By Deborah Williams
Reducing herbicides, rodenticides, and insecticides -- collectively known as pesticides -- is critically important for our environment, our health and the health of others. Two effective strategies for cutting pesticide use are: eating organic and not using pesticides at home.
Purchasing organic food whenever possible is impactful. Organic agriculture practices help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A detailed analysis by the Rodale Institute shows that “we could sequester more than 100% of current annual CO2 emissions with a switch to widely available and inexpensive organic management practices.”
Furthermore, organic farming results in healthier soil, including more biological activity and biomass, increased soil stability, and greater diversity. There are numerous additional environmental benefits of organic farming, including the protection of: wildlife, watersheds and drinking water, and pollinator health.
Eating organic is also healthier for us. “According to noted expert, Dr. Charles Benbrook, “when you compare organic versus conventional food, it is absolutely inarguable that organic food reduces dietary exposure to pesticides by 98 percent.” A study involving over 68,000 adults found that “a significant reduction in the risk of cancer was observed among high consumers of organic food.”
Farmworkers and neighboring communities are particularly exposed to harmful pesticides from conventional farming. Farmers and farmworkers have higher rates of certain cancers, including prostate cancer. With respect to neighboring communities, as an article in Scientific American notes: “Children are especially vulnerable to these airborne pesticides, given that their young bodies are still growing and developing.”
Buying organic enables us vote with our mouths and dollars. Easy and local ways to eat organically include shopping at our local farmers market or signing up for CSA services like Farm Cart Organics. More organic demand means more investments in and conversion to organic farming. Costco alone exceeded $4 billion in annual organic produce sales several years ago, spurring increased organic production.
Regarding the second strategy, focusing on our homes and yards, if you have rat or mouse concerns, carefully avoid rodenticides. These products, especially second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, are super-toxic and cause poisoned animals to bleed uncontrollably, dying a slow, agonizing death. Other animals (raptors, foxes, mountain lions and even family pets) who consume these poisoned rodents are impacted the same way. In the US alone, 44% of dead birds, mammals and reptiles were found to be killed by these super-toxic rodenticides.
Fortunately, there are many effective non-rodenticide actions that can be taken. The initial strategies, as recommended by the National Park Service, consist of reducing food sources for rodents, and diminishing their hiding places and shelter. Next, using rat traps – traditional, electronic or live capture – really works. Here’s a good read on how to set a traditional rat trap. Also, a family of owls consume several thousand rodents per year, so promote owl habitat, if possible, to help control rodents in your area.
Are you struggling with insects in your garden or inside your house? Before reaching for insecticides, remember insecticides are responsible for the largest number of pesticide poisonings in the United States.
Insecticide alternatives include some effective products you can purchase or make yourself. Search for: 8 Natural & Homemade Insecticides; Homemade Insecticidal Oil Recipes; Homemade Organic Insecticides; 7 Natural Insecticides; The Best (Nontoxic) Pesticides and Insecticides, According to Gardeners; or try Boiling water. For combatting yellow jackets, mosquitoes and flies, bug zapper rackets work well.
To combat weeds, there are much better alternatives than commercial herbicides. The most used herbicide in the US and the world is glyphosate (Roundup). The Court of Appeal of the State of California has ruled that there is “abundant” evidence that glyphosate, together with the other ingredients in Roundup products, causes cancer in humans. A potent endocrine disrupter and carcinogen, Atrazine is the second most used herbicide in the US and is the most commonly detected pesticide in US drinking water. Almost all European countries have banned both glyphosate and atrazine use, but not the US.
Instead of using any commercial herbicides, try hand weeding, mulches and weed barriers. If weeds are out of control, there are earth-friendly choices. Clove oil is a good, natural herbicide and here’s a recipe to make your own along with instructions for use. Corn meal and boiling water are other options. Vinegar can also be used as a natural herbicide. Search for: 6 Homemade Herbicides to Kill Weeds Naturally; and The Best Organic Weed Killer for Your Garden & Lawn.
Finally, if you currently have pesticides in your home or garage, the Santa Barbara County Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center located at University of California, Environmental Health and Safety Building, building 565, Mesa Road (805) 882-3602 will take all pesticides (rodenticides, insecticides & herbicides), free of charge for households. In Ventura County, check out the Public Works website for Household Hazardous Waste events.
For the sake of our environment, our community and our families, let’s live, as much as possible, pesticide-free.