I would really like to get the word out on this matter, but have got zero energy for debates or flames. Please, if this note offends you, just move on and ignore this. I am posting this because I am hoping to spare other children from nasty health problems like seizures. My motive for posting this is purely to help try to prevent YOUR child from going through what my Asia has to go through EVERY Year!

Ok, now, onto the topic I need to talk about. As most of you know, Asia has just come home from being in the hospital. I have watched my child seize and have felt completely helpless and scared. Everytime Asia gets this sick a part of myself dies. I have cried many tears in the last few days and I am determined educate everyone I can about why Asia has been so sick these last days.

Asia is a very sick child right now because of the people on my street who feel the need to spray pesticides on their lawns. Last year I posted signs saying that the pesticides make Asia very sick and that she ends up with seizures when somebody sprays. All but 2 neighbours stopped spraying. On Tuesday I noticed the trucks and shut all of my windows in my house and kept Asia in. Well, that still wasn't enough. Asia seized. She seized really badly and I don't know what to do with my feelings on this. Many places around our city have banned these pesticides because of safety, but my City is still spraying.
Please, I am begging you, if you are a person who feels the need to spray pesticides to kill your weeds... please reconsider. I have met so many people who have children who get sick when the spray hits the air. Is a green, weedless lawn really that important?
My Asia and many other child deserve clean air. They deserve good health and a clean environment. Yes, it is true that my daughter's seizure threshold is very different than the average child, but it is so unfair that she has to suffer like this.
Everytime you see a beautiful dandilion on your lawn please think of Asia. Try to look at that flower in a positive way. When it goes to seed, look at it as a wishing flower. Everytime my Asia pickes a dandilion she wishes that the truck with the big hoses doesn't come into our neighbourhood today so that she can play without getting sick.

Samantha,

no flames here. I'm so sorry Asia has to go through that :(

i hope asia feels better soon.
i agree about the lawn. several of our neighbors have lush green grass, and now after three years of seeding, we finally have more than dirt. i saw a wonderful article somewhere where one neighbor was teasing the other about playing with his kids instead of working on the yard and the dad said "i am raising kids, not a green lawn" and i think that is so true.
i hope your neighbors will re-think their ideas and stop doing this for your daughter's sake. it makes me sick to my stomach to think that they know it could hurt her and they don't care enough to stop.

I'm sorry your daughter has to go through seizures so others can have a green lawn.

I hope she is feeling better.

Yikes! I was just thinking that our yard looks really nice since we have chemlawn come out. I will show this post to dh tonight and we will make a decision. My ds has asthma and it gets really bad during leaf burning season so I know what you feel like. Marcus ends up in the hospital struggling to breathe and it really pisses me off. I hate to think I might have contributed to another child's illness. Thanks for posting, I would not have even known it was a problem for some people. And Asia is in my prayers.

Oh, and I know there are some organic lawn co out there. Do they bother Asia as well, or is it the chemicals?

We were always against those lawn services anyway, but when we had dd, we decided that an organic lawn was much more important than a lack of dandelions. I am so sorry that Asia has to go through this. It makes me angry that those people are still spraying those chemicals inspite of you.

I would never be strong enough to do this, but perhaps you could videotape one of Asia's seizures & show it to the people still using the chemicals. (It is a really confrontational move, but they'd probably "get it" then.)

I'm so thankful we've used an organic lawn care company since we moved to our new house two years ago...

Wonderful post, mama

Not only is it the lawn care, but the "bug trucks" as my kids call them. The trucks that come around and spray are carrying pesticides, not weed killers. It's because of the mosquitos that carry disease. If we all do our part with mosquito prevention, those trucks won't be necessary. Whenever I hear them, I try to close the windows, but I'm never fast enough. Really bugs my asthma. :(

you stated you posted signs - have you sent them a letter or talked to them directly? they may not have noticed them. maybe add a referal for organic treatments.

could you use a resporator on her or a detox treatment when you know she may be exposed to something.

have the newspaper or local news run a story on her to inform people of the dangers these chemicals can do.

I am so sorry you have to go through this once again - I understand about a little piece of you dies each time this happens again. :sob:

heres a pritty for Asia :butterfly and a hug for all your family :big hug:

Samantha, I don't know if your state has this, but PA has a notification law in place regarding pesticides. If anyone in a certain radius of me wants to spray, the company doing the work MUST notify me at least 24 hours in advance, or face a stiff fine. When I know someone will be spraying, I make sure I'm out of the area, or inside the house.

