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A Homeowner's Guide to Organic Lawn Care
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ORGANIC LAWN CARE Why Organic? High Cost of Synthetic Pesticides Effect on Humans and Pets Environmental Concerns How They Damage Your Lawn Organic Overview Healthy Soil Appropriate Plantings Thick, Deep-Rooted Grass Regular Maintenance Lowdown on Lawn History The New World: Golf & Games Parks and Suburbs Communism and Crabgrass Know Your Lawn Soil Water Grass Lawn Rehab (Planning) Starting Off Right The Future (What You Want) The Present (What You've Got) Lawn Rehab (Practice) Thatch Weeds Compaction Soil Amendments Overseeding Fertilizing Regular Maintenance Mowing Watering Weeding Seasonal Maintenance Whacking Weeds Aerate the Soil Trashing Thatch Amend the Soil Keep It Green: Fertilize Pets, Pests & Problems Dogs and the Perfect Lawn Pest Control: Guidelines Bugs & Thugs Moles Weed Control Diseases Alternatives to Grass Ornamental Grasses Shade Lovers Sun Lovers Low Water Ground Covers Under Pines -- Acid-Tolerant Starting a Lawn Grass Types & Methods Preparing the Site Preparing the Soil Planting Caring for New Lawns Switching from NitroLawn To Do List: Any Time of Year To Do List: Fall/Early Spring Using a Lawn Care Company Sites & Sources Books & Articles Websites  This site is brought to you by www.PlanetNatural.com |
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 Five Reasons Not to Use Weed and FeedLawn Care Fact Sheet, Beyond Pesticides #1 Weed and Feed Products Threaten Human Health, and are Especially Dangerous For Children A growing body of scientific evidence continues to confirm the widespread health effects of Weed and Feed products. 2,4-D, the pesticide in most Weed and Feed products, is a neurotoxicant and contains half the ingredients in Agent Orange. Studies show that exposure to 2,4-D is associated with neurological disorders, reproductive problems, kidney/liver damage, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other cancers, and disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system [1]. Children are especially at risk for increased exposure to Weed and Feed since they play on lawns for extended periods of time and put their hands and other objects into their mouths [2]. In general, children are most susceptible than adults to pesticides because they take in more chemicals relative to their body weight than adults and they have developing organ systems that are more vulnerable and less able to detoxify chemicals [3]. Endocrine disruptors are of particular concern for children because, depending on timing, minute doses can effect the function of cells and tissues and cause problems during critical growth stages. Disruption of the endocrine system is associated with a range of developmental problems including deficient brain function, learning disabilities, and other problems. Exposure to herbicides such as 2,4-D is not limited to the outdoors. Studies have shown that lawn chemicals drift and are tracked indoors where they may remain in carpets and on surfaces for up to a year when not exposed to direct sunlight [4]. A single turf application of 2,4-D can remain inside the home at exposure levels ten times higher than pre-application exposures [5]. In a 2003 study of indoor air toxins, 2,4-D was detected in the dust of 63% of sampled houses [6]. #2 Weed and Feed Hurts Dogs and Wildlife 2,4-D has been shown to have negative impacts on a number of animals. Studies have found that dogs whose owners use 2,4-D lawn products are twice as likely to develop canine malignant lymphoma [7]. The latest EPA assessment of 2,4-D acknowledges the susceptibility of dogs to poisoning by 2,4-D and other lawn pesticides but does not propose any label warnings to users [8]. Wildlife is also negatively affected by Weed and Feed. Exposure to 2,4-D has shown to reduce hatching success and cause birth defects in birds [9]. Studies also show 2,4-D products to be toxic to earthworms that are vital to healthy soil, and to have negative impacts on beneficial insects, such as honeybees, predatory beetles, and ladybugs [10,11]. #3 Weed and Feed Pollutes Drinking Water Sources Since Weed and Feed combines a fertilizer and an herbicide, it directs the user to spread the herbicide throughout the lawn instead of just where weeds are present. Most users are believed to overuse Weed and Feed products, not realizing that it actually contains a pesticide or just by thinking that more is better. This is exacerbated by the fact that only around half of households actually read and follow the label carefully when using pesticides and fertilizers [12]. Since 2,4-D is highly mobile in soil [13] the overuse of Weed and Feed products leads to runoff that contaminates groundwater and watersheds. Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey show 2,4-D is the number one herbicide most frequently detected in streams and shallow ground water throughout the country from home and garden use [14]. 