Week 30
I looked at the gravelled path through my land, a path that might have once been spotless, with every item of vegetation removed. No longer. These days I leave the paths to Nature, to see what she might do. From where I was standing, in less than a metre’s span I saw a corn daisy[i],[ii], pot marigold[iii], fringed willowherb[iv], sowthistle[v] and yarrow[vi]. None would have been permitted by a Stripy Lawner, yet each was allowed by me.
Yarrow especially, has plenty of uses. It was reportedly carried by Achilles to treat battle wounds, makes an excellent feed for livestock and is a source of food for many different insects. It is also a natural pesticide, in that it attracts ladybirds and hoverflies, which are predators of aphids. Yarrow was once used by the Navajo Indians as a so-called life medicine and was very good for tooth and earache. The entire plant is edible, although it is best not to eat too much. Basically, yarrow is invaluable and should be encouraged, not killed and destroyed.
Which was why I looked doubtful when I visited a nearby garden centre. Such places are not where one might expect to find a renaturer. Yet around my land are many fellow locals spraying their plants and lawns with a myriad of concoctions, so I wondered what they were doing, not only to their plant life, but also to themselves.
The garden centre’s shelves were burgeoning with multiple ways of destroying Nature. Yet it was hard to find anything that ran no risk of harming mankind. The global lawn and garden care industry is worth a whopping US$16.8 billion each year and is growing at 4.6% per annum[vii]. The origins of this market are slightly dubious, especially with fertilisers, which became popular after World War II. The factories that had once made nitrogen for bombs turned their attention to agriculture. It was about than that DDT[viii] arrived, followed by the excellent book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson[ix]. It was the book that sparked today’s environmental revolution. As The Times newspaper once reported, Silent Spring is “one of the very few books truly to have changed the course of history.” Meanwhile the Naturalist David Attenborough stated that Silent Spring was probably the book that had changed the scientific world the most, after the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin[x]. If you have not read it, please find a copy. It will change you, I feel sure.
There are various products that people can apply to their gardens[xi]. These include fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, moss killers and so much more. Many have come under close inspection by several authorities, especially the herbicides glyphosate and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Glyphosate[xii] is one of the most widely used weed killers in the world and there were plenty of products on my garden centre’s shelves that contained it.
Glyphosate works by interfering with a biochemical pathway involved with the formation of amino acids. This is called the shikimate pathway and is not found in humans but is present in bacteria. Humans depend on bacteria in their gut to form essential amino acids[xiii]. If amino acids do not form adequately or sufficiently, this can contribute to obesity, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, and inflammatory bowel disease[xiv]. In addition, glyphosate, by its interference with what are known as cytochrome P450 enzymes[xv], can also disrupt the regulation of vitamin D levels, as well as the control of cholesterol. It thus does seem that glyphosate can be deadly to human cells[xvi], directly and indirectly, yet is still available for purchase.
Many countries have now banned the use of glyphosate either completely, or in public places, or have issued statements of intent to do so[xvii], in large part because of litigation that proved the weed killer’s link to cancer[xviii],[xix]. It can certainly be absorbed through the skin[xx]. Although known to degrade relatively quickly in the soil following application, glyphosate and its metabolites can possibly persist in soil, water, and plant tissues in certain conditions. Research suggests that glyphosate may reach groundwater, surface water, and several other nontarget sites, too[xxi]. One might be forgiven for asking why anyone is still using glyphosate at all?
Alternatives for weed control are now being widely considered if one believes in weeds at all. My views are clear. A weed is a plant that is growing where it is not wanted, so as I welcome all plants - unless they happen to be horsetail or dock - weeds in my world do not exist. For weed believers, however, such things as mulch, herbicidal soaps, corn gluten meal and manually removing weeds are a few ideas[xxii] for those wishing to escape glyphosate.
Other herbicides include acetic acid, said to be less troublesome, but which can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, cough, chest tightness, headache, fever, and confusion. In serious cases it can damage the airways, cause a fast heart rate, while eye damage can occur. An accumulation of fluid in the lungs may also occur, which may take up 36 hours to develop[xxiii].
Then there is pelargonic acid, which occurs naturally in many plants, and was initially thought to not have toxic effects, although it can be a skin and eye irritant[xxiv]. It can also be a hazard to the aquatic environment, with long-lasting effects[xxv].
For the various preparations that people freely spray on their gardens, there is a long list of possibilities. Benzisothiazolin[xxvi] is one option, although it can cause skin sensitisation and contact dermatitis and is certainly an irritant for the eyes. There is also triclopyr[xxvii], which remains active in decaying vegetation for at least three months and is, again, toxic to an aquatic environment.
