Organic-Based Lawn Care Resources
Read about the benefits of natural, organic lawn care products and services and why you should choose them over traditional chemical-based solutions.
Farmers depend upon pesticides to protect their crops from destructive insects, weeds, bacteria, and other pests. But the potent chemicals they use can also impact humans. Exposure to pesticides can make you ill, and some products have been linked to cancer and neurological problems in children.
(This article cites 37 different research sources. Scroll to the bottom for links)
Pesticide poisoning of students and school staff is not uncommon. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 1999 documented over 2,300 reported pesticide poisonings in schools between 1993 and 1996.
(US GAO. 1999. Pesticides: Use, Effects, and Alternatives to Pesticides in Schools. U.S. General Accounting Office. GAO/RCED-00-17. http://www.gao. gov/new.items/rc00017.pdf.)
A study of Denver children under age 15 found a strong association between home use of pesticides in the yard and soft-tissue sarcoma.
(Less et al. Am. J. Public Health 1995;85:249-252)
This is a link to a PDF compiled by "Beyond Pesticides.org" that scientifically demonstrates the damage caused to the environment by conventional fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
(http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/30enviro.pdf)
Conventional weed control increases child exposure indoors. The pesticide residues are tracked into the home by people and pets. This increased a 1 to 2-year-old exposure to chemicals significantly by ingestion of contaminated dust, penetration through the skin, and inhalation.
(Nishioka et al. Distribution of 2, 4-D in Air and on Surfaces inside Residences after Lawn Applications: Comparing Exposure estimates from Various Media for Young Children. Environ. Health Prospect. 2001; 109: 1185 - 1191).
Neuroblastoma, which accounts for up to 10% of all childhood tumors, was found to be associated with the use of household pesticides, garden pesticides, and professional extermination. Stronger associations were also found for garden pesticide use and diagnosis of neuroblastoma in children after 1 year of age.
(Daniels et al. Epidemiology 2001; 12 (1):20-27).
Canine malignant lymphoma has been associated with dog owner's use of conventional herbicides and pesticides on their lawns. The risk of canine malignant lymphoma increases 2-fold with four or more yearly applications.
(Hayes et al. J. of the Natl. Cancer Institute 83:1226-1231).
Golf Course superintendents have been found to be at a significantly increased risk of four cancer types including - brain, lymphoma, prostate, and large intestine.
(Drs. Koss, BC, Burneister, IF, Ogilvie, LK, Fuortes, IJ, Department of Preventive Medicine Health, University of Iowa, American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 29 (5):501-506, 1996).
A study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute indicates that household and garden pesticide use can increase the risk of childhood leukemia as much as seven-fold.
(Lowengart, R. et al., Childhood Leukemia and Parent's Occupational and Home Exposures, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 79:39, 1987)
Water is the most basic building block of life. Clean water is essential for human health, wildlife, and a balanced environment. Yet, water is being polluted at unprecedented rates, with pesticides, industrial chemicals, nutrients, metals, and other contaminants.
(http://www.beyondpesticides.org/water/index.php)
American golf courses hold themselves to a high standard when it comes to maintaining the thick perfectly manicured, and weed-free turf on greens and fairways. To attain this standard golf course managers rely on a toxic assortment of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and other chemicals. These practices have been linked to numerous diseases in humans including cancer, as well as damage to local wildlife.
(http://www.beyondpesticides.org/golf/index.php)
