The dangers of chemical spraying

Any one living here in South Florida has most likely seen people spraying their lawns and plants with chemicals and fertilizers. They intend to keep their lawns perfect and green. Afterwards, their kids and pets will probably roll around in these lawns and pick the sprayed flowers completely oblivious to the dangers that come with their actions. People are using chemicals like vermicides, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers either without knowledge or worry of its dangers.

Vermicides are chemicals used to get rid of organisms like worms. Worms cause problems because they leave “worm casts” or digested pieces of earth all over lawns that they live under. They also attract birds who defecate on lawns and peck threw them to get the worms for food. Herbicides are used to get rid of weeds, and pesticides are used to kill bugs so that they don’t eat the plants or lay eggs on them.

Many people do not realize that using chemicals like these to improve the look of your lawn and other plants have down sides that are not as well advertised. For example, vermicides often work by raising the acidity of the soil in a lawn because highly acidic soil is not appealing to worms. According to a study done by Oklahoma State University, high levels of acidity in soil cause crop failure because the acidic chemicals in the soil stop roots from being able to collect water and/or nutrients.

Pesticides work by damaging the nervous system of pests, but they also have bad effects on humans. According to health articles, “Pesticides effects on humans are damage to the nervous system, reproductive system and other organs, developmental and behavioral abnormalities, disruption of hormone function as well as immune dysfunction.” (PureZing online). Similarly, herbicides used on lawns can contaminate soil and water sources in the area. Pets have been known to die due to damage from herbicides from lawns or gardens.

Although not all of the bad effects of chemicals are shown quickly, over time these chemicals add more and more damage to human and animal bodies and resources. The bad effects of these chemicals definitely seem to outweigh the good ones over time. Chemicals are used to make lawns look cleaner and greener, and to keep bugs and worms away from them. However, worms help by turning the soil and making it better for plant growth. Also, according to an article published in the “Sustainable Rose Garden” in 2008, much of the chemical use only makes plants more vulnerable in the long run. The writer of the article, Paul Zimmerman, treated some roses with natural mixtures, like manure, fish emulsion, and other homemade combinations, to keep them healthy and bug free. He discovered that compared to his chemically treated roses the naturally treated ones were better able to fight disease. The chemically treated roses were stripped of their natural defenses to things like mildew.

With all of the problems that chemical spraying causes for humans, animals, and plants, it does not seem worth it to add negative things to our beautiful environment when there are natural, less harmful alternatives. We can still have clean, nice lawns and flowers without all of those different chemical sprays, and anyway, what's so bad about some worms and some dandelions??




Definitely check out http://paulzimmermanroses.com/?page_id=110 for more information on the dangers of chemicals on plant life.