2.20.2009 9:05 AM

Is 2,4-D, A Common Lawn Weed Killer, Too Toxic?

A weed killer for grass has been linked to numerous health concerns, and the EPA is being asked to halt the sale of 2,4-D.

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Photo: Waldemar Dabrowski / Istock

By Dan Shapley

Monday is the final day for the public to tell the Environmental Protection Agency whether or not a common weed killer is too dangerous to keep on the market. Environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Beyond Pesticides, argue that studies linking it to a range of health concerns make it unfit for public use.

The herbicide, 2,4-D is used to kill broad-leaf plants on millions of household lawns, golf courses and and playing fields. About 46 million pounds of the chemical is used each year, about 35% of which is used on parks, golf courses, home lawns and other non-agricultural uses.

According to Beyond Pesticides, 2,4-D has been linked to "non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, endocrine disruption, reproductive and developmental effects, as well as water contamination and toxicity to aquatic organisms." Organic agriculture and lawn care can effectively replace the chemical, according to the group.

To learn more and add your voice, check out the information published by Beyond Pesticides.

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