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Lawn care affects human health

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by OSimpson, Apr 9, 2016.

  1. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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    http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...3/20/lawn-care-affects-human-health/81485256/

    March 20, 2016

    It's raining lead in Flint, Mich., and a deregulated, privatized city water system is poisoning thousands of families. We know that lead compromises immune systems and damages our health and that of our environments.

    In Iowa, we are also dealing with the problem of deregulation, as well as lobbying and false advertising, regarding common lawn chemicals available in stores and applied by lawn-spray companies.

    Though we have banned lead paint and know it shouldn't be in our drinking water, we have also long known that lawn chemicals such as 2,4-D and products such as Roundup cause cancer and neuro-muscular disease.

    Corporations like Monsanto and DuPont manufacture these poisons and keep them in circulation with heavy lobbying and by fighting EPA actions, as they have done previously concerning DDT, atrazine and others.

    Once applied, chemicals last on lawns for three to five weeks and collect in our homes, in the carpets, and furniture where it is difficult to remove. The first to be infected are children, pets and other wildlife.

    Research reported by the Journal for the National Cancer Institute found that exposure to garden chemicals can increase the risk of childhood leukemia sevenfold. Other studies have shown connections between lawn chemicals with soft tissue sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.

    Grass has grown for millennia, and lawns can be maintained by thatching and mulching, watering and eliminating weeds with corn gluten, vinegar, oil or just plain pulling. It also helps not to cut grass lower than 3 inches.
     
  2. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    In the Spring aerate, add 1/4" of leaf mold and grass seed.

    Water no more than twice per week. Only mow shorter than 3" when the high temp is below 70F.

    It can be THAT SIMPLE.
     

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