[by Navily Zhen] 67 million pounds of pesticides are used each year on lawns. These lawn pesticides are linked to cancer, birth defects, and reproductive effects among other consequences. 1 to 5 million agricultural workers who are exposed to these pesticides daily get pesticide poisoning, and 20,000 die due to exposure.
If these lawn pesticides can cause so much damage to humans alone, imagine the disastrous effects it has on animals. With your dog rolling around on the lawn, they are immediately exposed to the harsh chemicals, causing nausea, irritation, respiratory issues, and even worse: bladder, skin, and other cancers. Specifically, products that include 24-D, which is used to get rid of dandelions and clovers, have caused lymphoma, a deadly disease, in canines. With exposure to 24-D, canines have a 70% higher risk of getting lymphoma. Another main cancer caused by 24-D is bladder cancer, which shows symptoms such as the inability to urinate or having blood in the urine.
Not only do pesticides harm our pets, but they also play a major role in harming the environment, and are found in the air, water, and soil. As pesticides travel into the soil and groundwater, they can end up in our drinking water, polluting our air, and affecting our aquatic ecosystems. What action should you take for both you and your pet?
- Buy organic fruits and vegetables or grow your own
- Switch to organic lawn care; begin by investing in organic fertilizers and testing the pH of your soil
- If you do use pesticides, keep your pets away until the pesticide is dry and the area is completely ventilated, which is usually a recommended 24 hours
- If your neighbors use pesticides, make sure to speak to them on what pesticides they are using, as it can drift into your lawn, and affect your pet.
- Avoid using pesticides on your lawn completely. Glyphosate, diazinon, malathion, tetrachlorvinphos, and parathion are 5 chemicals found in herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides that are extremely dangerous to your pet
More information can be found here:
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/dangers-lawn-chemicals-your-perfect-lawn-killing-your-pet
- https://emagazine.com/canine-cancers-linked-to-lawn-care-chemicals/
CITATIONS
“causing nausea, irritation, respiratory issues, and even worse: bladder, skin and other cancers..“ https://homeguides.sfgate.com/happens-dog-rubs-pesticidetreated-grass-87365.html
“67 million pounds of pesticides are used each year on lawns.” https://www.toxicsinfo.org/Lawn/Lawn%20Pesticide%20Facts%20Figures.htm
“ 1 to 5 million agricultural workers who are exposed to these pesticides daily get pesticide poisoning, and 20,000 die due to exposure.” Information from notes I took on a Dartmouth edX course: “Introduction to Environmental Science.”
“24-D which is used to get rid of dandelions and clovers…” https://emagazine.com/canine-cancers-linked-to-lawn-care-chemicals/
“With exposure to 24-D, canines have a 70% higher risk of getting lymphoma.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267855/
“Glyphosate, diazinon, malathion, tetrachlorvinphos, and parathion are 5 chemicals…” https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/07/16/5-pesticides-herbicides-causing-cancer.aspx