I have several questions regarding the pesticide atrazine (that btw has been banned in the EU). Any help and suggestions are much appreciated!
Our landlady applied granular atrazine (Scott’s Bonus S Weed&Feed) to our
rented house’s back and front yard yesterday. This was done without our
approval. I came home to find little granules all over the yard, she
didn’t even bother to water it in.
I have two dogs who I obviously couldn’t let into the yard yesterday or
this morning. This morning I tried my best to water away the granules.
Does anybody know:
-How long before I can let the dogs back in the yard?
-How to best get rid of the stuff (water it down?)?
-Do I have the right to tell my landlady not to put this poison into my
(rented) backyard anymore (she says she doesn’t want to lose her grass)?
I am sorry. Technically herbicides, fungicides, etc are all classified as pesticides.
What I should have said is that atrazine is a chemical that is applied to control/prevent certain weeds. It is not used to control or harm fungus/insects/rodents/fish/mammals/etc. It is not currently considered to be too terribly toxic to these creatures or it would not be sold over-the-counter to the public. This is why I would not not be concerned about my dog walking around on it in my yard (or in your case, your landlord’s yard).
You asked a question, I gave an answer. It appears to me that you do not want to read a response such as the one I gave. You seem to have your mind made up. You’ll probably like this answer better -
I’d keep the dogs out of the yard for at least a month. Who knows what harm they may be exposed to there. I would also sue the hell out of the landlord for maintaining the property without your advance knowledge and approval.
BTW, here are some quotes from the wiki thing:
Atrazine has been banned in several European countries. However, the European Union scientific review stated, “It is expected that the use of atrazine, consistent with good plant protection practice, will not have any harmful effects on human or animal health or any unacceptable effects on the environment.”After a 10-year science review, EPA recommended atrazine’s re-registration in October 2003. EPA considered the re-registration final when it issued the cumulative risk assessments in 2006 on the traizine herbicides, of which atrazine is one, and concluded that the herbicides pose “no harm that would result to the general U.S. population, infants, children or other…consumers.”
No, I am sorry, I do want an answer.
I am mad at my landlord and I am rather on the organic side so I don’t like pesticides.
SORRY if my reply was harsh!
I know it was banned because it washes into groundwater - it also turns frogs into hermaphrodites - but it still says toxic on the bag and that it can be harmful to pets and humans so I am a bit concerned. Especially since all those granules were all over the yard.
I was actually hoping for someone to tell me what you did, to just let the dogs back in the yard. (The whole point of moving to a house with yard was so I wouldn’t have to walk them that much anymore).
And I probably will by tomorrow.
I read the wiki thing last night but I was hoping to hear from someone with first hand experience, maybe someone into lawn care. I don’t know. I am just not a big fan of pesticides - any kind - and even if it has been re-approved I don’t particularly trust it to be harmless.
The thing is, this (and many, many other) lawn care products are so widely used that if you are genuinely concerned, you’d have to keep your dogs/children inside all the time. Or at least keep them off almost every single neighbor’s lawn, public park, golf course, etc.
Does that mean these products are 100%, unequivocally safe? Of course not. But personally I have other things I spend my worrying time on.
Now per ST convention, don’t you have to post pics of your cute dogs?
Atrazine is a systemic herbicide (as opposed to a contact herbicide). It kills the complete plant (above and below ground). Atrazine is used extensively in no-till farming, thus saving topsoil. In the 80s there were substantial investigations into its effect on groundwater quality which resulted in recommendations for lower application rates. It is not “watered-in” because of this and for potential runoff in surface waters.
It should be OK within a day or two. The herbicide particles are broken down by sunlight and water. I have a dog, I use Scotts on my lawn. Not a big deal.
vivie,
I have two dogs also, and use the Scott’s treatment as well. I’ve been using this system for the last few years and have had zero problems with my dogs. I’ve tried to keep them out of the yard for 24 hours most times just as a precaution, but sometimes they HAVE to go
When they came back in I just made sure their paws were wiped, and they didn’t have anything on their coats.
Err on the side of caution, but I’ve never had any problems.
your dogs will be fine. you probably could have let them out immediately without problem. (unless your LL dumped 50lbs+ on the lawn)
My expertise comes from:
Plant science degree with emphasis on IPM (integrated pest management)
Two years with Western Farm Service
Four years doing research on new chemical compounds for Syngenta Crop Protection
Now, I do nothing that applies to my major. Go figure.
ahhh, Syngenta, coincidentially (back when Novartis was Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz), atrazine was the stuff that leaked into the Rhine river in my hometown and caused a major environmental problem, all fish died and the river turned red:
edited to say: interesting, after actually reading the article, they dumped the atrazine into the river and that was discovered during the testing they did because of the other incident that turned the Rhine river red…wow…
