At Natural Turf, we care about three things: your lawn, your family and your health. But, one thing that we also always keep in mind is how our products are safer for preserving natural wildlife and their habitats. And so should you.
Beyond Pesticides has a wonderful fact sheet that outlines many of the real dangers of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Some highlights:
1. Studies find that dogs exposed to herbicide-treated lawns and gardens can double their chance of developing canine lymphoma and may increase the risk of bladder cancer in certain breeds by 4-7 times.(1)
2. Of the 30 commonly used lawn pesticides: 16 are toxic to birds, 24 are toxic to fish and aquatic organisms and 11 are deadly to bees.(2)
3. Pesticides can be toxic to wildlife and cause food source contamination, behavioral abnormalities that interfere with survival, and death.(3)
4. Lawn and garden pesticides are deadly to non-target species and can harm beneficial insects and soil microorganisms essential to a naturally healthy lawn.(4)
Let's respect wildlife and go natural. The way nature intended.
Sources
1. Glickman, Lawrence, et al. 2004. "Herbicide exposure and the risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 224(8):1290-1297; Haynes, H., et al. 1991. "Case-control study of canine malignant lymphoma: positive association with dog owner's use of 2, 4-D acid herbicides." Journal of National Cancer Institute. 83(17): 1226.
2. Beyond Pesticides Factsheet. 2005. Environmental Effects of 30 Commonly Used Lawn Pesticides.
3. Defenders of Wildlife. The Dangers of Pesticides to Wildlife. April 2005.
4. Restmeyer, S. J. 2003. Ecological Pest Management: Embracing the Organic Approach to Landscape Management. Pesticides and You. 23(1): 11-12. Beyond Pesticides. Washington, DC.
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