When I was in 1st grade, an airplace accidentally crop dusted right next to our playground. :mad: A bunch of us were sick for a week, and ever since then, I've been hypersensitive to pesticides and herbicides. The PA Notification list has been invaluable to me. Here is information about how it works in our state - maybe your state has something similar:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/enved/EnviroEd/Can_Do/registry.htm

I'm so sorry that this is happening. :(

Tara

Thanks Mamas. I have written letters to the Newspaper, posted signs in my neighbourhood, and my husband and a friend went door to door last year. The City is in huge debate as to whether they should ban the stuff or not. It is heartbreaking. I do have 100's of hours of seizures that I can show any neighbour who wants to see them. They are just very difficult to watch and I guess I am afraid to suggest that they see my child at her worst.
The organic lawn companies around here still contain poisons and they still bother Asia. I am so sad and scared for my daughter. I can't just get up and move to the country, I can't seem to reason with my neighbours, and I have nowhere I can take Asia that is out of the city. The other option is to confine Asia in a hospital during spraying season. Mamas, I am in tears, that is so unfair. She is a child and deserves to be healthy. She had gone a month without a seizure and then it hit because of the hate for weeds. Gosh, I feel so helpless in this.
If this post help just one family stop spraying, I will be happy. If this spray is causing Asia to seize, others to have asthma, etc how many children are going to get cancer from this stuff? Thanks again for listening.

Man, that was quite a tear jerker. How horrible that this could have been prevented. My heart breaks for her. The only experience I have with seizures is with my dog. My cocker spaniel has epilipsy, with seizures. I had never felt so helpless in my life. (That was before I had kids.) I can't even pretend to imagine how much harder it would be if it was my child. I wish you strenght, courage, health, and a change of heart of your neighbors.

Bless you

Amy

Originally posted by RFamHere
It's because of the mosquitos that carry disease. If we all do our part with mosquito prevention, those trucks won't be necessary.

Not trying to take away from the OP at all, but can you tell me more about mosquito prevention? I am afraid we have them very badly at this new house and I never had to deal with them at all at the new house. We are getting bit up badly and it's worrying me, especially with the West Nile, etc. We have nothing outside that holds water and try to move the lawn once a week or so, but they are stil alive and biting. Our neighbors all have neatly trimmed lawns as well and no sources of water for them to be in that I have noticed. (Thinking now that a small pool is definitely out for the Summer, but I'd rather not risk it if it means more mosquitos.)

Also, while we are on the topic, any thing natural that we can spray or use to get rid of poison ivy/oak?

I started a new thread for listing the non-toxic alternatives to herbicides & pesticides here: http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=167565

What a horrible situation. I am so sorry.

For the neighbors who won't stop spraying....could you write a letter asking that they please give you a few days notice before the spray is scheduled. Maybe you could take a little trip with the kids for those 2 or 3 days a couple of times a year? Ugh. How difficult.

I am glad asia is back home.

ok this is the legal mama part of me coming through, but since you have asked and told your neighbors of the consequnces and they do not stop can you take legal action? I would call an attorney and see if there is anything that can be done. If not monitarily to cover your medical expences from when she has to go to the dr. but at least to get them to stop?
My heart breaks at the though of poor asia suffering so someone can have their pretty green lawn that they are going to cut anyway... :rolleyes:


{{{{hugs}}}}

Wow.. how scary, I never even thought that those chemicals could cause seizures like that! :( We don't use chemicals on our lawn b/c we play out there everyday and I wouldn't want Connor playing in that junk! I hope the other two people in your neighborhood can be convinced to stop spraying, especially if it'll help Asia!!

Thank again Mamas. I am so thrilled to see so many non-flaming responses. You all understand what can happen to a child.... what about pets? A few years back I had 2 very sick dogs due to the spray. I hate the stuff! I feel sorry for the people spraying it all day long. You know one other very SAD thing about this......... my own mother.... Asia's grandmother ....... sprays her lawn. Asia doesn't go there anymore. When will people like my mom worry less about keeping up with the Jones'? It is encouraging to find some people who understand my fears with this. Watching Asia get so sick because of other people really makes me sad. Please copy my original post if needed and share it with whoever needs to read it.

Very scary stuff. I am sooooo sorry Asia goes through this.

