The active ingredients of a few common lawn weed killers and insecticides in our community are listed below. The following excerpts affirm the need to significantly reduce the use of these pesticides in our community. To search for health and ecological effects of a specific pesticide, visit http://www.pesticideinfo.org.
Diazinon (a common home and lawn insecticide)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fact Sheet states that diazinon is "very highly toxic to water fowl, upland game birds and song birds on acute oral and dietary basis. Technical diazinon and it’s and-use formulations are characteristic as very highly toxic to aquatic organisms. It is considered highly toxic to non-target insects." The EPA Fact Sheet also states that "existing database on diazinon is lacking chronic feeding studies, and a multi-generation reproduction study."
2,4-DP (an ingredient of common lawn weed killer)
According to the U.S. EPA Fact Sheet, "Existing data are inadequate to assess environmental and health effects for 2,4-DP." For the environmental characteristics, avian toxicity, non-target insects and non-target plants the fact sheet states "No data are available".
MCPP (a common lawn weed killer)
The EPA Fact Sheet states "The Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs has classified MCPP as a teratogen (causes birth defects) based upon results a study in rats. Margins of safety may not be adequate for some workers."
"Freshwater fish toxicity data on MCPP acid is incomplete. There were no acceptable acute freshwater aquatic invertebrate data submitted." The Fact Sheet also states "There were no acceptable data for toxicity of any MCPP formulations to non-target plants, endangered species, or non-target insects." Under Toxicology Characteristics, the Fact Sheet states "Acute Inhalation: Data gap."
2,4-D
A relative of Agent Orange, 2,4-D is a very common lawn weed killer. Numerous studies have confirmed the link between 2,4-D and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Prolonged breathing can cause coughing, burning, dizziness, and temporary loss of muscle coordination. (U.S. EPA, 1989).
Dicamba
In humans, exposure to Dicamba is associated with the nervous system and increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Most tests of the oncogenic, teratogenic, and reproductive effects of chronic exposure were incomplete. Dicamba is mobile in soil and has contaminated rivers, ponds, and ground water. (U.S. EPA, 1989).
Pendimethalin
EPA indicates that pendimethalin "causes thyroid follicular cell adenomas in male and female rats and has been classified as a Group C, possible human carcinogen". Pendimethalin has been detected in ground water. Pendimethalin may contaminate surface water from spray drift …, or in runoff from rainfall events through irrigation waters (chemigation). Chronic risk Levels of Concern (LOCs) for fish were exceeded in runoff samples. (U.S. EPA 1997).
Sources:
U.S. EPA. 1988 Pesticide Fact Sheets: MCPP, Diazinon, 2,4-DP
Detailed information about each pesticide is also available through a variety of sources:
Agency for
Toxic Substances, Diseases and Registry
ToxFAQs: Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html
California
EPA. Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
OEHHA:
Proposition 65 - Chemicals Listed and Delisted 1/25/02
EPA Pesticides classified as known, probable, or possible human carcinogens
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/carlist/table.htm
Hazardous Substances Database in TOXNET (National Library of Medicine)
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/servlets/simple-search?1.50.2791
New York Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
http://www.crisny.org//not-for-profit/nycap/nycap.htm
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
http://www.pesticide.org/