Municipal bylaw to reduce cosmetic/non-essential pesticide use on household lawns - a policy implementation evaluation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pesticide use on urban lawns and gardens contributes to environmental contamination and human exposure. Municipal policies to restrict use and educate households on viable alternatives deserve study. We describe the development and implementation of a cosmetic/non-essential pesticide bylaw by a municipal health department in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and assess changes in resident practices associated with bylaw implementation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Implementation indicators built on a logic model and were elaborated through key informant interviews. Bylaw impacts on awareness and practice changes were documented through telephone surveys administered seasonally pre, during and post implementation (2003-2008). Multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations of demographic variables and gardening season with respondent awareness and practices.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Implementation indicators documented multiple municipal health department activities and public involvement in complaints from commencement of the educational phase. During the enforcement phases only 40 warning letters and 7 convictions were needed. The number of lawn care companies increased. Among survey respondents, awareness of the bylaw and the Natural Lawn campaign reached 69% and 76% respectively by 2008. Substantial decreases in the proportion of households applying pesticides (25 to 11%) or hiring lawn care companies for application (15 to 5%) occurred. Parallel absolute increases in use of natural lawn care methods occurred among households themselves (21%) and companies they contracted (7%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Bylaws or ordinances implemented through education and enforcement are a viable policy option for reducing urban cosmetic pesticide use.</p

The Health Impacts of Gambling Expansion in Toronto – Technical Report

Permission to include in Alberta Gambling Research Institute research repository granted by Loren Vanderlinden, Toronto Public Health on behalf of research team on May 9, 2013.This report was prepared in response to Modernizing Lottery and Gaming in Ontario: Strategic Business Review a report from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation(OLG), approved by the Ontario Ministry of Finance in March 2012. There are many recommendations in the OLG report that will result in increased access to gambling in Ontario. The focus of this report is on the OLG recommendation to open a casino in Toronto. Toronto Public Health (TPH) staff collaborated with experts at the Centre for Addition and Mental Health’s Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario to review the health impacts of gambling, the prevalence of problem gambling in the Greater Toronto Area and recommended strategies to prevent and mitigate harms from increasing access to gambling.YesToronto Public Health (TPH); Centre for Addition and Mental Health’s Problem Gambling Institute of Ontario

\u27A Drop of Water in the Pool\u27: Information and Engagement of Linguistic Communities Around a Municipal Pesticide Bylaw to Protect the Public’s Health

The Multicultural Yard Health and Environment Project (MYHEP) usedToronto’s Pesticide Bylaw roll-out process to examine how culturallyspecific perceptions and practices might influence the relevance ofmunicipal public health information and community engagement strategiesand the effectiveness of health protection initiatives. In Canada, andparticularly in Toronto, such information is needed for governments toeffectively engage with increasingly diverse populations. Focus groups andindividual interviews were conducted with Spanish- and Cantonese speakingparticipants to document opinions about pesticide use andregulation and views on municipal information and engagement strategies.MYHEP participants reported a need for more accessible environmentalhealth messaging. There was confusion over the safety and legality ofpesticide products available for sale in Toronto stores. Most participantsindicated they were unwilling to make formal complaints about neighbourswho were not complying with the bylaw (an important mechanism forenforcement). Results indicate that environmental health communicationand engagement strategies need to be more carefully tailored to addresslocal sociocultural and linguistic contexts in order to provide moreequitable environmental health protection and promotion for all residents.These findings led Toronto Public Health to adapt its efforts so as to betterengage communities regarding environmental health

Municipal bylaw to reduce cosmetic/non-essential pesticide use on household lawns - a policy implementation evaluation

Abstract Background Pesticide use on urban lawns and gardens contributes to environmental contamination and human exposure. Municipal policies to restrict use and educate households on viable alternatives deserve study. We describe the development and implementation of a cosmetic/non-essential pesticide bylaw by a municipal health department in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and assess changes in resident practices associated with bylaw implementation. Methods Implementation indicators built on a logic model and were elaborated through key informant interviews. Bylaw impacts on awareness and practice changes were documented through telephone surveys administered seasonally pre, during and post implementation (2003-2008). Multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations of demographic variables and gardening season with respondent awareness and practices. Results Implementation indicators documented multiple municipal health department activities and public involvement in complaints from commencement of the educational phase. During the enforcement phases only 40 warning letters and 7 convictions were needed. The number of lawn care companies increased. Among survey respondents, awareness of the bylaw and the Natural Lawn campaign reached 69% and 76% respectively by 2008. Substantial decreases in the proportion of households applying pesticides (25 to 11%) or hiring lawn care companies for application (15 to 5%) occurred. Parallel absolute increases in use of natural lawn care methods occurred among households themselves (21%) and companies they contracted (7%). Conclusions Bylaws or ordinances implemented through education and enforcement are a viable policy option for reducing urban cosmetic pesticide use