ustxtxb_obs_1984_03_23_50_00015-00000_000.pdf

.11 and Associates E 502 W. 15th Street Austin, Texas 78701 REALTOR 6″ Representing all types of properties in Austin and Central Texas Interesting & unusual property a specialty 477-3651 994 FROZEN MARGARITA IRISH COFFEE 9 AM UNTIL MIDNIGHT HOT DOGS HAMBURGERS STEAKS CHICKEN RESTAURANT 511 RIVERWALK ACROSS FROM KANGAROO COURT SAN ANTONIO. TEXAS . 225-4098 In Austin, the Texas Pesticide Project joined with the Austin Neighborhoods Council and the Austin Tenants’ Council to host two workshopsA:Aield on March 5 and 12, on safe of roach and rodent eii.****49 home. Aimed at neighbOihoad -girdup leaders and tenants, these workshops are part of an educational effort across the state to organize urban consumers around the pesticide issue. A group has formed in Fort Worth to plan a workshop on May 31 on strategies for reducing pesticide use in lawns and gardens, A similar committee is forming in Dallas, and the Texas Pesticide Project is working to assist community groups in other cities toward such efforts. If you are interested in participating in workshop planning or want to investigate pesticide health effects and use in schools, parks, playing fields, roadsides, and other public places, contact Shelley Silbert, Texas Pesticide Project, Texas Center forRural Studies, Box 2618, Austin, TX Pesticide Workshops In Fort Worth, contact Allan Dallas, contact Paula Nielson at fences and other areas difficult to weed, augmenting natural insect predators or parasites, and discriminatory use of the least intrusive chemical controls. Pest control companies, city governments, apartment managers, and individuals have experienced great success with urban IPM. A San Antonio firm, Butterfield Equities, which manages over 1,000 rental units in that city, has been using IPM roach control techniques for the last 2’/2 years. By thoroughly cleaning apartments and applying boric acid, a low toxicity dust, to target areas every five to six months, the company has eliminated the need for monthly professional pest control services. “We’ve achieved a 30 to 35% savings,” says Bill Dinkfelder of the Butterfield headquarters. “We used to get complaints about a week after the professional companies came out, but now tenants are much happier.” In Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C., IPM rodent control methods have determined rat breeding and feeding areas, and strategies have been implemented to eliminate rat infestations. In San Jose, Berkeley, Palo Alto, and Modesto, California, IPM programs to control insects on city shade trees have reduced maintenance costs and pesticide use by 80 to 90%. And IPM techniques are opening up a new era in pest control technology. Companies, such as Eco-Logic Pest Control in Austin, have switched to methods that avoid use of toxic organophosphate or carbamate insecticides, a direction which will become more popular as insects continue developing resistance to these chemicals and consumers become concerned about the long-term health and environmental risks to which they are exposed. Pesticide Lab at 1-800/292-7664 in San Benito \(note: most doctors can do the cholinesterase tests themselves, but urine samples may c. Keep a daily written record of any health changes you note in yourself or your family. 5. Collect samples to check for pesticide residues in your home: a. The SPCB can test for pesticides through wipe samples of surfaces other materials. b. The Texas Department of Health, Occupational Health Program, 1100 within your home at the request of a medical doctor or the SPCB. c. The Texas Department of Agriculture can take samples of clothing, food, plants, etc. d. You may also want to collect your own samples \(in the presence of later on if you pursue your complaint. For advice about collecting samples, contact the Texas Pesticide Lab, P.O. Drawer 2031, San Benito, 78586, 1-800/292-7664. 6. If you are unable to get an inspector to respond promptly or to your satisfaction, contact: a. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Office, 1201 Elm b. Your congressman, state representative, or state senator; c. An attorney. If you are eligible for free legal assistance, contact the d. 474-0811; e. 7006; f. The National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides, 530 7th St., S.S. THE TEXAS OBSERVER 15