| 30M Pounds of Weed-Killer Kills Frogs |
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| Written by Heather McKee | |
| Thursday, 06 November 2008 | |
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Amphibians are on their way out - nearly one-third of the 6,300 species of amphibians are in danger of extinction. Amphibians, because they respirate through their skin, are highly vulnerable to absorption of pollutants. But not all chemicals act directly on amphibians – some cause chain effects through ecosystems that scientists are only beginning to decipher. A new study at the University of South Florida on the widely used broadleaf herbicide atrazine found this: Atrazine is applied to fields and lawns to kill broadleaf weeds. When it rains or the fields are irrigated, the herbicide runs off into the nearest waterway. In that body of water, the atrazine swirls around, killing free-floating algae. The water becomes clearer, providing more sunlight for the algae that is attached to rocky surfaces. Snails get fat and multiply on with this increased food source. Unfortunately, so do their parasites – including a trematode that is passed in the snails’ droppings to frogs, causing higher infection rates. Atrazine, as an s-chlorotriazine, also feminizes frog species – causing many male frogs to develop ovaries through endocrine disruption during development. In 2001, at least 30 million pounds of atrazine were applied to crops (primarily corn and soybeans) and lawns throughout the United States. The NRDC sued the EPA to restrict usage of atrazine (produced by the corporation Syngenta) in 2003 in light of the threat to endangered amphibian species, but to no avail. Via NPR Comments (6)
  written by Heather, November 13, 2008
Thanks for the question - here's a pretty thorough list of herbicides that contain atrazine: http://www.atrazinefacts.com/product-list-31.asp
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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I don't think anyone should be dumping herbicides or pesticides on their residential lawns... that's just foolish.