A federal study has found the air on Prince Edward Island contains a toxic mix of pesticides, arising from chemicals sprayed by the province's potato farmers.

The data was gathered by federal and provincial departments of environment during the summers of 1998 and 1999.

It lists several chemicals used to kill insects, fungus and weeds in the air of several small towns near Summerside, 50 km west of Charlottetown.

The results were obtained through the Access to Information Act by an environmental group, Earth Action.

Sharon Labchuk of Earth Action says the results confirm what the organization has been saying for years about the quality of air on the island.

One of the chemicals listed is a fungicide used to kill potato blight.

Chlorothalonil has been classified by the U.S. government as a probable carcinogen that can cause severe eye and skin irritation.

According to a fact sheet prepared for the U.S. Department of Agriculture on chlorothalonil:

  • people should not be allowed into an area within 48 hours of spraying.
  • anyone who enters an area before 48 hours is advised to wear overalls, waterproof gloves, shoes plus socks, and protective eyewear.
  • the chemical has been found to affect the stomach and kidneys of lab rats, as well as stunting their growth
  • however, it does not appear to cause genetic damage, birth defects or affect reproduction.

Labchuk said sales records show more pesticide is used per person in P.E.I. than any place else in Canada or the United States.

P.E.I. farmers spray eight kg of pesticide per person each year compared to the Canadian average of 1.3 kg per person
Local farmers spray eight kilograms of pesticide per person each year, compared to an average of just 1.3 kg per person across Canada.

Labchuk wants Environment Canada to step in to control the amount of pesticides used by farmers on the island. The department has had no comment.

Ivan Noonan of the P.E.I. Potato Board says he's not worrried.

He says it's the least of the problems potato farmers are dealing with this year compared to the drought and a temporary ban on exports to the U.S.