We have started a petition
asking the City Council to minimise the use of weedkiller which they spray
around the streets of Leicester. Research has linked exposure to pesticides to
a range of health issues, including cancers such as leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma; neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and
disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; respiratory
disorders such as asthma; and diabetes and fertility issues. Glyphosate, the
weedkiller used in Leicester, was recognised as a carcinogen by the World
Health Organisation in 2015. In 2020 the manufacturer of the weedkiller
Roundup, which contains glyphosate, paid out over $10 billion to settle
lawsuits from people who developed cancer as a result of using their product.
Whilst we recognize that it is necessary to remove plants
from pavements to stop people slipping, we are asking the Council “if it is
really necessary to spray parks and green spaces? Does it really matter if wild plants grow
around trees or fence posts?” Surely, we need more space for wildlife in our
city. More plants = more insects, more birds, more life!
We have written to Adam Clarke the Deputy City Mayor for
Leicester Council and he has confirmed that the City Council are still using
Glyphosate. He explained that the Council have been working very hard to try
and reduce their use of pesticides but they cannot stop using these products
altogether. Unfortunately, this does mean that the parks and open spaces in the
city are still being sprayed and as children are particularly vulnerable to
pesticide poisoning (they absorb three times more pesticides than adults)
because their skin is more permeable and they spend more time playing close to
the ground, this does mean that we are putting our city children at risk!
Members have been taking pictures of areas in parks and
around open spaces which they think have been sprayed with pesticide. The photo
album can be viewed here
.
We are also asking the City Council to, as a duty of care,
and as an immediate measure, put up signs to alert park uses which particular
areas are to be avoided as they have been sprayed. This is common practice in
many cities in America. This would help to safeguard our children and pets and
the health of the general public. The WHO estimates that over 350,000 people in
developing countries die each year as a result of acute pesticide poisoning,
with upwards of 750,000 suffering from chronic defects and cancers as a result
of long-term exposure.
As well as being harmful to human health, pesticides are
also damaging the environment. A single application of a pesticide or
insecticide can remain present in the soil for up to three years, so repeated
doses – even one every twelve months – can render the soil toxic for years.
They work systemically affecting all of a plant including its pollen and
nectar, which means they are taken up by pollinators such as bees. Given the
vital role that insects play in our ecosystems, and the importance of nature in
helping to tackle the climate emergency, it seems imperative that the Council
stops spraying its land with substances that are so harmful to insects and
human health.
The petition will be presented to the City Council later
this year asking them to re-think the way they manage our green spaces. Please
help to encourage the Council to keep our children safe and sign it at
Melanie Wakley
