So What's the Problem With Roundup?
They say: "It's Safer than Mowing"; "Biodegradable";"Environmentally Friendly"
Some Important Facts You Should Know
- Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is the third most commonly-reported cause of pesticide illness among agricultural workers in California.
- Glyphosate is the most commonly reported cause of pesticide illness among landscape maintenance workers in California.
- The surfactant ingredient in Roundup is more acutely toxic than glyphosate itself and the combination of the two is yet more toxic.
- Glyphosate is suspected of causing genetic damage.
- Glyphosate is acutely toxic to fish and birds and can kill beneficial insects and soil organisms that maintain ecological balance.
- Laboratory studies have identified adverse effects of glyphosate-containing products in all standard categories of toxicological testing.
- Glyphosate residues in soil can persist over a year.
- Glyphosate residues has been found in strawberries, wild blueberries and raspberries, lettuce, carrots and barley.
- Glyphosate has been measured 1,300 - 2,600 feet away from its application site.
- This year Monsanto, manufacturer of Roundup, agreed with the New York Attorney General's office to discontinue their use of the terms "biodegradable" and "environmentally friendly" in ads promoting glyphosate-based products, including Roundup.
Effective and Safe Alternatives Exist!
For more information, contact the Ecology Center.
Sources:
Cox, Caroline. 1995. Glyphosate, Pt. 1: Toxicology
Journal of Pesticide Reform Vol.15, No.3:14 -20
Cox, Caroline. 1995. Glyphosate, Pt. 2: Human Exposure and Ecological
Effects
Journal of Pesticide Reform Vol.15, No.4:14-19
Moses,Marion. 1995. Designer Poisons
