From

Location

Message

Date Posted

British Columbia, Canada

With the pesticides / fungicides / fertilizers that some growers use, is there any possibility that those products could be negatively affecting the health of those growers?

Example: chemicals get into soil, person inhales dust while tilling the garden?

1/23/2014 10:09:10 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I knew of one man from my home town who contracted leukemia after years of spraying roadside weeds for the county. But that was over 40 years ago when the dangers of pesticides weren't well known. A lot of the newer chemicals are safer than the old ones, but they still carry some risks if you aren't careful. Some chemicals, like insecticides and fungicides can be riskier than fertilizers. I think that you are more at risk when applying the chemicals, when you can inhale mists or dusts or absorb it through your skin. Once chemicals are in the soil or on the plants they start to break down, some faster than others. But you have other health risks from just being outside: skin cancer from sunlight, West Nile from mosquitoes, Lyme disease from ticks. The way I see it, something is going to get me in the end. I just try my best to be careful so I don't speed up the process. I guess I need to lose a bunch of weight, as that seems to be my biggest health risk.

1/23/2014 10:36:28 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Not sure, but I had 2 boys within 2 years and they aren't too deformed.lol. I have totally backed off all the harsh stuff I used to use for the most part.

1/23/2014 11:09:55 PM

Alabama

Yes, chemicals pesticides/fungicides/fertilizers are bad for your health think about if it kills bug/weed it's killing you but that is not always true neem kills bug but for the most part it's not bad for people I try to grow natural/organic as much as possible and when I have to use chemicals don't breath or get it on my skin.

1/24/2014 12:42:40 AM

Home of happy lil plants

wellllll if you are highly allergic to sulfur dust like me,,,,, and it takes you 2 years to realize it I vote sulfur dust.

Sulfur dust is killing me

1/24/2014 12:52:48 AM

BC, Canada

Yeah, I could write about three pages on this subject, and just be started. Are chemicals bad? Water is a chemical and is dangerous- hold your head under for ten minutes and observe the results, but try going without it for even a few hours.
I am constantly trying to get people to educate themselves on the products they are using. Read the labels, go to the internet and search all the various sites that carry the information and data. The info is there and it is as much a part of educating yourself as a gardener as learning to bury vines and when to plant etc.
JA- it is not a simple yes/no. Which chemical, how applied and in what quantity plus a few other variables that would need to be studied to have any sort of meaningful answer. Labeled pesticides are heavily tested and that data along with recommended application methods and rates are right there on the label. You read and study and then make a decision based on what you can live with. I have seen a guy with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth warn of the dangerous of a fungicide! So, you decide.
The only huggy feely new age hippy advice I have is that I differentiate between synthetic and natural products. Chemist are good at sticking a chlorine molecule in stuff nature knew not to. I only use one synthetic and that is myclobutanil. If I was really pressed there are a couple of others (miticides) that I would also use. There have been some great advances in pesticides in recent years and testing is good but doesn't tell us the very long term bottom line on the environment or human health. Please remember also that if we destroy the environment we are ultimately destroying are own food supply or at least that of our children.
Ok, who wants the soap box now?

1/24/2014 2:43:52 AM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

The use and application of these materials can and should be done safely using the proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
Proper clothing and dust/vapor masks are necessary to ensure you are safe. Some of these products are pretty nasty.

1/24/2014 3:46:34 AM

Indiana

yes

1/24/2014 10:07:52 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Check out the chemicals in your new clothes,couch or carpet...the garden does not look so bad

1/24/2014 10:18:52 AM

Central Minnesota

I use various chemicals throughout the year and there is no doubt many of them are not good for humans. I have several rules I use and most are common sense.

First, since my son Cole is a grower also, I don't let him do his own spraying, that is the part I do for him.

Second, I try to drench/inject with the worst of the chemicals since this is the least risk of human/animal contact.

The safer chemicals get applied foliar usually.

Lastly, I spray in the evening when I am done in the patch so everything is allowed to dry and the fence is locked up.

I wear protective clothing, a shield and respirator when I foliar spray anything. Like I said, pretty common sense but worth noting.

