Protect your family and say no to the chemical lawn
We take for granted today that the use of lead paint, asbestos insulation and mercury fillings are health hazards to be avoided. Likewise, herbicides in lawn chemicals pose grave dangers.
The poisons that kill violets, clovers and dandelions also affect soil microbes and earthworms, and are ingested by squirrels, birds, pets, deer, bees, fish and other wildlife, and can be found in our drinking water.
These agents — which include toxins like 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (usually called 2,4-D), glyphosate and dicamba, and have friendly names like Roundup — cause cancer, nerve damage, and endocrine and reproductive disorders. And those most susceptible are children.
Studies have found that our brains are vulnerable to these chemicals, especially during fetal and early childhood development.
Despite the 24-hour signage, these poisons can be found on lawns for as long as two months. Homes where sprays have been used are found to have these chemicals in carpets and furniture. A 2001 study found that a week after lawn treatment, 2,4-D could be detected on indoor surfaces, including tabletops and windowsill. Scientists found that indoor exposure to this toxin for children was about 10 times higher during the week after lawn chemical application than the week before.
There are many books on the subject of these chemicals and better solutions to minding our grounds, and websites including the Rachel Carson Council, Beyond Pesticides and many others.
Protect your family, the neighborhood and our wildlife, and say no to the chemical lawn.
— Brandon Ross, Iowa City