Winter Maladies: Natural Approaches
June Russell's Health Facts
Freedom from Pesticides is Everyone's Right
We have many laws addressing the right of individuals to be protected from harm, such as the right to breathe clean air, free from passive smoke. Yet, we are often assaulted with harmful pesticides and other chemicals that invade our living space and compromise our health. Our streets are sprayed, and neighbors who regularly treat their lawn with harmful pesticides surround us.
I was ill for many days because of the “drift” of 2,4-D pesticide from my neighbor’s yard into my house (breathing problems, nausea, weakness, headache and muddled thinking). According to the Rachel Carson Council, there can be up to 35% of pesticide drift when applied to yards. To prevent this drift from entering my home, I now must leave my windows and doors closed during the day because I never know when the spraying will occur.
The lawn-care companies usually apply chemicals when most of the area residents are gone and children are in school, which means others are not aware of the possible contamination. Children are especially vulnerable, and toxins are often brought inside the house on shoes, clothes or animals.
Many of us have been deceived about the safety of pesticides. These are two of the purported safer ones: 2,4-D is labeled as highly toxic and exposure increases lymphatic cancer, causes damage to chromosomes, and is toxic to kidneys at low doses. Roundup is one of the most toxic herbicides according to a Greenpeace report, and there are clear links to cancer; reproductive, kidney, and liver damage. Monsanto does not have to reveal the precise composition of Roundup, but claims Roundup breaks down into harmless substances - the evidence doesn’t support this (and it is one of their big money makers).
I strongly suggest that the city and county consider passing pesticide notification laws in the near future that would require a 24-hour advance warning to near-by residents when applying pesticides, as other states have done. Detailed information would be given before spraying - and the area posted for several days after the application. I would encourage those who support this to notify your county and city officials.
Feel free to use any part of this for a letter to the editor in your area - or to your city/county officials.
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