A new study from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shows just how threatening pesticides are to the world’s endangered species. Malathion and chlorpyrifos, two widely-used pesticides, are likely to harm 97 percent of the 1,700 most endangered plants and animals in the United States.
But it doesn’t end there -- last year the World Health Organization classified malathion as “probably carcinogenic to humans”. So why is it still being sprayed on our fruits and vegetables here in Canada?
For too long, Canada has allowed chemical companies to register pesticides without proving their safety. With the EPA’s studies demonstrating the urgency of tightening pesticide regulation, the time is now to call on our government to ban harmful pesticides to protect endangered species from extinction.
Sign the petition to urge the Trudeau government to save Canada’s endangered species by banning malathion and chlorpyrifos.
The EPA report found that malathion and chlorpyrifos were likely harmful to 97% of the 1,700-odd mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and plants listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. And if these pesticides are so harmful to the U.S. most vulnerable species, they are likely threats to Canada’s as well.
We need to put a stop to Canada’s lax pesticide regulations that mean more profits for Monsanto & Friends and less protection for our endangered species. The good news is that the pressure we’re putting on regulators to clamp down on dangerous pesticides is working.
Just last year, Quebec announced it would follow Ontario’s lead in restricting the use of bee-harming neonicotinoids. Now, as regulatory bodies in the United States come to recognize the dangers of unregulated pesticides, we need to push the Trudeau government to do the same.
Sign the petition to call on the Canadian government to protect endangered species and ban malathion and chlorpyrifos.
More information
Two widely used pesticides likely to harm 97% of endangered species in US
The Guardian. 7 April 2016.
The Guardian. 7 April 2016.