Bethany

Originally posted by Shanka
Everytime you see a beautiful dandilion on your lawn please think of Asia. Try to look at that flower in a positive way. When it goes to seed, look at it as a wishing flower.

I love the dandilions in our yard, next year we're going to make wine! We pick foxtails out of our front yard by hand, we let the lions live... I'd rather know that my kids and animals are safe... I'm so sorry your neighbors don't understand...

I am so sorry! We have had a horrible time here in our housing addition. We are the only ones here who do not use a lawn service or chemicals... and we have gotten warnings for it. In other word, the neighborhood association doesn't like the dandions and weeds in our yard and has told us we there have been complaints that we have an unsightly yard! They consider this to be a breach of contract and are threatening us to get rid of the problem.

I am glad we are moving!

Originally posted by Sunni
I am so sorry! We have had a horrible time here in our housing addition. We are the only ones here who do not use a lawn service or chemicals... and we have gotten warnings for it. In other word, the neighborhood association doesn't like the dandions and weeds in our yard and has told us we there have been complaints that we have an unsightly yard! They consider this to be a breach of contract and are threatening us to get rid of the problem.

I am glad we are moving!

to that I would tear up the whole yard and put wild flowers and rock gardens LOL

to that I would tear up the whole yard and put wild flowers and rock gardens LOL

That's exactly what I would love to do to our yard! :D Our is VERY weedy. But we do not spray at all. We just mowed it yesterday and it looks so nice! Ours is the greenest, plushest (?) law on the block. Everyone else's is brown and crunchy already. :D


I'm really sorry to hear about Asia, that sucks that people are so inconsiderate. I wonder if printing out individual flyers and putting them on their doors would help? :hugs

Interesting, I just emailed our MPP (member of Provincial Parliament) about this very same issue. Toronto and a few other cities have placed a pesticide ban (at least a partial one) and I hope that others will soon follow. It is ridiculous. Oh, and I love dandelions, but "neighbourly" pressure gets me on my knees and weeding (digging) them out, by hand, almost daily. Well, on my front lawn. I welcome them in my backyard :)

Please read the link below to learn more and to see what you can do!!!
David Suzuki Newsletter (http://www.davidsuzuki.org/WOL/Challenge/Newsletter/april2004_pesticides/)

For those who don't know David Suzuki, he is a Canadian environmental activist and professor of genetics. He walks the talk. You can also join his newsletter to get e-mail updates on issues about the environment, as well as things you can do to ACTIVELY help and make a difference.

I have been wondering if the spraying in the neighborhood and the fact we put down some stuff has caused these problems with Branden...hmmmmm?

OMG! I just realized that dh put down stuff the night before Branden had this "episode" and allowed Branden to touch the grass!!!!! What an idiot I am!!!!!!!

You've helped this family mama! How could I be so stupid?! I could just cry....and then my stupid dh allowed him to mess around in the grass only one day after that! We only put down stuff once a year for the dandelions...and I didn't think I was being vain about our lawn either...we don't have a plush, pretty lawn...just hate the dandelions though. I could just die I'm such a bad mom...this vomiting and the way he was acting now points to poisoning. IDIOT! So now his CAT scan will probably be okay (which is good)...and the other similar incident he had a few weeks prior could have been the same thing...I have no idea who sprays when, etc.

Oh I feel so awful now.

Sam--I am so sorry mama! I hope Asia is doing better soon.

You know, it is not something you normally would even consider....that pesticides and weed killers could affect a person that way...but then when you really think about it..if the chemicals are so strong to kill bugs and weeds, why WOULDN'T they affect a person as well.

That is really scary, and I am very thankful you posted this!

(((((Hugs)))))

I hope Asia feels better and that those two neighbors can be more respectful of her health.

I do know your struggles and also have neighbors who think nothing of using harmful chemicals.

I'm so sorry about Asia and your inconsiderate neighbors. You have gotten some REALLY good advice here!

Now I'm worried because we rent and have no control over what goes on the lawn....guess I'll have to make some calls so I can be prepared... and I was so excited that we're now gonna have grass for Ry to play on.. UGH!

I'm sorry she had to go through that. :(
We don't spray or fertilize our lawn and it is big.
I wondered if Erin B. could help but all I see on her
site is movie stuff http://www.erinbrockovich.com.
I thought she still did advocacy and somehow involved with Paul Newman & Stonyfield Farm stuff. :confused:

These toxins may not make most kids sieze like poor Asia, but all of us store up these toxins in our bodies. When we pollute ourselves enough we get things like cancer.

