In April 2004, the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) released a review of research on the effects of pesticides on human health, followed by a report strongly recommending that people reduce their exposure to pesticides wherever possible. The Comprehensive Review of Pesticide Research showed consistent links to serious illnesses such as cancer, reproductive problems and neurological diseases, and stressed that children are particularly vulnerable. Here are the principal findings:

1. Many studies show positive associations between solid tumours and pesticide exposure, including brain, prostate, kidney and pancreatic cancers, among others.
2. Previous studies have pointed to 2,4-D and related pesticides as possible precipitants of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and the findings of the Review are clearly consistent with this.
3. An association exists between pesticide exposure and leukemia. The effect of pesticides on the development of leukemia warrants further investigation as well as political action.
4. The review team uncovered a remarkable consistency in findings of nervous system effects due to pesticide exposures.
5. Occupational exposure to agricultural chemicals may be associated with adverse reproductive effects including birth defects, fetal death and intrauterine growth retardation.

Given the wide range of commonly used home and garden products associated with health effects, the College's overall message to the public is to avoid exposure to all pesticides whenever and wherever possible. This includes reducing both occupational exposures as well as lower level exposures that occur from the use of pesticides in homes, gardens and public green space. The College also advocates exposure reduction techniques such as:

1. Researching and implementing alternative organic methods of lawn and garden care and indoor pest control.
2. Proper use of personal protection equipment, including respirators for home and occupational exposure.
3. Education in the safe handling, mixing, storage and application when pesticide use is considered necessary.

It was recommended that Family Physicians should focus efforts on prevention rather than on researching the causes of chronic or terminal disease, and advocate for reduction of pesticide risk/use in the community, schools, hospitals and to governments.

The following letter was sent out to the letters editors at the Globe & Mail and the Montreal Gazette, as well as (with some minor changes) to the Ontario College of Family Physicians.

Breast Cancer Action Montreal (BCAM) highly commends and fully supports the recent public statement of the Ontario College of Family Physicians that strongly urges Canadians to limit their exposure to pesticides. This warning, based on an extensive review of research done between 1990 and 2003, provides compelling evidence of links between pesticides and serious illness.

As a long-time advocate of the Precautionary Principle, BCAM enthusiastically welcomes wider awareness of the harm caused to all living things by environmental pollutants and rejects the doctrine of profit before people.

(signed) Susan Hertzberg, BCAM Vice-President