Councilmembers Urge Montgomery County Hospitals to Cease Pesticide Use
Two Montgomery County Councilmembers are urging hospitals in the county to voluntarily stop using pesticides.
Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal, who chairs the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee, and Councilmember Roger Berliner, who chairs the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee, wrote to the leaders of the five organizations that operate hospitals in Montgomery County and asked them to voluntarily stop using pesticides on the grounds of their respective facilities.
The Council is currently considering Bill 52-14 that would limit the use of non-essential pesticides on county lawns, certain athletic playing fields and County-owned public grass areas. Leventhal is the lead sponsor of that bill.
“We are writing today to ask that hospitals in our County assume a leading role in increasing awareness of the health concerns regarding pesticides by voluntarily agreeing to eliminate their use on hospital grounds,” wrote the councilmembers in the letter to the hospitals. “As you know, in 2013, Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park ceased using insecticides or herbicides in advance of the Takoma Park City Council passing its ordinance restricting pesticide use. We believe it is time for every hospital to take a similar stance.”
The letters were sent to Terry Forde, the President and CEO of Adventist Healthcare; Gene Green, President of Suburban Hospital; Peter Monge, President of MedStar Montgomery Medical Center; Kevin Sexton, President and CEO of Holy Cross Health; and Kurt Newman, President of Children’s National Health System.
Ronna Borenstein, Suburban Hospital’s senior director of communications, said that hospital received the request and are “researching a response” to provide the council with “accurate feedback.”
Tom Grant, spokesman for Adventist HealthCare, sent MyMCMedia the following reaction, “We are happy to talk with the other hospitals to see how we all might implement this request, as we did in Takoma Park with Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital.”
You can read the complete text of the letter from the councilmembers below:
May 11, 2015
As you may be aware, the Montgomery County Council is currently considering a range of measures that would, if adopted, significantly reduce the use of pesticides in our County. This effort is driven in large part by concerns that have been raised by the medical community about the potential negative impacts of exposure to pesticides on human health.
There are strong signals from leading medical professionals that there is a fundamental need to reduce the amount of pesticides to which individuals are exposed. In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics found that
“Children encounter pesticides daily and have unique susceptibilities to their potential toxicity. Acute poisoning risks are clear, and understanding of chronic health implications from both acute and chronic exposure are emerging. Epidemiologic evidence demonstrates associations between early life exposure to pesticides and pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function and behavioral problems.”
Earlier this year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that glyphosate, a commonly used pesticide, was “probably carcinogenic.”
We are writing today to ask that hospitals in our County assume a leading role in increasing awareness of the health concerns regarding pesticides by voluntarily agreeing to eliminate their use on hospital grounds. As you know, in 2013, Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park ceased using insecticides or herbicides in advance of the Takoma Park City Council passing its ordinance restricting pesticide use. We believe it is time for every hospital to take a similar stance.
Regardless of how broader questions about pesticide regulation are resolved by our Council, your taking this step would help to reduce pesticide exposure for some of our most vulnerable residents, and more broadly, would increase awareness in our community as to its potential harmful effects.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.
Related:
Gaithersburg Voter on Election 2015 (VIDEO)
Linda Stein has lived in Gaithersburg for 18 years. In this MyMCMedia Extra, Stein says that pesticides on residential lawns is one issue that matters to her this election. Gaithersburg polls are open until 8 p.m. tonight, you can visit the election site for more information.
Leggett Does Not Sign Pesticide Bill (VIDEO)
In an Oct. 19th memo addressed to County Council President George Leventhal, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett said he is not signing Bill 52-14, also known as the pesticide bill. “I am concerned about the opinions of an Assistant Attorney General regarding whether a ban on the use of certain pesticides in the County would […]
Montgomery County Council Passes Pesticide Bill
The Montgomery County Council passed Bill 52-14 by a 6 to 3 vote on Tuesday. The legislation, commonly known as the pesticide bill, bans the use of EPA-registered pesticides in lawn care for most uses in the county including public and private playgrounds, mulched recreation areas, child care centers, and county property. Advocates and opponents of […]
Five Things to Know Today, Oct. 6, in Montgomery County
Here are your five things to know today, Oct. 6, in Montgomery County: 1. Montgomery County Councilmembers are expected to vote on a pesticide bill today- a proposed legislation that would ban certain pesticides from being applied to lawns and county-owned properties. The chief sponsor of this bill is Council President George Leventhal. Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Nancy […]
Safe Grow Montgomery Supports Bill 15-42 (VIDEO)
UPDATED In this MyMCMedia Extra video, Jennifer Quinn, a volunteer with Safe Grow Montgomery, explains Bill 15-42 and why her organization supports this legislation. The County Council is scheduled to vote on Bill 15-42 on Oct. 6. Related:
Pesticide Bill Vote Set for Oct. 6 (VIDEO)
In this MyMCMedia Extra, Jennifer Quinn, a volunteer with Safe Grow Montgomery, explains who she thinks is opposed to Bill 52-14, the pesticide bill, and she says Montgomery County Councilmembers have heard from supporters more than opponents. Take a look: https://youtu.be/fwsfDWMEES8 The Council has scheduled an Oct. 6 vote on the bill. Related:
Safe Grow Montgomery Volunteer Explains Pesticide Bill (VIDEO)
In this MyMCMedia Extra video, Gaithersburg resident Jennifer Quinn, a volunteer with Safe Grow Montgomery, explains why she believes Bill 52-14 is so important. You can find more information about this bill on Montgomery County’s website, here. The County Council is scheduled to vote on the bill at its Oct. 6th meeting. Related:
County Council Expected to Enact Pesticide Bill (VIDEO)
A bill before Montgomery County Council that would restrict pesticide use on private lawns and some private property is scheduled for a vote in the coming weeks. Susan Kenedy reports: Visit our PEG partner County Cable Montgomery to view more of its local programming.
Council President George Leventhal News Briefing (PHOTOS & VIDEO)
Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal met with reporters on June 15th to discuss a variety of topics including the pesticide bill, earned sick and safe leave bill, public financing of elections, privatization of the Department of Economic Development and his reaction to news that the Gazette newspaper is closing. You can watch the briefing […]
EXCLUSIVE: Attorney General Refuses to Weigh in on Berliner Pesticide Measures
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General refused to give County Councilmember Roger Berliner advice on his provisions for reducing the use of pesticides in Montgomery County. In a letter dated May 28, Berliner asked Attorney General Brian Frosh to weigh in on whether four measures being proposed by Berliner would be preempted by state law. […]
Engage us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Tweets by @mymcmedia