Can't argue with that.
There are instances like Mistress Rose said regarding Japanese knotweed where it's about the only remedy.
But as I've said elsewhere a pernicious fast growing weed like that could have value as a feedstock for biofuel/biogas generation on substandard agricultural land.
that article has a point if folk are objecting on grounds of gross toxicity as measured by ld50 (which has issues such as species variability ,cumulative dose,means of administration ,acute not chronic etc etc ) by ld50 quite a few relatively "harmless" things turn out to be very bad long term
the who have designated it as probable human carcinogen which also has issues such as isolating species variability,gross vs low level effects,finding a glyphosphate free control population for isolating the glyphosphate effect from that of all the other environmental carcinogens etc etc etc .
however if meppee clocks up 17 times the safe(thought to be safe) amount for drinking water there is a strong case for curtailing it's use as a big scale commercial growing tool.
that the manufacturers have stated that it breaks down on soil contact,does not form a residue in food ,does not migrate to water sources etc etc all of which are apparently "incorrect" is hardly a recommendation for anything they say in it's favour.
there may be a case for injecting it into knotweed and similar topical applications but there seems a good case for not adding it to the environment in huge quantities(as there is for many other things).
Last edited by dpack on Mon May 23, 16 2:07 pm; edited 1 time in total
Jam Lady
Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 2573 Location: New Jersey, USA
An interesting article Slim. Thanks for posting. I agree that it should be used for specific problems, not as a general herbicide, but again, as it says in the article, the alternatives can be a lot worse.
Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Posts: 34535 Location: Hereford
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 16 2:10 pm Post subject:
Glyphosphate is a possible carcinogen (same class as wood smoke and red meat).
Alcohol is a definite carcinogen.
I've no idea of the funding for this guy, but an interesting take for the non knee jerk reactionary.