title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, Ste 400, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada. donald.cole@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Donald C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Loren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanderlinden
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leah
authors.forename: Rich
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whate
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mee
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bienefeld
authors.forename: Susitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanigaratne
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D058735:Environmental Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009864:Ontario; D010575:Pesticides; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides