Common Herbicides
2,4-D (2,4-Dicholorophenoxyacedtic acid )
Found in: Scotts Green Sweep Weed & Feed, Ortho Weed
B Gon Lawn Weed Killer, UltraStop Lawn Weed Killer, Spectracide Weed Stop
Weed Killer for Lawns, Ideal Weed & Feed, Menards Premium Weed &
Feed, Triplex and Killex and many other retail products. Typically used
in "weed-n-feed" products and combined with Dicamba and Mecoprop.
A broadleaf herbicide.
- Widely found to be contaminated with dioxin [1]
- Contaminates urban bodies of water. Surface and groundwater contaminant
[2]
- Linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [3]
- Found in residential carpet dust up to one year after application
outdoors on lawns [4]
- Endocrine disruptor [5]
- Reduced sperm counts and/or increased abnormalities in sperm [6]
2-Methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid (Dicamba)
Found in: Ortho Weed B Gon Lawn Weed Killer,UltraStop
Lawn Weed Killer, Spectracide Weed Stop Weed Killer for Lawns, Menards
Premium Weed & Feed, Banvel, Scott's Pro-Turf, Dianat, Dicazin, Fallowmaster,
Mediben, Metambane, Tracker, and Trooper and many other retail products.
A broadleaf herbicide.
- Listed by the EPA as a developmental toxin [7]
- Linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [8]
- Surface and groundwater contaminant [2]
2-(2-Methyl-4-chlorphenoxy)propionic acid (Mecoprop
or MCPP)
Found in: Scotts Green Sweep Weed & Feed, Ortho Weed
B Gon Lawn Weed Killer,UltraStop Lawn Weed Killer, Spectracide Weed Stop
Weed Killer for Lawns, Menards Premium Weed & Feed, Kilprop, Mecopar,Triester-II,
Mecomin-D, Triamine-II (with MCPA and 2.4-DP), Triplet (with 2,4-D and
dicamba), TriPower (with MCPA and dicamba), Trimec (with 2,4-D and dicamba),
Trimec-Encore (with MCPA and dicamba). A broadleaf herbicide.
- Linked to cancer of soft tissues and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [9]
- Medium toxicity to birds [9]
- Surface and groundwater contaminant [2]
- Listed as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research
on Cancer [10]
2-Methyl-4-chlorphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA)
Found in: Agritox, Agroxone, Agrozone, Agsco MXL, Banlene,
Blesal MC, Bordermaster, Cambilene, Cheyenne, Chimac Oxy, Chiptox, Class
MCPA, Cornox Plus, Dakota, Ded-Weed, Empal, Envoy, Gordon's Amine, Kilsem,
Legumex, Malerbane, Mayclene, MCP, Mephanac, Midox, Phenoxylene, Rhomene,
Rhonox, Sanaphen-M, Shamrox, Selectyl, Tiller, U 46 M-Fluid, Vacate, Weed-Rhap,
and Zhelan. A broadleaf herbicide often used in combination with 2,4-D,
mecoprop and/or dicamba
- Linked to reproductive effects, mutagenicity [9]
- Can cause severe eye irritation, slurred speech, muscle spasms [9]
- Surface and groundwater contaminant [2]
- Listed as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research
on Cancer [10]
N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine (glyphosate)
Found in: Roundup, UltraStop Weed & Grass Killer,
Ortho Ground Clear Triox Total Vegetation Killer,Touchdown,Gallup, Landmaster,
Pondmaster, Ranger, Rodeo. A broad spectrum herbicide; kills grass and
other plants.
- Linked to spontaneous abortion [11]
- Leaches from sandy soils and contaminates water; highly toxic to fish;
[12]
[1] Crit. Reviews in Toxicol., 32(4) pp. 223-257
[2] Struger, J. et al. 1994. Environmental Concentrations of Urban Pesticides.
Contained in "Current Practices in Modelling the Management of Stormwater
Impacts. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 1998.
[3] Cancer, 72(5), pp. 1773-78.
[4] Environ. Health Perspect., 109 pp. 1185-91.
[5] Environ. Health Perspect., 103 pp. 81-85.
[6] Occupational Medicine, 12(2) and Human Pathology, Vol. 24.
[7] Toxics Release Inventory and Community Right to Know, EPA, www.epa,gov/tri/
[8] Journal of Pesticide Reform, Vol. 14, No. 1.
[9] "Basic Guide to Pesticides: Their Characteristics and Hazards." Washington, D.C., Taylor and Francis, p. 283.
[10] Lists of IARC Evaluations, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). http://193.51.164.11/monoeval/grlist.html.
[11] Environ. Health Perspect., 109, pp. 851-57.
[12] Journal of Pesticide Reform, 15 (3) pp. 14-20.
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