1. [Type text]
Donna Condon-Gurley
2012
Chemical pollutants in our lawns
Homeowners take pride in the presentation of their home, and the
lawn is a direct aspect of this appearance. Many turn to lawn care
companies whom use harmful chemicals to maintain luscious lawns. In
this paper I would like to pose a new solution to care for lawns with an
eco-friendly solution.
Kaplan University
College Composition 2
Professor:
Barbara Culley

2. When we think of having a beautiful home, the appearance means also
having a beautiful lawn. The concept of pollution doesn’t come to
mind, but in this paper you will see how lawn care and the chemicals
used to maintain the appearance of a healthy lawn are not quite
harmless as many think. The need for more eco-friendly lawn care is
a must. The research will show the harm these chemicals pose to the
environment and us. With the harmful effects being spelled out, we
will see what other means we can use to maintain a beautiful lawn.
A beautifully kept lawn can make any house more attractive and is
sought after by many homeowners. The lawn care industry has
capitalized on this desire by creating and selling a multitude of
products that are not only toxic to weeds, but toxic to animals, birds
and humans. Eco-friendly products for lawn care are easy to find,
sometimes they are as close as your kitchen pantry or garage. Simple
ways to maintain a lawn without the use of chemical agents are
mowing your lawn with an environmentally-friendly reel mower
instead of a gas-powered mower. Lawns should also be mowed to no
shorter than 2.5-inches for maximum growth. When lawns are cut
very short, the surface roots become exposed and the soil dries out
faster. Cutting a lawn very short also encourages weed seeds to
germinate and grow. When a lawn is dense and healthy, weed seeds
don't receive any sunlight and can't germinate. Don't cut off any more
than one-third of the grasses height at any one time and control thatch
build-up. Thatch is, according to Earth Easy, the "...accumulation of
above-soil runners. Use natural aeration techniques, such as lawn-
aerating shoes to keep thatch under control. Aeration will bring
microorganisms to the surface that will eat most of the
thatch(Scotts.com/Ortho).
Contrary to what lawn "care" companies would like people to
believe, herbicides (weed killers) and other pesticides are not "magic
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3. bullets". They are broad spectrum biocides, and by their very nature
can harm organisms other than targeted species. This includes
homeowners and their families, neighbors, pets, and all other forms of
life. The pesticide industry downplays this by claiming their
chemicals are heavily diluted, but doesn't mention the toxins are still
extremely dangerous in small amounts. They also are unwilling to
mention all of what is in their mixtures. Many components are
classified as "inert", which allows them to be kept hidden from the
public and not listed on product labels. These are more than just fillers
or solvents. "Inert" does not mean "inactive" - some, such as benzene
and xylene, are more toxic than listed chemicals (New York State
Department of Law, 1994).Listed chemicals can be just as dangerous.
They include components of war-time defoliants like Agent Orange,
nerve-gas type insecticides, and artificial hormones. Some the Federal
Government has even prohibited from use on its own property. Many
pesticides are not safe when dry. Water evaporates, but most
pesticides remain and continue to release often odorless and invisible
toxic vapors. In areas where lawn spraying is common, they
accumulate in toxic smog throughout the entire season. Some
pesticides remain active for years after application. DDT is still
showing up in higher rates in women's breast milk than the
government permits in cow's milk. Fat soluble pesticides accumulate
over time in our bodies, and then are released at potentially toxic
levels when illness or stress results in our fat reserves being
metabolized. A large portion of a woman's lifetime exposure to such
pesticides is released in the breast milk for her firstborn child
(International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes, March 1990).
Most people seriously overestimate the amount of protection given
them by governments regarding pesticide safety. Congress found that
90% of the pesticides on the market lack even minimal required safety
screening (American Defender Network, 1989).
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4. Insects have been best controlled by other insects for millions of
years, and the lawn is no exception. Insecticides often kill more
beneficial insects than problem ones. Once the natural balance is
destroyed, continued reliance on insecticides will occur. This is also
true of weed killers. When a crabgrass stand is killed with an
herbicide, there will still be thousands of seeds ready to start anew. In
the long run, pesticides can actually help the very pests they target by
also killing their predators, and their use becomes self-perpetuating.
Until a natural balance is restored, more and more will have to be
spent each year on chemicals, and resistant pests may also invade.
Using alternative strategies will bring better results and be kinder to
the environment. Integrated Pest Management gives simple, long-
lasting solutions which require no chemicals, much less money, and
much less time and effort. Many alternatives not explored here can be
found in the books and articles listed at the end of this report
(Henkenius, Merle & Eugene Thompson, July 1993).
Recycling grass clippings saves money, reduces waste, and according
to Lawn Institute Director Eliot C. Roberts is equivalent to three
applications of fertilizer a year without unhealthy chemicals and their
side-effects. Natural fertilizers are also better because they are time
released, allowing grass to grow slower and tougher, requiring much
less care (Eliot C. Roberts, ND).
We should have in place regulations on chemicals being used and
only use safe means to maintain lawns. There are organizations out
there which can give us the resources we need to be more eco-friendly
and have beautiful lawns without the harmful chemicals.GreenCape, a
nonprofit based in West Barnstable, encourages nontoxic methods of
pest control and turf care, and helps provide training to towns on
organic methods(Ann Bragg, M., 2012).
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5. References:
Ann Bragg, M. (2012, April 2). Towns test chemical-free property care. Cape Cod Times
(Hyannis, MA). Kaplan University Library.
"Lawn Chemical Dangers." American Defender Network, 1989.
http://www.cqs.com/elawn.htm retrieved April 16, 2012.
Eliot C. Roberts, ND Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, MA).
Henkenius, Merle & Eugene Thompson. "Natural Lawn Care." Popular
Mechanics July 1993.
http://www.cqs.com/elawn.htm retrieved April 16, 2012.
International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes. "Selected Persistent Toxic
Substances in Human Breast Milk in the Great Lakes Basin". March 1990.
http://www.cqs.com/elawn.htm retrieved April 16, 2012.
New York State Attorney General's Office. "The Secret Hazards of Lawn
Pesticides: Inert Ingredients." New York State Department of Law, 1994.
http://www.cqs.com/elawn.htm retrieved April 16, 2012.
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