Phenoxy Herbicides - Weed Killers
for Turf
Weedkillers 2,4-D, Mecoprop and Dicamba, three
of the top five landscaping chemicals, are phenoxy
herbicides. These three chemicals are often combined
in products such as Killex and Par
III.
By nature of the way
they are synthesised, they are inevitably
contaminated with chlorinated dioxins. These
persistent, bioaccumulative toxic substances are
linked to cancers, particularly non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma, and to reproductive, immunological and
neurological problems.
Phenoxy herbicides (weedkillers) were present in 60%
(26/43) of the samples taken in the Rideau River and
tributaries in 2003.
Concern over 2,4-D is such that it is currently not
approved for use on lawns and gardens in Québec,
Sweden and Denmark.
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency has been
reassessing herbicide ingredients for approximately
20 years. On May 13, 2004, the PMRA identified
significant data gaps
for racemic mecoprop (a common herbicide) that would
have to be addressed in order to bring the supporting
database up to modern standards. Rather than generate
the required data to support continuing registration,
the registrants of technical racemic mecoprop decided
to discontinue sales of the technical active
ingredient. However,
quite shockingly, it may still be sold in stores
until December 31, 2009. A newer version, Mecoprop-p,
is now apparently replacing the old one.
Less than half of the homeowners in Ottawa used
pesticides for landscaping in 2003, but half of those
did so unknowingly, according to a poll done for the
City of Ottawa by Decima Research. Most of them did
not realise that "weed and feed"
(combination herbicide plus fertiliser) products are
in fact pesticides. This is an incompatible mixture
because one ingredient should be applied to the
entire lawn and one is intended for problem spots.
Toxic chemicals are needlessly added to the
environment.
Granular products stick to shoes and children's
hands. Dust is tracked indoors and carried by the
wind. Birds swallow "weed and feed"
granules as grit.
Agent Orange, used to defoliate Vietnam, was a
mixture of phenoxy herbicides. Veterans and
Vietnamese citizens are still living with this toxic
legacy. One ingredient, 2,4,5-T, was identified as
being contaminated with a highly toxic form of
dioxin, and is blamed for a variety of health
problems including cancer, particularly non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma. The "Agent Orange Alibi" is that all health
problems were solely caused by the now-discontinued
ingredient, 2,4,5-T. Medical literature reviews
relied upon by pesticide proponents dismiss the many
epidemiological studies demonstrating links between
herbicides and maladies as due to use of 2,4,5-T.
Studies that were inconclusive or had a null result,
no matter how small or poorly designed, are leapt
upon as demonstrating "safety" of other
phenoxy herbicides.
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