MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont needs to do more to reduce pesticide use, according to a new report by the Vermont Natural Resources Council.
The report finds that pesticide use is widespread across the Green Mountain State, despite evidence of serious risks to the health of humans, pollinators, aquatic ecosystems, and drinking water.
It also highlights data collected by state agencies showing that pesticide contamination in Vermont rivers and streams can be found at levels that exceed even federal regulatory benchmarks.
“People kind assume that there are protections in place, there’s laws and our environment and health are protected but unfortunately that’s not the case,” said Lauren Hierl, VNRC Executive Director.
To curb pesticide use, the report finds that Vermont should expand data collection, phase out the most harmful pesticides, promote integrated pest management practices so pesticides are used as a last resort, reduce pesticide use in schools, on state property, and in other public spaces and shift oversight of pesticides away from the Department of Agriculture to the Agency of Natural Resources, with support from the Department of Health.
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