We all want our gardens to look beautiful and that means that there is no room for unsightly weeds in them. But who actually has the time or energy to constantly deal with these invaders by hand? This is where herbicides typically enter the scene. They are convenient, easy to use, inexpensive and can help your garden to look picture perfect. Unfortunately, they don’t just pose a threat to weeds; herbicide exposure has been linked to many injuries in both humans and animals and you should avoid exposure to these toxic chemicals.
If you walk into any garden center, you’ll see gallons of herbicides lining the shelves. Here are the top three most popular herbicides to avoid:#1. Roundup - This is one of the most popular herbicide around the world and has been getting a lot of attention lately because of its harmful effects. Studies have found that its main ingredient, glyphosate, has been linked to cancer and birth defects. Even its inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine (POEA), was found to cause serious problems in pregnant women including interfering with hormone production which impedes normal fetal development and can result in miscarriages. Roundup skin exposure can also cause skin-related irritations such as dermatitis and eczema.#2. Altrazine - This is the second most popular herbicide in the United States and yet it’s so toxic that it’s been banned in Europe. It has been known to inhibit fertility, cause various types of cancer (such as ovarian cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, hairy-cell leukemia and thyroid cancer), and increase birth defects (such as impaired development in young boys including genital deformities).#3. Trimec - This herbicide uses the chemical 2,4-D to kill weeds around grassy areas and is the third most highly used herbicide in the U.S. 2, 4-D has been attributed with causing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (a cancer in the blood) and sarcoma (cancer found in soft tissues). Research has also shown that this chemical is an “endocrine-disrupting chemical” which impedes the normal function of estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormones.
Roundup, with its main ingredient glyphosate, is the most used herbicide and is particularly dangerous. Glyphosate contamination cannot be removed by washing fruits and vegetables since many times this harmful chemical is absorbed into the produce. It also isn’t broken down by cooking or baking. You can, however, avoid glyphosate exposure by choosing to eat organic produce and products. If you aren’t able to purchase only organic produce and groceries, thoroughly wash the produce, peel the outer layers of skin and avoid these items that tend to have the highest levels of glyphosate in them:
Glyphosate is on much of our food and is commonly used for home garden use. Many people have been struggling with health issues linked to this dangerous product and are seeking financial compensation for their injuries.
