Re: [gardeners] intro

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I'm not sure on the DDT, do know it has a long half-life but will eventually
dilute out. I didn't know the residue of DDT in the soil would kill the birds
immediately though, thought it was more a pattern of ingesting food contaminated
with DDT and then laying thin-shelled eggs. Hmm, might have to look some of that
up. Been a long time. Repeated flooding will dilute it as long as the toxin is
dilutable. There is a bayou near here that the bottom sediment profile shows
more than 256 heavy metals and chemicals, some of which have been there for 50
or 60 years, much of it from agriculture run-off. EPA refuses to dredge to get
rid of the sediment because of the fear it will end up in the water column.

George

Annetta Green wrote:
> 
> George,
> what is the half life of DDT?  How long can it sit in the ground and be a
> viable poison?  The research, by state scientists, is showing that the toxic
> levels of the farm chemicals, most outlawed now, are what is/has been
> killing the birds.  They found very high levels in the soil, water and
> birds.  They have been trucking out the worst of the soil and are now trying
> to let it flood again.  I think they are also hoping that the second
> flooding will dissipate even more of the chemicals to acceptable levels in
> the water.
> Anne in FL
> zone 9b, sunset 26
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "George Shirley" <gshirl@bellsouth.net>
> To: <gardeners@globalgarden.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 2:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [gardeners] intro
> 
> > Most of that original marshland was turned into farmland in the twenties
> and
> > thirties though Anne. No controls at all until the fifties on pesticides
> and
> > other cides. I would still find it hard to believe that there was anything
> still
> > there that would kill birds after all those years. We're often to quick to
> blame
> > the farmer or industry when it may be something else that no one has
> delved into
> > deeply enough.
> >
> > George
> >
> > Annetta Green wrote:
> > >
> > > > > 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
> >
> >

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