CHEMICAL WARFARE IN AMERICA

In our quest for pest free homes and gardens, Americans have relied on chemical pesticides to combat almost every problem imaginable.  From weeds, fungus, rodents and plant munching insects in our lawns and gardens, to creepy crawlies in our homes, there is a chemically derived spray or powder to kill almost any of these instantly.  We wage chemical warfare on our home and garden pests using toxic pesticides that we often know little about, except that it works on the problem at hand.  In our battle to conquer pests, we have overlooked the potential for harmful effects of such pesticide use on humans, pets, wildlife and our environment, leading to many unintended casualties of war.

One well-known chemical, glyphosate, is the active ingredient in Roundup, and the most commonly used herbicide (weed killer) in the world.  The EPA estimates that 113 million pounds of glyphosate are used annually in the United States.  Roundup kills weeds fast, but poses many hazards to the user, and any of those that may come into contact with it following application.  The Journal of Pesticide Reform has provided studies that show its persistence in and on the soil for 174 days or more.  Symptoms of exposure to herbicides containing glyphosate can be, but not limited to: blurred vision, nausea, asthma, nosebleeds and dizziness.  Other more serious risks of exposure to humans include genetic damage of blood cells, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, miscarriages and attention deficit disorder.  Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is also responsible for damages to wildlife such as: reduced nesting success of songbirds, genetic and immune system damage to fish and frogs, ultimately leading to their premature death.

The majority of pesticides contain both active and inert ingredients.  The active ingredient, such as glyphosate, is often falsely considered the only ingredient in the product that is active in eliminating the pest.  Inert ingredients in most pesticides are far from benign, and often more toxic than the active ingredients.  These ‘inert’ ingredients are not required for listing on the product label, as the active ingredient is, and the general public is none the wiser. The Freedom of Information Act discovered that Roundup contains many inert ingredients that have toxic affects such as: skin tumors, thyroid damage, reduced fertility, cancer, genetic damage and allergic reactions.  The majority of inert ingredients in pesticide products are surprisingly, not required to be tested to determine toxicity. Over 209 inert ingredients in various pesticide products are considered hazardous air and water pollutants, and 21 are known carcinogens (cancer causing).

Another popular pesticide is known as clorpyrifos, brand name Dursban, and is the most widely used insecticide in the United States.  It is estimated that 30 million pounds are applied to American soils annually, accounting for over 200 million applications made on home lawns and gardens every year.  Clorpyrifos is also popular for use on pets, livestock, food crops and inside all areas of our homes. Originally, this chemical was used in World War II as a nerve gas because of its detrimental effects on the central nervous system. Dursban is currently used to kill many different pest insects, but unintentionally eliminates even more beneficial insects that help keep our lawns, gardens and food crops healthy.  Numerous studies have shown that exposure to pesticides with clorpyrifos can cause: convulsions, twitching, genetic damage to human blood cells, birth defects and reduced immune system functions.  Sufficient exposure is easily achieved through skin, inhalation or orally, and can lead to paralysis and ultimately death.  Studies have also shown that the inert ingredient xylene, contributes to increased rates of leukemia and skin cancer.  Clorpyrifos has been found in many conventionally grown food crops such as: apples, oranges, nuts, corn, cherries, broccoli, sugar beets, tomatoes, peaches, meats and dairy, which is a good enough reason to buy certified organic foods.
Once inside pets, particularly dogs, this insecticide chemically changes to become up to 3000 times more toxic to their nervous system.

There are over 900 pesticides registered with the EPA, and are formulated in over 20,000 name brand products.  It is difficult to get a hand around the entire group due to the vast complexity of chemical combinations. There is however one last herbicide that must be discussed.  This popular herbicide is known as 2,4-D, and is found in many herbicide products.  Classified as ‘cancer causing’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, exposure can lead to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as acting like estrogen in breast cancer cells.  Other repercussions of its use include: genetic damage, difficulty breathing, reduce immune effectiveness, vomiting, skin irritations, birth defects, reduced sperm count and contaminated breast milk. 2,4-D is frequently found in rivers, streams and air samples.  The use of 2,4-D on lawns is linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer and lymphoma in dogs, and is toxic to both fish and frogs.

For every pest insect, weed, fungus or rodent problem that arises, there is always a safe and natural approach.  You no longer need to rely on toxic chemical pesticides to treat the unwanted pests that arise, because Marvin’s Organic Gardens has an organic alternative for all your pest challenges.  We promote pest control products that alleviate pest issues without posing harm to human, animals or the environment. Please call us at 513-932-3319 or email me at wes@marvinsorganicgardens.com if you have questions, or if you are in need of certified organic plants and products.  Go Organic! It’s Only Natural.