NY Lawmaker Calls for Limits on Synthetic Pesticides in City Parks

New York City Councilman Ben Kallos plans to introduce legislation Thursday to keep the pesticide known as RoundUp out of city parks. 

RoundUp is used by the Parks Department to get rid of weeds and other unwanted plants. But Councilman Kallos, who represents the Upper East Side of Manhattan, says glyphosate, the active chemical in RoundUp, can cause cancer. He says he would prefer the Parks Department to use more natural methods like certian oils and insects.

The Parks Deparmtnet released a statement saying whenever possible, they hand pull weeds and other unwanted plants. But when that's not possible, they spray Roundup, in complete compliance with City, State and Federal laws.