I don't usually write about the negative effects of conventional agriculture but I feel its important to share hard data when it comes available. According to a study by researchers at the University of Washington, the popular herbicide Atrazine (used in commercial growers and in consumer lawn care products) is linked to Gastroschisis, a birth defect where intestines and sometimes other organs are formed outside abdominal wall. It is rarely fatal and is treated with surgery. The researchers first began wondering if there was an environmental effect when they notice the birth defect rate was much higher in the agricultural part of the state, several times higher than the national average.
Atrazine has been in the news before being linked to sexual abnormalities in frogs and prostate cancer in factory workers where atrazine is made. Atrazine, along with 24D, a common herbicide used locally in hay production and on lawns, seem to be more highly linked to prostate cancer in men to work professionally applying the chemicals. I've noticed that many of the men I know who have had prostate cancer are in agriculture and have used these chemicals extensively.
The EPA has not acted on the current scientific reports. Atrazine is scheduled to begin review in 2010 but the review could take months or years.
To me, it is common sense not to use these chemicals. For lawn care, must mow the weeds until the grass comes in in May. For gardens, use plastic row covers, carpet, mulch or corn gluten (a natural herbicide) instead.
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