Then there are pesticides, which have known acute and chronic effects on human health[xxviii]. Dermal (skin) and inhalational (lung) routes of entry are typically the most common[xxix]. By their nature, pesticides can be toxic to organisms other than insects and must be handled and disposed of with care[xxx]. Pesticide residues have certainly been found in food, with the people most at risk being those who encounter pesticides at work, in their home, or in their garden[xxxi]. There is also a reported association between environmental exposure to pesticides and so-called neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis[xxxii]. Common modern pesticides include deltamethrin[xxxiii],[xxxiv] and permethrin[xxxv],[xxxvi]. Neither is without problems.
As for fertilisers, which one might hope to be trouble-free, no such luck. Chemical fertilisers exchange fast growth for health in plants and can lead to vegetation that is not as healthy as it might be. Because the damage caused by chemical fertilisers is often long-term and cumulative, one option is to try alternative and sustainable methods of fertilising the soil[xxxvii]. Sadly, there are clear human health impacts from chemical fertilisers[xxxviii].
To go organic might seem a sensible solution, although this may not always be as one might expect. The organic all-purpose plant food that I saw on the shelves of my garden centre contained both phosphorus pentoxide and potassium oxide. Phosphorus pentoxide reacts with moist body tissues to form phosphoric acid, which is about as corrosive as sulphuric and hydrochloric acids[xxxix]. No thank you, that is not for me. And potassium oxide? It may be used in fertilisers, cements, and glassmaking[xl], but is also corrosive[xli]. I will give that a miss as well.
My conclusion? To visit the garden centre was a mistake and asking for renaturing trouble. I will continue to add nothing manmade to my land at all and let Nature determine what she does. It is simpler, of course, the more land one has. This gives more room for biodiversity, and it is easier to let Nature do her work.
Yet for those with less land, nothing is too small. Even a tiny garden, or a balcony of a flat, can house more than 700 different species of insect[xlii]. It is never too late to start.
***
Acknowledgement
Take it from me - none of this would be possible without the help of RSG Horticulture. Rufus, who runs it, has far more energy than me and is full of ideas and skills. Do contact him through https://www.rsghorticulture.com.
A thought...
I have been asked to spread the word about glyphosate, which I am happy to do. Here's a link and logo for you:
https://www.consumernotice.org
And another...
An organisation called Drugwatch, and which has a site that is filled with all manner of interesting facts about all sorts of things, has been in touch to highlight a comprehensive guide they have prepared on glyphosate. I learned much when I read it, so would recommend you did the same, too. The links they provided me were:
References
[i] Glebionis segetum. The corn marigold appears to have been a serious weed during the 13th century in Scotland, as suggested by a law of Alexander II which states that if a farmer allows so much as a single plant to produce seed in amongst his crops, then he will be fined a sheep. In Crete and Greece, the leaves and the tender shoots of a variety called neromantilida (νερομαντηλίδα) are eaten raw in salads or browned in hot olive oil by the locals. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glebionis_segetum. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[ii] Glebionis segetum – corn daisy. See https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/glebionis/segetum/. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[iii] Calendula officinalis. Plant pharmacological studies have suggested that Calendula extracts may have anti-viral, anti-genotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. In an in vitro assay, the methanol extract of C. officinalis exhibited antibacterial activity and both the methanol and the ethanol extracts showed antifungal activities. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula_officinalis. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[iv] Epilobium ciliatum. native to the southern part of Canada and most of the United States of America. It arrived in northern Europe early in the 20th century and spread rapidly, reaching Finland in about 1920. It is a plant of moist places, stream-sides, ditches, ponds, gardens, roadsides, recently cleared areas and wasteland. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilobium_ciliatum. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[v] See week 29 entry.
[vi] Achillea millefolium. Other common names include old man's pepper, devil's nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier's woundwort, and thousand seal. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achillea_millefolium. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[vii] Lawn and Garden Consumables Market Statistics- 2030. See https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/lawn-and-garden-consumables-market-A11866. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[viii] DDT. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT. Accessed 23 July 2023.
[ix] Penguin Classics, 336 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0141184944. See https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-Spring-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141184949/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=silent+spring&qid=1689852492&sr=8-1. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[x] See https://web.archive.org/web/20160306110225/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/sir-david-attenborough-did-a-qa-on-reddit-worst-thing-hes-ever-seen-is-chimps-killing-monkeys-2014-1. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xi] Root T. The Unsettled—and Unsettling—Science of Lawn Chemicals. See https://time.com/6184986/are-lawn-fertilizer-chemicals-bad-for-you/. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xii] ToxFAQs™ for Glyphosate. See https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=1489&toxid=293. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xiii] Essential Amino Acids: Definition, Benefits, and Food Sources. See https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/essential-amino-acids. Accessed 23 July 2023.
[xiv] Coleman P. Gut-Wrenching: New Studies Reveal the Insidious Effects of Glyphosate. See https://www.cornucopia.org/2014/03/gut-wrenching-new-studies-reveal-insidious-effects-glyphosate/#. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xv] Hietanen E, Linnainmaa K, Vainio H. Effects of phenoxyherbicides and glyphosate on the hepatic and intestinal biotransformation activities in the rat. Acta. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 1983, 53, 103–112.
