure of Pyrethrins, which are found naturally in some Chrysanthemum plants. Pyrethrins have been used against insects since the 1950’s.
But due to the difficulties in impurities, the chemical, pyrethroids, was produced and found to last longer. It has been documented that pyrethroids are practically non-toxic to birds but highly toxic to honeybees.
In another document, it was made clear that pyrethroids are highly to very highly toxic to fish, amphibians and aquatic insects. This means that any overspray into any forms of water is adversely affecting the water habitats.
This product can also leach into water systems as pyrethroids are harder to break down. Should a contracted company be scheduled on a windy day, there is no guarantee that this product can be maintained to a certain location or property. And due to the volume of chemical sprayed, it does not always hit the targeted areas and falls to the ground.
In tests, mammals that have been subject to pyrethroids have been noted as having trouble breathing, failed pregnancies and in some cases, acute tremors.
These are only two active ingredients that have been used within these pesticide sprays. Although these ingredients show adverse side effects, they do and are approved by the Canadian and American Governments.
As a landscaper and fellow Muskokan, I understand the annoyance that comes with the whirring and buzzing of our national bloodsuckers. And I am a heavy user of bug repellent with a favourite brand used.
However, I am for saving our ecosystem; these insects are all part of our ecosystem. I feel that the use of these items is causing acute decimation of the population of our pollinating insects as well as our birds that feed on these prey. I urge everyone to do their own investigating into these products. Understand what they do, how they work and ultimately what the adverse effects are on the environment and your health. I was witness to these effects on that fateful day, and I fear that overuse of these products will be the extermination of many species.
About the Author: Sarah has been an avid nature lover since she could first walk. Her heart belongs to Echo Lake and its surrounding Muskoka areas. She spends most of her days running her business Raven’s View Landscaping, working in gardens, and creating pollinating landscapes with the mindset of creating a brighter future.
Sarah Soberg
Sources
* 5 Ways to Deter Bees (and 4 things not to do)- May 14, 2024, Dr. Killigan
* 9 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Bees Nests - Aug 18, 2021, Pest Aid
* How to Remove Bees Without Killing Them - CPS (Competitive Pest Services)
* Permethrin, Resmethrin, d-Phenothrin (Sumithrin): Synthetic Pyrethroids for Mosquito Control - EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
* Public Health Statement for Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids - ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)
* Current Research on the Safety of Pyrethroids Used as Insecticides _ Aug 28, 2018, National Library of Medicine
* Chemical Watch Fact Sheet SYNTHETIC PYRETHROIDS - Beyond Pesticides
* Toxicological Impacts of Synthetic Pyrethroids on Non-Target Aquatic Organisms: A Review - Volume 12, July 2023, Science Direct
* An Overview on the Potential Hazards of Pyrethroid Insecticides in Fish with Special Emphasis on Cypermethrin Toxicity - June 25, 2021, National Library of Medicine