You’ve heard it before. You can’t always trust what you read online. But that rule is even more critical regarding weed killers and other chemical products. The internet is filled with advice from companies who want to sell their products, but it’s not necessarily accurate or helpful. For instance, glyphosate, one of the most widely used weed killers, has proven to cause severe health hazards.
Data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that glyphosate and Atrazine are used on at least twice the farm acreage than the third most popular weed killer. This is because of proper marketing. But using glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer can lead to health problems and chronic ailments, including cancer.
Do you want to be a smart consumer of weed killers and make informed decisions while protecting yourself from harmful chemicals? In this article, we’ll cover the risks of chemical-based weed killers and a few tips to protect your health.
Table of Contents
The Risks of Harmful Chemicals in Weed Killers
When you’re working with chemical-based weed killers, there are many potential risks. Here are some examples of what can go wrong:
- Whether it’s the fumes or the chemicals that cause damage, it’s essential to be aware of these risks and avoid them as much as possible. A study published in the MDPI journal shows that herbicides and pesticides contain more than 800 active chemical ingredients, some of which may cause DNA or chromosomal damage.
- Chemicals can cause long-term health problems such as cancer or birth defects. There’s no way to tell if someone will be affected until years later. It would be best not to use these kinds of products at all. However, if they must be used, ensure you wear approved safety gear such as respirators, masks, and goggles when handling pesticides or herbicides.
One recent example of a weed killer increasing the risks of cancer that have come out is Roundup. Several studies have shown the association between this weed killer and the increased risk of various cancers, especially non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This has led to many farmers filing the Roundup lawsuit against the manufacturers.
The Roundup lawsuit claims have been growing everyday, and there are chances that this will be converted to multidistrict litigation (MDL). You can also file a Roundup lawsuit if you have been diagnosed with cancer and believe that exposure to Roundup would have played a huge role in this.
An Overview of the Roundup Lawsuit
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer, is a chemical that has been used for decades to kill weeds. It’s effective and inexpensive, and it’s used by millions of farmers across the United States every year to control unwanted plants.
But there are some concerns about how safe glyphosate is. The herbicide has been linked with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a type of blood cancer. Over 100,000 people have sued Bayer due to its association with NHL or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
And now people exposed to glyphosate may be eligible for compensation through an ongoing lawsuit against Monsanto Co., which makes Roundup products such as Ranger Pro Weed & Grass Killer Ready-to-Use Plus Fluid Concentrate plus Weed Preventer Concentrate with Advanced Technology Formula.
There are currently more than 13,000 plaintiffs in this case, alleging that their use of Roundup caused them serious harm or led directly up until their deaths from NHL or other conditions related to exposure levels.
If you have faced health issues due to Roundup exposure, hire an attorney and file a Roundup lawsuit. When selecting a lawyer or a law firm, you can use Google reviews to determine the quality of services a firm offers. Google reviews are written by genuine customers, which means you will get to know their experiences while working with a particular company.
For instance, a Google user, Karen Levy, writes about a law firm, TorHoerman Law, that the company helped her with her case to find justice. She states that the lawyer she worked with was knowledgeable and amazing. You can read such reviews about any law firm online and decide which one to go with.
Choosing a Safe Weed Killer
When choosing a safe weed killer, the first thing you should do is look at the label. The label will tell you what kind of weeds the product is designed to kill and how much of it needs to be used to work as intended. It should also list any precautions or warnings about using this particular brand of weed killer, so keep those in mind before deciding whether or not this product would be suitable for your farm’s needs.
Next, look for toxicity. When applied correctly, you want your weed killer to have low toxicity levels and not pose an immediate threat. This way, if something goes wrong during the application, like getting some on yourself. It won’t cause serious harm right away. Instead, there might be some irritation or discomfort until things settle down again later.
Preparing for Weed Killer Use
Before you begin using the weed killer, it’s important to make sure you have the right protective gear. This includes long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and thick work gloves. You should also wear goggles or safety glasses to protect your eyes from splashes of chemicals.
Keep kids and pets away from the area where you’re working with pesticides because they may be tempted to taste them on accident or even intentionally lick them off their fur after being exposed to them through grooming behaviors. If they ingest any poisonous substances while playing around where they shouldn’t have been or if someone else gets hurt, you’ll want first aid supplies handy so that injuries can be treated immediately.
Applying Weed Killer Safely
Before you begin, make sure that you have the right equipment and know how to use it safely. For example, if you use a backpack sprayer, ensure the tank does not leak or overflow when you fill it with water. Also, ensure that the pump works well so that the weed killer will be applied evenly over large land areas.
Suit up with gloves and eye protection before applying any chemical herbicides. Don’t forget to wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
Alternatives to Weed Killer Use
Consider several alternatives if you’re concerned about the potential risks of using pesticides and herbicides.
- Use an organic weed killer that is safe for the environment, humans, and animals.
- Use an organic weed killer that doesn’t harm plants or trees in your yard or farm field. This can be tricky if you’re trying to kill invasive species like poison ivy on your property.
- Avoid using harmful chemicals by hand-weeding instead. It’s much easier than most people think.
- You can also use acetic acid as a weed killer. For the unversed, 20-30% horticulture-grade acetic acid is also a good weed killer option.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this guide helpful in your search for a safe weed killer. While finding one that will get the job done without harming your farm and family may seem daunting, many options can help reduce exposure levels while still providing effective results.
