|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Lawn chemical precautions By Laurel Hopwood Lawn care pesticides are chemicals that kill unwanted pests, such as weeds, insects, and fungi. Whether used in liquid or granular form and applied by a certified applicator or a homeowner, a pesticide is a pesticide. Ever since Rachel Carson alerted us in her book Silent Spring that pesticides were wreaking havoc with the health of birds and other wildlife, the public has been demanding alternative products that pose fewer risks. There is now a growing demand for safe agents, such as fatty soap solutions, diatomaceous earth and boric acid mixtures. In the meantime, however, huge amounts of synthetic pesticides are still being used. In the Great Lakes Basin alone, 10 million pounds are used annually on lawns and golf courses. These chemicals can run off or leach into sources of drinking water. Because only one percent of water in the Great Lakes leaves the system annually, persistent chemicals tend to stay in the lakes and enter the food chain. Pesticides can also attach to dust particles, travel through air, and deposit in water and soil. Winds from as far away as Mexico pick up pesticides and deposit in water and soil. Rain in the Midwest has even been called 'herbicide rain.' Exposure to pesticides is linked with various dysfunctions to human health and the environment. The traditional focus of studies has been on the ability of an agent to cause cancer. But more recent studies are showing that pesticides also can damage the endocrine, neurological and immune systems. Effects can be subtle and can show up decades or generations after exposure, so it is difficult to prove an immediate cause and effect. Over 90 percent of lawn care chemicals used today have not been sufficiently tested for their potential long-term health effects. Moreover, current regulations do not adequately protect childrenthe most vulnerable. Regulations are based on one exposure to one chemical at a time, whereas in the real world there are simultaneous and repeated exposures to many chemicals. Best way to avoid risks The best way to minimize pesticide risks is to avoid use in the first place. Follow the example of the National PTA, which has endorsed minimizing children's exposure to toxic agents, such as synthetic pesticides. Even professional athletes can appreciate playing on nontoxic fields; in 1993-94, the groundskeeper for the former Cleveland Browns football team converted a playing field to an organic one. Thanks to Sierra Club activists, the City of Cleveland Heights enacted a precedent-setting ordinance in 1995 that prohibits use of synthetic pesticides for cosmetic reasons on parks and the grounds surrounding schools, daycare/preschools and libraries, unless there has been prior approval for use to protect health and safety. In order to educate the public, activists worked in conjunction with the local chapter of the American Cancer Society to reproduce a pamphlet entitled "Warning: The use of pesticides may be hazardous to your health." Sierra Club volunteers also have produced and distributed fact sheets on lawn care chemicals. Such efforts have prompted some local lawn care companies to start offering organic (defined as derived from a living organism) treatments. One company is successfully using a new cornstarch-based weedkiller. Other companies offer a natural landscaping service to encourage growth of native, indigenous plants. Local writer Peter Gail is even educating people about how nutritious certain "weeds" are and how to prepare them. What to do Here's a few tips on how you can make a difference in the transformation to organic lawn care: At home, avoid potentially dangerous pesticides that promise a "quick fix" to your problems. Adopt organic methodsa holistic approach that aims to prevent problems before they happen and treats those that do occur with biological rather than synthetic products. Learn cultivation techniques that minimize weed growth, such as mowing high, using an autumn application of organic fertilizer, and watering infrequently but deeply in the early morning. Pull out occasional weeds by hand. Learn traditional ways of foiling garden pestskeep plants mulched and stress-free to resist insects, rotate crops, plant a diversity of vegetables, use trays of beer to lure slugs. Plant a garden and cultivate hardy native plants instead of a chemically addicted expanse of grass. Stop fussing so much about weeds in general. Learn to think of your lawn as a meadow and appreciate the biodiversity of Mother Nature. Request to be notified of your neighbors' pesticide applications. State law requires licensed applicators to provide 24-hour notification of lawn pesticide application to abutting property owners who request such notification in writing. Applicators also have to post warning signs on properties where pesticides have been applied. Work to reduce use of lawn chemicals at your workplace, child's school, community park or local golf course. Most importantly, don't base your lawn care decisions on mass advertising by the chemical companies. Think for yourself: How can you best contribute to the ecological balance in today's risky world? Lawn and garden resources:
Alternative lawn and garden products
EcoCity Cleveland |
Lawn chemical stats:
Source: Anders Fjeldstad, Audubon Society |
||||
Banyak pemain mencari slot yang memberikan peluang menang lebih besar. Dengan Slot Deposit 5k, pemain bisa menikmati permainan dengan tingkat kemenangan yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan biasanya. Ini menjadi pilihan utama bagi mereka yang ingin memaksimalkan kemenangan dengan modal kecil.
Banyak pemain berpengalaman memanfaatkan data harian untuk memilih mesin dengan slot rtp tertinggi hari ini. Ini menjadi salah satu cara untuk meningkatkan peluang menang secara signifikan. Dengan adanya RTP live, pemain bisa mendapatkan informasi real-time tentang slot mana yang lebih menguntungkan. Memilih mesin dengan slot gacor juga menjadi trik yang banyak digunakan untuk mendekati kemenangan besar.
Simbol Scatter Hitam dalam permainan slot berfungsi sebagai pemicu fitur bonus yang menguntungkan. Ketika muncul di layar, Scatter ini memberikan kesempatan untuk mendapatkan free spins atau hadiah spesial lainnya. Dengan posisi yang strategis, Mahjong Slot meningkatkan peluang pemain untuk memperoleh hadiah yang lebih besar dalam setiap permainan.
Banyak pemain slot online yang mencari permainan dengan RTP tinggi, dan Slot Gacor menjadi salah satu yang paling dicari. Game ini dikenal memiliki pola permainan yang mudah dipahami dan sering memberikan kemenangan besar. Dengan tampilan modern serta berbagai fitur bonus yang menarik, pengalaman bermain semakin seru. Tidak heran jika game ini selalu menjadi pilihan utama bagi para penggemar slot yang ingin mendapatkan cuan besar.
Saat ini, banyak pemain mencari platform terpercaya untuk bermain, dan Situs Toto hadir sebagai solusi terbaik. Dengan tampilan yang user-friendly, pemain dapat dengan mudah menelusuri berbagai fitur yang tersedia. Kemudahan dalam melakukan deposit dan withdraw juga menjadi salah satu faktor utama yang membuat banyak orang memilih platform ini.
Sebagai salah satu situs yang sangat populer, Situs Togel menawarkan berbagai pasaran dari negara-negara terkemuka. Di sini, pemain dapat menemukan pilihan pasaran seperti Hongkong, Singapore, hingga Macau, yang semuanya memiliki hasil pengundian yang akurat. Dengan tampilan yang sederhana namun efisien, Situs Togel memberikan kemudahan bagi pemain untuk bertaruh dengan nyaman.
Banyak pemain togel yang mengandalkan Data Macau sebagai referensi utama dalam menyusun strategi taruhan mereka. Data ini mencakup hasil keluaran sebelumnya yang bisa dianalisis untuk menemukan pola angka tertentu. Dengan menggunakan metode statistik, banyak pemain yang berhasil meningkatkan peluang kemenangan mereka. Selain itu, beberapa situs togel juga menawarkan layanan analisis data yang lebih mendalam. Oleh karena itu, memiliki akses ke data ini sangat penting bagi setiap pemain togel.