2,4-D has also been detected in ground water in at least five states and Canada [15]. Partially due to the problem of overuse and water contamination, the Canadian Medical Association passed a resolution calling for the ban of Weed and Feed products [16]. #4 Local Governments Are Calling For a Ban on Weed and Feed As part of EPA's assessment of 2,4-D for reregistration in March 2005, the public was able to submit comments. Over 1000 letters calling for the cancellation of Weed and Feed products were received by the agency including some from local governments and state and local agencies such as Seattle Public Utilities, the California Regional Water Quality Board, Clark County (Washington), and King County(Washington) [17]. #5 We Don't Need Weed and Feed Weed and Feed is not an effective solution to weed maintenance. It can actually damage the health of lawns by harming microorganisms, beneficial insects, and earthworms that are essential to maintaining healthy soil and therefore, healthy turf. Typically, weeds cover a small fraction of lawn area, and any herbicide applied to weed-free areas is wasted. Even if a lawn contains as much as 50% weeds, then half of the herbicide is unnecessary and contributes to runoff and health risk without providing any benefit. There is no need to expose the public to this toxic chemical in the water, the air and the soil when safe and effective alternatives exist. Examples of alternatives to 2,4-D include corn gluten as a safe pre-emergent general herbicide, vinegar to selectively kill certain weeds, weeder machines that simply use hot water or heat, long handled mechanical weed pullers, and pulling out weeds by hand. Natural organic fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers help to maintain a healthy lawn. References 1 Extension Toxicology Network (ETN). 1996. Pesticide Information Profiles for 2,4-D. http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/24-D.htm; Beyond Pesticides. 2004. 2,4-D ChemWatch Factsheet. http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/24D_Jul04.pdf: Cox, C. 1999. Herbicide Factsheet: 2,4-D:Toxicology, Part 2. Journal of Pesticide Reform 19(2): 14-19. 2 National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences. 1993. Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. Washington, DC: National Academy Press 184-185. US EPA. 1996. Office of the Administrator. Environmental Health Threats to Children, EPA 175-F-96-001. 3 US EPA, Office of the Administrator, Environmental Health Threats to Children, EPA 175-F-96-001, September 1996. 4 Nishioka MG, et al. 1996. "Measuring lawn transport of lawn-applied herbicide acids from turf to home: Correlation of dislodgeable 2,4-D turf residues with carpet dust and carpet surface residues." Environmental Science and Technology 30: 3313-3320. 5 Nishioka, MG., et al. 2001 "Distribution of 2,4-D in Air and on Surfaces inside Residences after Lawn Applications: Comparing Exposure Estimates from Various Media for Young Children," Environmental Health Perspectives 109(11): 1185-91. 6 Rudel, Ruthann, et al. 2003. "Phthalates, Alkylphenols, Pesticides, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, and Other Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Indoor Air and Dust." Environmental Science and Technology 37(20): 4543-4553. 7 Hayes, T. et al. 1991. Case-control study of canine malignant lymphoma: positive association with dog owner's use of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicides. J National Cancer Inst. 83(17): 1226-31; Hayes HM, Tarone RE, Cantor KP. 1995. On the association between canine malignant lymphoma and opportunity for exposure to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Environ Res 70: 119-25. 8 US EPA, Health Effects Division. January 15, 2005. "2,4-D Second Report of the Hazard Identification Assessment Review Committee," 2,4-D Risk Assessment. OPP-2004-1967-0023. p. 31. 9 Duffard, R., L. Traini, and A. Evangelista de Duffard. 1981. Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of phenoxy herbicides. Acta Physiol. Latinoam. 31: 39-42.; Lutz, H. and Y. Lutz-Ostertag. 1972. The action of different pesticides on the development of bird embryos. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 27: 127-150. 10 Roberts, B.L. and H.W. Dorough. 1984. Relative toxicity of chemicals to the earthworm. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 3:67-78. 11 Cox, Caroline. 1999. Herbicide Factsheet: 2,4-D: Ecological Effects. Journal of Pesticide Reform 19(3): 14-19. 12 The National Gardening Association. 2004. Environmental Lawn and Garden Survey. The National Gardening Association and Organic Gardening Magazine. 13 National Library of Medicine, TOXNET, Hazardous Substances Database, http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/. 14 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 1998. Pesticides in Surface and Ground Water of the United States: Summary of Results of the National Water Quality Assessment Program. http://ca.water.usgs.gov/pnsp/allsum/. 15 Ibid. 16 Beyond Pesticides. August 16, 2004. "Canadian Medical Association Calls for 'Weed and Feed' Ban." Daily News Archive. http://www.beyondpesticides.org. 17 US EPA. 2005. Risk Assessment on 2,4-D Phase 5 of 6. OPP-2004-0167. |
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