Sustainability, health and precautionary perspectives on lawn pesticides, and alternatives.

This article considers health concerns associated with lawn pesticide use and potential policy actions to address those concerns. We first briefly present the generations of pesticide technology, and then apply a sustainability lens to consider the dissipative use of persistent compounds. We enumerate uncertainties in available science and gaps in toxicity testing of pesticides, along with potential for exposure and evidence of harm from lawn pesticide exposure. We consider how a precautionary approach complements a sustainability perspective and detailed scientific findings, and then briefly present practical approaches to reducing use of lawn pesticides. Finally, we highlight factors pivotal for successful policy to limit lawn pesticide use.

Sustainability, synthetic chemicals, and human exposure.

Public concerns regarding exposures to synthetic chemicals are increasing. Globally, there are increasing concentrations of many synthetic chemicals within the environment. The ubiquitous extent of some chemicals makes human exposure unavoidable. Biomonitoring has emerged as the optimal method for assessing exposures. The extent of human exposure and contamination occurs throughout the life cycle and is widespread. Although there is limited information on health risks for the majority of chemicals within our environment, and those identified with biomonitoring, many are known or suspected to cause human harm. Continued global and national unsustainable development regarding synthetic chemicals will increase the extent of environmental and human contamination unless precautionary action is implemented. Precautionary legislation may protect ecological and public health until societal sustainability is achieved.

Integrating sustainability and health care.

Unsustainable development around the world has contributed to ecological degradation and human suffering while compromising the ability of ecosystems and social institutions to support human life. The United States health care system and its institutions are significant contributors to unsustainable development, but leaders of change are emerging from the health care arena. Health professionals, including primary care providers, are poised to serve as models for sustainability and to facilitate the necessary transformation toward more sustainable practices. Health professionals must, within a practical framework, embrace an objective definition of sustainability and then act to achieve it.