[xvi] Gammon C. Weed-Whacking Herbicide Proves Deadly to Human Cells. See https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/weed-whacking-herbicide-p/. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xvii] Where is glyphosate banned? See https://www.wisnerbaum.com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/where-is-glyphosate-banned-/#:~:text=Portugal%3A%20Prohibits%20the%20use%20of,St. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xviii] Monsanto Roundup lawsuit. See https://www.wisnerbaum.com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xix] ConsumerNotice.org. Roundup. See https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/pesticides/roundup/. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xx] Can Roundup Be Absorbed Through Skin? See https://www.pintas.com/defective-product-lawyer/roundup-weed-killer-lawsuit/can-roundup-be-absorbed-through-skin/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20Roundup%20can%20be%20absorbed,cancer%20and%20other%20medical%20complications. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxi] Kanissery R, Gairhe B, Kadyampakeni D, Batuman O, Alferez F. Glyphosate: Its Environmental Persistence and Impact on Crop Health and Nutrition. Plants (Basel). 2019 Nov 13;8(11):499. doi: 10.3390/plants8110499.
[xxii] ConsumerNotice.org. Roundup Alternatives. See https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/pesticides/roundup/alternatives/. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxiii] Acetic acid: general information. See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acetic-acid-properties-uses-and-incident-management/acetic-acid-general-information#:~:text=Breathing%20vapours%20with%20high%20levels,up%2036%20hours%20to%20develop. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxiv] Pelargonic Acid (217500) Fact Sheet. See https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-217500_01-Apr-00.pdf. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxv] Safety data sheet. https://www.carlroth.com/medias/SDB-7015-MT-EN.pdf?context=bWFzdGVyfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0c3wyNDc0Njh8YXBwbGljYXRpb24vcGRmfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0cy9oNGUvaGI2LzkwNjQzMDU4MTk2NzgucGRmfDY0MjY1NGFkY2IxOTQ0YTVlMWI2NmRhZGIyNTA5NTUwNzQwYmU5N2Q5NjkxYWEzZWYwYzU0NzBkZjk2M2M4YTQ. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxvi] Benzisothiazolinone. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzisothiazolinone. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxvii] Triclopyr. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclopyr. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxviii] Pesticides and human health. See https://www.pesticidereform.org/pesticides-human-health/#:~:text=Examples%20of%20acute%20health%20effects,disruption%20of%20the%20endocrine%20system. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxix] Damalas CA, Koutroubas SD. Farmers' Exposure to Pesticides: Toxicity Types and Ways of Prevention. Toxics. 2016 Jan 8;4(1):1. doi: 10.3390/toxics4010001. PMID: 29051407; PMCID: PMC5606636.
[xxx] Chemical safety: Pesticides. See https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/chemical-safety-pesticides#:~:text=Are%20pesticides%20harmful%20to%20human,safely%20and%20disposed%20of%20properly. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxxi] Pesticide residues in food. See https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pesticide-residues-in-food. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxxii] Parrón T, Requena M, Hernández AF, Alarcón R. Association between environmental exposure to pesticides and neurodegenerative diseases. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2011 Nov 1;256(3):379-85. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.05.006. Epub 2011 May 13. PMID: 21601587.
[xxxiii] Deltamethrin. See http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/DeltaGen.html. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxxiv] Deltamethrin. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deltamethrin. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxxv] Sun YJ, Liang YJ, Yang L. et al. Long-term low-dose exposure of permethrin induces liver and kidney damage in rats. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 23, 46 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40360-022-00586-2.
[xxxvi] Permethrin. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxxvii] Buckler L. The Hidden Dangers of Chemical Fertilizers. See https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2017/12/07/The-Hidden-Dangers-of-Chemical-Fertilizers.aspx?Page=1. Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxxviii] Khiatah B. The health impacts of chemical fertilizers. See https://amosinstitute.com/blog/the-health-impacts-of-chemical-fertilizers/#:~:text=The%20Human%20Impact%20of%20Chemical%20Fertilizers&text=This%20exposure%20comes%20from%20a,degeneration%20and%20death%20(14). Accessed 20 July 2023.
[xxxix] Phosphorus pentoxide. See https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/krubin/MSDS/PHOSPHORUSPENTOXIDE.html. Accessed 21 July 2023.
[xl] Potassium oxide. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_oxide. Accessed 21 July 2023.
[xli] Hazardous substance fact sheet. See https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1576.pdf. Accessed 21 July 2023.
[xlii] 10 Super Simple Tips For Rewilding A Garden. See https://seedball.co.uk/rewild-2023/#:~:text=Did%20you%20know%20research%20shows,positive%20impact%20on%20local%20wildlife. Accessed 23 July 2023.
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