Living in New York City has its perks: nightlife, culture and excitement. But every city dweller also knows the downside of urban living—like roaches and mice. What they may not know is that the pesticides used to control them puts their health at risk. While we may associate pesticides with farms or big suburban lawns, more pesticides are used in New York City than anywhere else in the state. Recent studies have shown that whole generations of children are at risk of learning disorders and other developmental problems because of the pesticides commonly used in New York City.

To make things even worse, pesticides aren't even effective. Pilot programs conducted in public and private housing in New York City have proven that nontoxic approaches which focus on preventing pest problems before they occur are far more effective in the long run than using poisons. The studies showed that roach infestations stayed the same in apartments that were sprayed, while using nontoxic pest control approaches permanently got rid of the pests in six months in more than half of the other apartments!

WHAT NYPIRG IS DOING
This May, after years of advocacy by NYPIRG, Mayor Bloomberg signed a law requiring City agencies to stop using pesticides that can cause cancer or developmental disorders and switch to safer alternatives. The City also enacted the Neighbor Notification Law, which requires commercial landscapers to alert neighbors before spraying lawns, trees and shrubs with toxic pesticides.

These steps forward have been achieved thanks to NYPIRG's leadership on the issue, starting in 1998 with a groundbreaking report that identified, for the first time ever, the fact that pesticides are a serious urban health threat, much like lead poisoning.

But now further progress is being stalled in Albany. For the past three years, the Senate has refused to even pass a bill to study the problem of urban pesticide use or require pesticide applicators to be trained in safer methodsãa bill which has made it through the Assembly.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
We need you to help NYPIRG's efforts to advocate for policies to reduce dangerous pesticides and promote safer and more effective pest control alternatives in New York City. Turn this flyer over for more info on how you can prevent pest problems in your own home, and visit www.nypirg.org to make your voice heard!

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