Weed killer confusion

[theplantman]

I would also be really grateful to see that info. As JWK said I had been led to believe it is the safest chemical. Even the HDRA (now The Soil Association) allow its use for clearing ground, so when you see an organic cerified product Glyphosate may have been used). Im not saying your wrong I'm surprised is all and would love to see that info.
I had an opportunity recently to attend a chemical seminar (HTA ran) As im almost organic even with customers I turned it down, regretting it a little now, a post above shows I could do with knowing a bit more.

[Louise]

I did put some links in, but they disappeared
http://www.brest-ouvert.net/breve3070.html
"
Professor Robert Belle of the Biological Station of Roscoff has delivered the results of several years of research and experimental work on cells of sea urchins, the sea urchin gene being closest to the man. On a sea urchin embryo, the herbicide in question was devastating.
The teacher is now able to state, a scientific perspective, this product is carcinogenic. To be effective, glyphosate should indeed enter the cells of plants. Allied product formulation of the herbicide, it affects the very DNA of the sea urchin. Some cells then escape the surveillance of DNA, leading to tumors and cancers (sometimes three to four decades after the initial stress). For the teacher, in humans, the process and the consequences are identical."

http://www.projectcensored.org/top-s...rs-of-roundup/
http://www.france24.com/en/20090418-...ified-US-crops
You tube also has plenty of videos re monsanto the parent company. Sobering stuff.

[theplantman]

...im going to have to do some more research....Thankyou louise I havnt looked at the monsanto info yet..but sadly i can guess it will make for fairly depressing reading/viewing. Thats one side of the chemical industry I try not to think about (as terrible as that sounds) but where do you draw the line our banks invest our money with arms dealers, our cloths are made in sweat shops and we drive our cars and heat our houses with fuel supplied by the worst of the lot.
I try to avoid (probably tried harder in the past) unethical products but it is almost impossible.

[pete]

I dont doubt what your saying, in fact I would guess its very true.

Anyone who thinks such chemicals are harmless must surely be living in cuckoo land.

But my approach is that most things, from bleach to baking powder are probably harm full in some way or other, if not to humans, to animals or plants.
Its a calculated risk we take just by going outside and walking down the road.

Its always been the case, and always will be.

I've just read the last two links Louise and it appears to be about GM crops rather than using weedkiller to actually kill weeds.
I would never use weedkiller on a plant I was going to eat, what the big boys do is not something I can control.
And looking at it, maybe there is a case for not banning other weedkillers and relying on just one, (glyphosate).

Its the same situation with pesticides, we are forced to use just one maybe two active ingredients, to which the pest becomes immiune.

It appears that the weeds are doing the same.

[theplantman]

yeah GM is different argument ..... I think for the reasons highlighted in the last two links its a bit idea - oandoras box situation. However and this applies to the glyphosate argument to some extent ...the world population is rising rapidly and realistically we will not stop GM, its the only weed to meet demand.

Heres another link to some glphosate information. http://www.gardenbanter.co.uk/showthread.php?t=22643

as I said thanks lousie I didnt realise glyphosate was so controvesial but that was pretty naive really as pete said nothing is 100% safe.

In a professional capacity I see no choice other than continue to use it...there is no economically practical alternative.

[Louise]

I think what some people have woken up in N France at least, is that these poisons don't just disappear once they have touched the roots / leaves of a plant and have done their job. I have used other weed killers in the past and didn't give a thought to the fact I was putting chemicals into the earth where my children and pets play, but I do think about it now.
As I said, if people want to use Round Up or whatever on their garden, I'm not going to appear like Swampy and stop them.it's personal choice. But if as a result of doing a little bit of research , people choose more friendlier methods of weeding, that can't be a bad thing either.

[JWK]

It's a good philosphy to avoid any chemicals if you can Louise, I agree what we may think are safe now may well prove to be dangerous in the long run - that has happened time and again so no-one can say any chemical is 100% safe. I'm sure you can beat most weeds without resorting to chemicals - it just takes a lot more hard work/time and some ingenuity, so I admire you for having a go.