One little beetle

I recently received a notice in my home mailbox. It was from the City of Regina and this is what it said:

"Important Spraying Notice. Within 48 hours of the date stamped on the bottom of this notice city elm trees in your area will be sprayed with the pesticide Dursban (TM)."

The notice continued with details of how the trees were to be sprayed and why they were being sprayed. The part of the notice that particularly struck my interest read like this: "City Council reaffirmed the use of Dursban (TM) after Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) re-evaluated and confirmed that Dursban (TM) is safe to use in the management of DED."

I found this curious and decided to look into Dursban (TM).

I discovered that Dursban(TM) is the product name for a chemical called chlorpyrifos, a highly toxic and controversial chemical. Chlorpyrifos has been under review by Health Canada for almost 10 years. It has been banned for residential sale but, as indicated by the City of Regina's notice, is approved for commercial users particularly in the battle against Dutch Elm Disease.

I tried at great length to get in touch with the city to learn more. They did not return my calls. I then contacted the Wascana Centre Authority, as they too use the chemical on Dutch elm trees that fall in their jurisdiction, an area of parks and recreation sites that cover 2300 acres of Regina.

There are many opposing views on this issue.On one side there are the officials who deem the pesticides safe. Then there are individuals who fight for pesticide free cities who believe that no amount of pesticide use is safe.

One thing I have left with is my desire to learn more. I think it's really important to question what is happening around you. This includes the chemicals that are being sprayed in our cities and our neighbourhoods. I am going to do my best to protect myself with information.