Pesticides not a 'significant public health risk' on P.E.I., says report

After a year-long review looking at the possible human health effects of pesticide exposure, P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Office has concluded there is "good evidence" suggesting a possible connection between exposure to some pesticides and a number of health conditions, including cancers of the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system.

We don't see that linkage on P.E.I. with human health impact caused by pesticides. Dr. David Sabapathy, P.E.I.'s Deputy Chief Public Health Officer

However, after comparing disease rates in P.E.I. with the rest of Canada, the office has concluded pesticides, when used according to Health Canada's directions, "do not pose a significant public health risk" in the province.

The results of the two-part review are included in a pair of reports available on the website of the P.E.I. Department of Health & Wellness.

For the first part of its review, the office looked at more than 350 scientific research papers on the possible human health effects of pesticide exposure. From that review it concluded:

• Exposure to several pesticides has been shown to have "significant human health effects."
• There is "good evidence" to suggest a possible connection between exposure to some pesticides and a number of types of cancer, including cancers of the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system, particularly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
• There is also good evidence to suggest a possible connection between exposure to some pesticides and certainneurological conditions including Parkinson's disease.
• There is good evidence to suggest a possible connection betweenexposure to some pesticidesamong pregnant women and babies born with a cleft palate.

TheChief Public Health Office said a possible connection does not mean pesticides cause these conditions, rather that there isastatistical relationship between exposure to certain pesticides and certain health conditions.

In the second part of its review, the Chief Public Health Office conducted an epidemiological study of disease rates on P.E.I. compared with the rest of Canada.

From that review, the office concluded eliminating pesticides entirely from the province would have a minimal impact on disease rates, and that "pesticides used in P.E.I. do not pose a significant public health risk when used according to Health Canada's usage and safety precaution labeling."

'A different class of risk'

"There's been a lot of concern in the public about pesticides and human health and I think this study really comes out and says that we don't see that linkage on P.E.I. with human health impact caused by pesticides," said Dr. David Sabapathy, P.E.I.'s Deputy Chief Public Health Officer.

"And I think that drives us back to, well, what is causing human health conditions, disease and illness on P.E.I. and really it's the regular risk factors tobacco, alcohol use, lack of healthy eating and physical activity that are driving chronic disease on P.E.I."

Sabapathy said if all pesticide use was discontinued in the province, the number of cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma discovered every year would decline by an average of less than one case. On the other hand, if all tobacco use were eliminated, he said that would result in 135 fewer cases of lung cancer each year.

"So a really different class of risk," he said.

The report concludes pesticides sold in P.E.I. were not associated with the four most common cancers in the province: lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer.

The report does suggest steps should be taken to limit exposure to pesticides for the public and for farm workers.

"Recommendations that reduce the use of and exposure to pesticides for the general population and for vulnerable groups (i.e. pregnant women and children) are indicated based on the state of the research evidence at this time," it said in the conclusion to the first part of the review.

Education is also important to reduce pesticide use, and encourage safe application among farm workers, the report states.

The report said there is limited research available in a number of areas, and P.E.I.'s review should be updated periodically "to ensure recent evidence is incorporated into assessing risk to Islanders."