Re: [gardeners] intro
Annetta Green (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 28 Jun 2001 07:42:22 -0400
> > OG magazine warns against Roundup--Monsanto's claims to the contrary, it
> > does wind up in the water.
>
> At the risk of sounding "anti-organic" (which I'm not), to my knowledge
> Monsanto has never made any claims that Roundup cannot leach into water
> supplies. The fact is that glyphosate is highly adsorbed by most soils,
and
> typically only very small amounts, if any, leach into groundwater when
> properly used. Even when some makes it into water bodies, it is further
> adsorbed and tightly bound to any organic matter in the water, where it is
> broken down via microbes in a few weeks' time. Because it breaks down,
> there's no bioaccumulation (as with DDT, PCP, etc).
>
> I rarely use the stuff myself, but when I need to, such as on poison ivy
as
> did the poster of the above quote, I dont think it's polluting the water.
I
> don't think even Greenpeace cites glyphosate as a water pollutant hazard.
>
> Dan Dixon
While not totally organic myself, I have found that we need to worry more
about overuse, or use outside of the recomended limits. As with most
chemicals there is that chance that it will be abused. Look at the new
marshland that is being set up here in FL. The govt bought the farm land
that, generations ago, used to be marshand and started to fill it with
water. Over the years there had been so many chemical and fertilizer spills
that the land was toxic to the native species they wanted to attract. The
bird kills we had last year were the result of that. Millions of tons of
soil have been removed and the state is ready to try again. This time they
are going slower and testing soil and water as the water line changes and
fills in. Not sure where all the money is coming from, but some of the
labor is volunteer, as is some of the testing being done by local companies
who want to see this work. The marsh once returned to it's former glory
will be a beautiful thing.
Anne in FL
zone 9b, sunset 26