Pesticides in the garden
Bio-accumulative, Persistent and/or Endocrine Disrupting
Pesticides are used for a variety of tasks in the home and garden and many of them have been found to have endocrine disrupting effects. Although many have been phased out some, including the following, are still used in the UK.
Atrazine [1][2], (pronounced: at-ruh-zeen)
An active ingredient in some path weedkillers, it kills both broad-leaved and grassy weeds, and is used domestically and in agriculture. Atrazine is persistent and toxic and is highly mobile in the environment. It is suspected of causing a decline in frogs by demasculinising the males.
Alternatives include weeding by hand.
Carbendazim (pronounced: car-bend-a-zim)
A carbamate pesticide used as a fungicide. It is an active ingredient in some fungicides used for fruit & veg as well as in some wood preservatives & paints.
It is strongly suspected of having endocrine disrupting effects, possible carcinogen, and is highly toxic to aquatic organisms.
Alternatives include growing fruit and veg organically and using natural pigment paints.
Chlorpyriphos [1] (pronounced: claw-piri-foss)
An organophosphate pesticide, often used as an active ingredient in ant killers as well as some other insect killers and some vermin bait. It is dangerous to bees and extremely toxic to fish or other aquatic life (just half a pint of it led to the death of hundreds of fish in the River Ouse, England, in 2001).
2,4-D [3] (pronounced: 2-4-dee)
A selective weedkiller and agricultural herbicide, also known as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. 2,4-D is an active ingredient used mainly in lawn feed and weed or spot weed formulations. It is classified as an endocrine disrupter and the various chemical forms of 2,4-D can have different toxic effects, which are harmful to fish or other aquatic life.
Dichlorprop [3][2] (pronounced: die-claw-prop)
A selective weedkiller, which is harmful to fish or other aquatic life.
It is also known as
2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic acid and is an active ingredient used mainly
in lawn feed and weed or spot weed formulations.
As an alternative, weed by hand or try a mixed lawn – a slightly longer cut will allow the daisies to flower – very pretty!
Monolinuron [3]
(pronounced: mono-lynn-you’re-on)
A pesticide sold to the public as algae control for lined ponds. Monolinuron is toxic and if it is used elsewhere it can easily enter burns or groundwater.
Barley straw can be used as an alternative and is particularly effective on blue-green algae.
Simazine [1][2] (pronounced: simmer-zeen)
An active ingredient in some path weedkillers, Simazine is a domestic and agricultural pesticide often used to control broadleaf and grass weeds in nursery plantings and forestry. It is also used as a non-selective herbicide to control vegetation in non-crop lands, such as rights-of-way. It is thought to have reproductive and/or endocrine disrupting effects and is highly mobile in the environment.
Our gardening section gives
some advice and further links for organic gardening.
Notes:
[1] These chemicals are Priority or Priority Hazardous Substances under
European Water Framework Directive
[2] Pesticides atrazine, simazine and dichlorprop have been withdrawn
from the market as a result of the EC review programme. Last date for
use
or storage of atrazine and simazine is 10th September 2005, for dichlorprop
it was 31st March 2004. For more information visit the Pesticides
Safety Directorate
[3] These chemicals are Priority Candidate List I substances
under the EU Dangerous Substances Directive
For further information please contact WWF Scotland: phone 01350 728200, email info@watersense.org.uk, or write to WaterSense, c/o WWF Scotland, Little Dunkeld, Dunkeld, PH8 0AD