| |
Of the 34 most
commonly used lawn chemicals, 11 cause cancer, 20 nervous system
poisoning, nine birth defects; and 30 skin irritation25. Roundup, a
commonly used lawn-care product and weed killer is a pesticide. Despite
claims that Roundup is safe, it is know to cause a variety of serious
health problems.26 Exposure to Glyphosate, the active ingredient in
Roundup has been linked with an increased incidence of attention deficit
disorder in children27. Most of the toxicity problems associated with
Roundup, however, is not thought to stem from the active ingredient,
Glyphosate, but from the unlabeled “inert” ingredients. Roundup consists
of 99.04% “inert” ingredients. The EPA recently announced that it
encourages manufactures to use the words “other ingredients” instead of
inert because the work inert gave people a false sense of safety.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup remains active in soils
long after application. Residuals of glyphoste have been found in
lettuce, carrots and barley one year after treatment. It has been found
to kill beneficial insects such as ladybugs28.
Tips for a Healthier, non-toxic Lawn
-
Don’t give
your lawn "junk food” in the form of commercial fertilizers. While
making it greener, it stresses the lawn and makes it more vulnerable
to pests.
-
Round-Up is
a pesticide. Don’t use it. Use organic compost for food. Make your
own compost pile with kitchen scraps. It’s fun for the kids.
-
Do not
over-water. Give your lawn plenty of slow, deep watering.
-
Do not cut
grass too short. Longer, thicker grass has more surface area to take
in sunlight and a deeper root system. 2 ˝ to 3 ˝ inches is best.
Healthier grass will resist pests on its own, without the use of
pesticides.
-
Plants such
as daises, sunflowers, marigolds, dill and fennel attract beneficial
insects like praying mantis and lady bugs which eat other bugs.
-
Weed by
hand - it's good for you!
-
Safer
alternatives for controlling weeds are corn gluten, hot water and
vinegar, weed-whackers, and mowing.
-
Be patient.
Be a trend-setter. Seek advice from a neighbor who has an organic
lawn or garden.
Resources
The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives
to Pesticides (NCAP) has a large on-line library of fact sheets on
non-toxic & natural alternatives to pesticides.
http://www.pesticides.org. Consider supporting them by becoming a
member. NCAP publishes a quarterly newsletter free for members and a
monthly newsletter by e-mail with tips.
The Bio-Integrated Resource Center,
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) specialists. http://www.birc.org.
(505) 524-2567.
Dr. Moses' Pesticide Education Center.
http://www.pesticides.org. (415)665-4722. Dr. Marion Moses, is a
physician specializing in occupational and environmental medicine with
years of experience investigating and diagnosing pesticide-related
illnesses. Dr. Marion’s book, Designer |
|
