SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — As families prepare to deck the halls, advocates say it’s important to spruce up safety practices when choosing the perfect holiday tree.
On Thursday December 4, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to review the heavy use of pesticides on Christmas tree farms. This petition announcement fell on the same day the White House lit the National Christmas Tree.
The petition shared reports from the United States Department of Agriculture showing over 270,000 pounds of pesticides were being sprayed every year in tree farms in Oregon, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, and Texas. These farms produce nearly two-thirds of the Christmas trees harvested in the United States.
Needle a little change- Why the concern?
Substances found in these pesticides have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental issues in children. Chlorothalonil, simazine, glyphosate, hexazinone, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos and dimethoate are just some to name a few…