My sister in law hates ants and when she sees one she will spray like mad. That ant was never going to hurt a child, but exposure to ant spray sure will.

GREAT reminder and info Shanka!!!! :thumbsup: I do not use any chemicals on our lawn.....never. I refuse to....my kids play there, I walk barefoot there, my house is here, my pets....and on and on.....:D We just had a local dog boarding place spray their side areas with chemicals, in a place where the dogs do NOT go. However it was so strong that 11 dogs out of 19 got sick and needed medical care. They are now trying to get the boarding place to pay for their bills. One dog almost died from a severe reaction to it due to a collapsing trachea. :(

I am glad Asia is at home now. We have not sprayed our lawn but do have family that do. If you don't mind I will share this with them...I think they will have a change of heart. I did not know about this myself...but will be sharing it with many I know. It is so sad to think spraying can do this. I don't know someone can once they know what can happen....

This is SUCH an important reminder!!!

Like someone else said, not everyone reacts to these chemicals in this way. But, rest assured, the toxins do end up in your body. Several articles I have read report a very high incedence of cancers in people who are exposed to the chemicals in pesticides and weed killers. A local landscaping company had to literally go out of business when 8 of the dozen or so employees became seriously ill with respiratory issues after using Round Up.

Call a reporter for your biggest newspaper (we have a local paper for our town and then the Tennessean for all the region). Look on their webpage. They list what the reporters cover. Find the one that covers exposes (don't know how to put the accent mark on there), the enviornemnt, health care, etc. Call until you find someone interested. This is news because it is NOW. Don't wait - they want what is happening right now. Call the TV stations too. Ask to speak to a reporter. They are always searching for stories. (can you tell i used to work in media and pr?)

Somebody, somewhere, will do a story on this. I promise. Do not give up.

I thought of Erin B. too.

Call Greenpeace. They can hook you up with local people - advocates, lawyers, etc.

(edited to change the contact info to Canada): http://www.greenpeace.ca/e/about/contact.php

1-800-320-7183

Main office
250 Dundas St. W, Suite 605,
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 2Z5
Phone: (416) 597-8408 OR 1-800-320-7183
Fax: (416) 597-8422

Montreal office
454 Laurier Est, 2me. etage
Montréal, Québec
H2J 1E7
Phone: (514) 933-0021
Fax: (514) 933-1017

Vancouver office
1726 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5N 4A3
Phone: (604) 253-7701
Fax: (604) 253-0114

Call or write Montel. He loves to fight for kids. Here's where to email him: http://www.montelshow.com/show/tell.htm

That's what I would do.

And I agree that people may not see the signs. I'd do a letter. People are not as much MEAN (although some are so be prepared for that) as uninformed. They probably truly do not know. Plus, other people may be having issues but not know the cause (like Heidi was saying.)

You are in my prayers. You are strong. Get out there and fight 'em mama! We've got your back!

Wow, I never knew how this kinda stuff could bother neighbors. I would write a letter to the neighbor(s) that still spray and tell them way happens every time the have it done. I just can't imagine any person continuing to do something that INTENTIONALLY hurts a child. It's one thing if they don't know any better, but quite another when they do it after being informed.

Sorry she has to go through this. I can't imagine what it is like.

I would probably continue to write the newspaper or local TV station if it is something that you feel comfortable talking about.

My child is allergic to peanuts and was very pissed off that my own friends put his life at risk when they knew what could happen. I still get steamed.

Is there a chance that she'll outgrow this condition?

Shanka,

This article made my morning paper. It's from the Toronto Globe and Mail.

You might contact this reporter: MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT. He wrote the article about pesticides. There are some other Canadians quoted that might help as well!!!

Here's the link: http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040521.wxhpest21/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/

A comprehensive survey of more than 1,300 Americans has found traces of weed- and bug-killers in the bodies of everyone tested, leading environmentalists in both Canada and the United States to call for far tighter controls on pesticides.
The survey, conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that the body of the average American contained 13 of these chemicals.

A surprising finding was that 99 per cent of Americans, including virtually all children born in recent years, had DDT residues. The use of the insecticide has been subject to controls and outright bans since the late 1960s, and its presence indicates how persistent it is in the general environment.

