A legislative committee looking into the use of cosmetic pesticides on P.E.I. heard its first arguments in support of lawn chemicals Tuesday.

'Smoking, drinking alcohol, being out in the sun, all of those things have risks.'— Donna Houghton, Crop Life Canada

Last week's public hearing only heard from people supporting a provincial ban.

This week, Donna Houghton, a toxicologist with Crop Life Canada — an organization that represents pesticide manufacturers — told the committee that while pesticides carry risks, they are in line with other risks people take daily.

"There isn't zero risk when you're driving a car, there isn't when you're eating even food that's produced without the use of pesticides. Smoking, drinking alcohol, being out in the sun, all of those things have risks," said Houghton.

"I don't think using pesticides is any different than that, but we try to make sure that the risk is at an absolute minimum by ensuring that the products that are registered can be used safely."

Houghton noted the risk from using pesticides can be minimized by following directions on the label regarding application and protective clothing.

The committee also heard from several people in support of a ban, including James Rodd, interim leader of P.E.I.'s NDP. His party is also calling for a two-kilometre pesticide buffer zone around public buildings such as hospitals and schools.