“The information available to the industry and to the government on the harmful effects and the adverse health effects of these (herbicides and insecticides) should have been distributed to the public. These effects are not always known by those authorities in charge. This is dangerous. There should be publicly funded laboratories available to all for measuring in the human blood, urine and semen those herbicides and insecticides ( pesticides ) permitted in our provinces. These urine testings should have been and should be routine for all children. This information is important for present and future health records. Who is being held accountable ?And where are the analyses of all these approved pesticides ( herbicides and insecticides and fungicides ) in the well waters?
There is choice to avoid the wild parsnip but there is no choice in the human experiment where you may have the herbicide in your urine or semen without knowing it. ”
– Dr. June Irwin MD, Pointe Claire, Quebec
“We’re not averse to controlling the growth of wild parsnip. Far from it. This is a plant we need to be educated about and trained to identify and avoid. But because we will never eradicate it 100% we need to learn about it, control its growth and minimize its impact, for the health of all in the community.
Our issue is with the current method chosen by Council to control this invasive species and the collateral damage that will result to our environment – the flora and fauna, crops and creatures that are at risk from the indiscriminate spraying of a marginally-effective poison that broadly targets not just wild parsnip (and not very well if outcomes are carefully studied) but a host of other valuable broadleaf plants that foster a healthy environment.
We seek a rational, targeted control protocol that limits the impact of wild parsnip without affecting other plants or animals in the sensitive wetlands fed by drainage from the ditches targeted for spraying. Controlled at the source by mowing, and identified by an educated populace as a plant to be avoided, wild parsnip is simply a nuisance. Let us apply commensurate measures and reap the benefits of a serious yet benign approach. Spraying with marginally-effective poison is overkill in the most literal sense. We should not go down that path”.
– Tim Poupore, Lanark County Resident