More than half of those tested also had residues of 2,4-D. The lawn herbicide is controversial in Canada, where its use has been targeted by dozens of municipal bans on the cosmetic use of herbicides.

The finding of widespread pesticide exposure suggests that, despite the trend to the increased consumption of organic food and intense regulation of the pesticide industry, the U.S. public is routinely coming into contact with these substances through the environment and food.

"The fact that Americans are carrying a mixture of toxic pesticides suggests a dramatic failure of government efforts in the U.S. to protect public health and safety," contended Andrea Peart, a spokesperson for the Sierra Club of Canada.

Health authorities in Canada have done no comparable survey on the amount of pesticides in Canadians. A spokeswoman for Health Canada, Catherine Saunders, says the agency relies on the U.S. data to estimate what Canadians may have in their bodies.

She said Health Canada is currently proposing to have some pesticide measurements done as part of a Statistics Canada survey on the health of Canadians, but that research won't be available until 2006-2007.

Without detailed studies, there is no way of knowing if Canadians are as heavily contaminated as Americans, or have lower amounts of pesticides in their bodies. "I think the logical question . . . is are we going to find these same results in Canada?" said Ms. Peart.

The levels of pesticides found in Americans were generally small. The DDT residues were detected in parts per billion, with the highest readings in women. Women generally have more fatty tissue than men and DDT is stored in fat.

But environmentalists have raised concerns that some residues exceed safety standards. Pesticide Action Network North America analyzed the U.S. exposure data and determined that for two insecticides -- chlorpyrifos and methyl parathion -- exposures exceeded acceptable thresholds, in one case, by more than four times the amount recommended for children.

Canadian health authorities believe Canadians may have smaller amounts of the two compounds in their bodies.

Health Canada has been concerned by chlorpyrifos exposure in children, and banned residential uses of the insecticide in 2001 for this reason, according to Chris Krepski, a spokesman for Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency. However, the pesticide is still in widespread use on food crops.

Chlorpyrifos is in a class of pesticides known as organophosphates, over which there is considerable concern about potential health effects. Organophosphates disrupt nerve impulses and some research suggests they may harm brain development.

Although the PMRA has banned the use of the product around homes, Canadians could still have exposures because chlorpyrifos can be used on 30 crops, including wheat, peaches and strawberries. The crop list in Canada is generally the same as in the United States.

Methyl parathion is used heavily in the United States to kill insects on cotton crops, but is not licensed for use in Canada.

Danger within

A recent study of over 1,300 Americans found widespread evidence of pesticides in their systems. Below are some pesticides and the percentage of those tested in whom they were found.

TCP or chlorpyrifos

Licensed for agricultural use in Canada, but was recently banned for use around homes: 93%

2,4-D

Active ingredient in most lawn herbicides; subject to bans in many Canadian municipalities: 55%

DDE

A breakdown product of DDT; persists in people's bodies despite having been banned for decades: 99%

Denise, thanks for posting that article!!!

It is so scary to me that people are just spraying that stuff around without a second thought to how it affects not only themselves but their children, neighbors, pets, ecological system and so on...

99% of all Americans have DDT residue??

Is it really any wonder why cancer is so rampant these days??

Makes me REALLY wish we could afford to eat only organic food, that's for sure!!!

:( So sorry you are going through this mama! Poor Asia:( .I hope your action brings a big change in your neighborhood! We are surrounded by chemicals here in Fl. Everbody is killing the weeds and the bugs. We don't and our lawn is the ugliest around and we have a swing set in the the yard that rarely gets used because of these darn fire ants. Here's an idea,let's all move!:D But where..........

Thank you for all of this wonderful information and links. My fingers are crossed that they will ban the spraying for next year. I have been informed that the spraying is over until the fall, so I can concentrate on how I will approach these neighbours. I wish I could clone myself... I am finding it so hard to take care of my sick daughter and keep up on who is spraying and where. My letters to to paper did generate some positive, but in general I am being informed (by these two neighbours) that my child is not normal and her special needs are not their concern. They think I am just looking for somebody to blame. They know that Asia has seizures without pesticides and they don't understand that the pesticides trigger more problems for her.

Thank you all for being such wonderful and accepting friends. I was so afraid that I was going to get flamed since that is what I am getting from these two neighbours. It is a very debated topic and so many people have opposite feelings to mine. I appreciate the understanding and positive energy that all of you have given me.