“Obviously, we have a greater concern in this region because of the sandy soils, wetlands and species that are particularly sensitive to pesticides,” said Jaclyn Rhoads, director for conservation policy at the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and lead author of a November 2006 report on pesticide effects.

The alliance and New Jersey Environmental Federation are asking the state Pinelands Commission to prohibit use of some pesticides due to their presence in water samples as documented by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1997-2000.

Even at low levels, those chemicals can have adverse effects on “small terrestrial and aquatic animals that are at the bottom of the food chain,” said Jane Nogaki, pesticide program coordinator for the New Jersey Environmental Federation.

Trace amounts of nine to 13 pesticides were found in samples from the Rancocas Creek in Burlington County during 2001 and 2002 testing of the stream, although those parts-per-billion levels were below drinking-water standards, Nogaki said.

The groups want a Pinelands ban on using a number of pesticides, including atrazine, carbofuran, diazinon, malathion, and carbryl, an insecticide marketed to homeowners as Sevin.

They also want a prohibition on glyphosate herbicides including the brands Roundup and Rodeo, which are widely used in residential landscaping for weed control. Industry spokesmen contend glyphosates are safe when properly applied, but Nogaki said increasing usage of those compounds leads to lingering effects on soil micro-organisms.

Source: Asbury Park Press