I have seen instructions saying avoid contact with bare skin and rinse off immediately on packs I used in Belgium but I stopped when some of the scientists to whom I taught English conversation reported findings of joint EU investigations showing high levels of glyphosate in water courses and affecting aquatic life.
As it was, I used generic glyphosate, never Monsanto Round-up but the effect is the same.
One of the problems with Monsanto is that they sell GM seeds resistant to Round-up and encourage 3rd world farmers to use it in higher doses than necessary to kill weeds.
@Hostafan1 - people can only make informed decisions if they have knowledge or experience. If you live in poor areas with limited literacy and communication technology you're a sitting duck. That's why unscrupulous companies dump products and actively market them in the 3rd world.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I have seen instructions saying avoid contact with bare skin and rinse off immediately on packs I used in Belgium but I stopped when some of the scientists to whom I taught English conversation reported findings of joint EU investigations showing high levels of glyphosate in water courses and affecting aquatic life.
As it was, I used generic glyphosate, never Monsanto Round-up but the effect is the same.
One of the problems with Monsanto is that they sell GM seeds resistant to Round-up and encourage 3rd world farmers to use it in higher doses than necessary to kill weeds.
@Hostafan1 - people can only make informed decisions if they have knowledge or experience. If you live in poor areas with limited literacy and communication technology you're a sitting duck. That's why unscrupulous companies dump products and actively market them in the 3rd world.
I'd suggest that domestic users are NOT responsible for the pollution of water courses, but maybe those who will be exempt from the ban might be? Just a thought.
I weed the large shingle drive and patios by pulling and hoeing for 9 months of the year but there always comes a point in the summer when there are so many tiny weedlings that a single application of glyphosate is required. Applied carefully on a still day and following directions re dilution rates etc, I consider it a safe way to manage the problem.
There is absolutely no way it can run into local water courses because there are none close by and also no drains.
I sincerely hope that one of the advantages of leaving the EU might be that we are allowed to continue using it - even if I have to do a course and get an operator's licence.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I weed the large shingle drive and patios by pulling and hoeing for 9 months of the year but there always comes a point in the summer when there are so many tiny weedlings that a single application of glyphosate is required. Applied carefully on a still day and following directions re dilution rates etc, I consider it a safe way to manage the problem.
There is absolutely no way it can run into local water courses because there are none close by and also no drains.
I sincerely hope that one of the advantages of leaving the EU might be that we are allowed to continue using it - even if I have to do a course and get an operatorks licence.
Isn't it ironic about the fuss about a weedkiller when any adult can buy a chainsaw? No checks, not training, just hand over your cash and it's yours. I suspect more folk are injured by latter than the former.
I avoid using weedkillers, insecticides and fungicides unless I absolutely have to because of the obvious risks of collateral damage when spraying.
Unfortunately it's become a rather emotive issue. The scientific evidence really does not seem to support more than a very small risk from pretty large doses. Domestic users are unlikely to receive much exposure at all.
I suspect the general appalling behaviour of Monsanto (as mentioned further up the thread) may be one reason why this particular issue has become so prominent.
There are a lot of things which are mildly carcinogenic. Processed meat, smoked or charred food, wine etc. The risk from domestic weedkillers really doesn't seem to be significant enough to warrant the drama around them.
I'd also be stunned if they didn't just swap to other chemicals which are worse for the environment or that simply lack evidence for carcinogenic effect in humans.
This isn't a victory for science and a pragmatic approach to risk. It's the effect of a set of legal judgements which I'm not convinced were based much in fact as opposed to emotion.
I avoid using weedkillers, insecticides and fungicides unless I absolutely have to because of the obvious risks of collateral damage when spraying.
Unfortunately it's become a rather emotive issue. The scientific evidence really does not seem to support more than a very small risk from pretty large doses. Domestic users are unlikely to receive much exposure at all.
I suspect the general appalling behaviour of Monsanto (as mentioned further up the thread) may be one reason why this particular issue has become so prominent.
There are a lot of things which are mildly carcinogenic. Processed meat, smoked or charred food, wine etc. The risk from domestic weedkillers really doesn't seem to be significant enough to warrant the drama around them.
I'd also be stunned if they didn't just swap to other chemicals which are worse for the environment or that simply lack evidence for carcinogenic effect in humans.
This isn't a victory for science and a pragmatic approach to risk. It's the effect of a set of legal judgements which I'm not convinced were based much in fact as opposed to emotion.
I heartily agree. More to do with the litigious nature of the usa than actual "risk"
Read the article folks it's nothing about farmers it's only about private people using it in their garden. there is no way it's going to be banned in the US for farmers. Here you need a sprayers certificate to buy it so that limits it to only farmers.
As to who pollutes the most, I'm afraid that is gardeners. (here) The water under cities has much higher concentrations of herbicides and pesticides than that under farmland, because farmers are very limited in how much they can use but gardeners are not.
"our bit" is using it responsibly. As we do with knives, tobacco, alcohol , medicines etc etc
How many posts have you seen on here though where people have killed their lawn by using 10x the necessary concentration of weedkiller, or have accidentally killed some plants by mistaking it for plant food? I'm all for personal responsibility but people will be people. It doesn't mean locking people in a padded cell for their own safety but warning labels only go so far. People have the choice to pay a licenced person to come around and spray their driveway safely after all.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Posts
As it was, I used generic glyphosate, never Monsanto Round-up but the effect is the same.
One of the problems with Monsanto is that they sell GM seeds resistant to Round-up and encourage 3rd world farmers to use it in higher doses than necessary to kill weeds.
@Hostafan1 - people can only make informed decisions if they have knowledge or experience. If you live in poor areas with limited literacy and communication technology you're a sitting duck. That's why unscrupulous companies dump products and actively market them in the 3rd world.
I weed the large shingle drive and patios by pulling and hoeing for 9 months of the year but there always comes a point in the summer when there are so many tiny weedlings that a single application of glyphosate is required. Applied carefully on a still day and following directions re dilution rates etc, I consider it a safe way to manage the problem.
There is absolutely no way it can run into local water courses because there are none close by and also no drains.
I sincerely hope that one of the advantages of leaving the EU might be that we are allowed to continue using it - even if I have to do a course and get an operator's licence.
I suspect more folk are injured by latter than the former.
More to do with the litigious nature of the usa than actual "risk"