1/24/2014 10:19:29 AM

Bethlehem CT

No doubt, that the stuff that goes into the garden can be very harmful. Too much of anything is not good. There is so many toxins we are exposed to all the time. It scares me a bit that you can take a loaf of store bought bread bread and leave it in a room for a month or more and not see one bit of mold grow on it. Call it a preservative, or call it a fungicide.
Also I think that just because a substance is registered as organic does not mean it is safer or that you want it in your food. Copper for instance is a registered organic fungicide, taking in too much of that isn't going to be any better for you than taking in too much of some other pesticide.

1/24/2014 11:53:26 AM

Hyde Park, Utah USA

I'm worried that the Impirchlorid (merit, etc.) is killing the honey bees. I've noticed several dead and dying honey bees on my male flowers. I try to be organic as much as possible, but use gloves, mask, long sleeve shirt, long pants, same rubber boots, glasses, etc. when spraying, 0 wind, in evening, etc. Most of what we use are safe, if used in accordance with labels, and good judgement. The eyes are where most enter the body.

1/24/2014 1:37:15 PM

Springfield, VT

Yes, Read the labels on the bottles or boxes before purchase. Some are benign to humans others are dangerous if inhaled, swallowed or in eyes.

1/24/2014 2:43:05 PM

Rhode Island

now i know why ron is going bald. all this time i thought it was from september stress.
ps----all kidding aside- yes always use whatever protection is called for when using any product that can be airborn or contacted on body.
pap

1/24/2014 3:10:49 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

Lots of things can be dangerous.....that's why they come with warnings and directions. My best advice is to read the label and follow the directions.

1/24/2014 4:52:30 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I don't know, ask Amelio

1/24/2014 6:09:09 PM

San Diego

simply put, yes.

1/24/2014 9:38:46 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

My dad used to publish a newsletter, using an offset printer!!! He had to clean it with some very harsh chemicals!!! I am certain that those chemicals are what killed him 5 yrs. ago!!! He had a disease that did not allow his white blood cells to grow properly!!! Died from Pneumonia due to lack of immune system!!! Way back then (mid 60's) there were no lables!!! Please, everyone...use recommended precautions!!! Peace, Wayne

1/25/2014 4:50:28 AM

Muddy Waters

Wear a mask when spraying a good organic vapor mask cost 20$-30$But well worth it.Keep it in a air tight bag when not in use to extend its life span & yours.lol jump in the shower when done & make sure your clothing does not come in contact with small children or pets.Mask should last all season kept in air tight bag.To load test mask at seasons end.Cook a good cabbage stew and some baked beans. Have your spouse wear mask while you load test.lol

1/25/2014 6:43:52 AM

Hinckley MN

there is new research out that bees are being infected by tobacco ringspot virus. they get the virus from pollen from nightshade family plants, and then it is spread within the hive by parasitic mites. What the research doesn't talk about is what is suppressing the bee immune systems so that they are infected by plant pathogens. other research has shown a high correlation between neonicotinoid pesticides and colony collapse disorder. Makes you wonder...

1/25/2014 10:39:08 AM

Alabama

Farmer Ben, and GMO doesn't help with the bees dying off.

1/26/2014 12:04:58 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Farmer Ben...curious about nightshade family? Is that tomatoes? Peace, Wayne
Ps bell, what is GMO?
MNF, not worth nothing...you might saved several lives!!!

1/26/2014 12:23:24 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Worth " noting " is what Scott said.


Very smart man!

1/26/2014 12:41:50 AM

Alabama

Wayne,Genetically modified organism sadly alot of our grops grow GMO and it is killy the bees and maybe us.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm

1/26/2014 2:55:44 AM

Piqua, Ohio

a little of topic, but if you put hybrid GMO corn and open pollinated corn in front of cattle, they will eat the open pollinated first. Even the cows can taste the difference.

1/26/2014 9:49:14 AM

British Columbia, Canada

Thanks everyone. lots of good info.

1/26/2014 2:58:22 PM

Hinckley MN

tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and tobacco are all nightshade family plants.

1/26/2014 5:45:19 PM

Central Illinois

Remember to keep your dirty gardening clothes and shoes in a safe place away from kids ,pets and other family members

1/27/2014 9:07:15 AM