Have you seen TruGreen signs in your neighborhood throughout the summer? I want to create awareness about this specific brand of pesticide.

Here are some quick bullets to start:

41% of Tru green ChemLawn’s products contain ingredients that are banned in other countries.

More than half (53%) of the TruGreen lawn care substances are defined as carcinogens by the USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and the IARC (World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer).

Carcinogens: Naphthalene, Prodiamine, MCPA & MCPP, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (in short: 2,4-D), Pendimethalin, Carbaryl, Bifenthrin,

At least 30% of their lawn care treatments act as endocrine disruptors in humans and animals.

Endocrine disruptors: Prodiamine, 2,4-D, Pendimethalin, Carbaryl, Bifenthrin.

Almost 30% of the TruGreen lawn care treatments have at least one ingredient that is notorious or suspected for interfering with the reproductive system and fetus development.

Reproduction and fetus development: Dicamba, Myclobutanil, and Bifenthrin.

100% of the lawn treatments have ingredients that affect non-targeted insects and plants, water supplies, and aquatic organisms, thus threatening the environment. They can, directly and indirectly, affect your family’s health

If you have stopped to read the TruGreen signs after applications, you may've noticed their 24 hour disclaimer stating the lawn is then safe again for pets and children. Studies have shown these chemicals are traceable up to 5-6 days, and can travel 50ft from the application site. Those of you who are sensitive to them may have come down with headache or dizziness, like I have multiple times, just smelling it in the air. 

Our dog has had two emergency vet visits 48 hours after applications, when strictly being kept on the path near marked application sites. His first signs were vomiting foam, and extremely irritated bowels - two of the most common symptoms of pesticide poisoning in dogs. 

So long as TruGreen is used in our neighborhoods and in our public spaces, we are all vulnerable to the potentially devastating side effects of prolonged exposure to these chemicals. No margin of saving on cost could make up for that. 

Please join me and my family in petitioning to the Lisle City Council and Green Trails Home Owners Association Board to stop usage immediately. At the least, we would like to collectively request a season schedule of all public area applications.

Thank you