RAMPANT USE OF PESTICIDES

[bbarnes]

Rampant use of pesticides on private timber lands in Southwest Washington is contaminating vital forests and waterways, as well as posing a serious health risk to fish, wildlife and human beings.  Funding for independent research and a vigorous reform of forest practices are desperately needed to combat this increasing pesticide toxicity.
Chemical sprays are typically dumped on forests by helicopter and often include a cocktail of more than twenty different pesticides and adjuvants.  One of the most common chemicals used by timber companies is a herbicide known as atrazine which was banned by the European Union in 2004 because of persistent groundwater contamination.  According to the National Toxicology Program, atrazine is “immunotoxic,” disrupting the function of the immune system by as much as 70%.
Recently, in the small community of Triangle Lake, Oregon, 41 out of 41 residents tested positive for atrazine contamination as well as another prevalent toxic chemical called 2,4-D.  Not coincidentally, residents of Triangle Lake live adjacent to Weyerhaeuser property that had been sprayed heavily with pesticides following a clear cut.  Like many communities around the Pacific Northwest, the people of Triangle Lake are now pressing for a moratorium on pesticide sprays.
Despite health concerns, detailed information on pesticide use in specific areas is not readily available and often requires persistent public records requests.  According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, there are now more than 190 distinct pesticide products registered with the state as well as 282 different adjuvants, substances added to a pesticide product to improve its performance.
Although adjuvants can be even more toxic than the active pesticide ingredients, they are not typically subject to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act requirements for registration.  Because of this loophole, little to no toxicity data is available for most adjuvants, and the dearth of information is even more profound when trying to understand the effects of pesticide/adjuvant cocktails.
These issues are of particular importance to Southwest Washington, a logging region rife with aerial pesticide sprays.  Last month up to 300 citizens gathered in Longview to share their concerns with Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials that pesticides may be one of the underlying factors causing an epidemic of hoof disease currently ravaging the elk population surrounding Mount St. Helens. 
​“We noticed when Weyerhaeuser and the landowners came around and started spraying these godawful amounts of pesticides that things started changing,” said one resident of Castle Rock.
​A recently published study conducted by researchers from the University of Alberta has given some scientific credence to the public’s perception.  According to the researchers, herbicides can dramatically alter the quantity and quality of forage available to elk and deer, reducing their favorite woody plant species by up to 50-70%.  Overall, the researchers’ assessment is that “the elk herd at Mount St. Helens is currently in poor nutritional condition compared to other herds in Washington.”
​Despite investigating elk hoof disease for five years, and without identifying its cause, WDFW officials admitted at the meeting in Longview that they have not been considering pesticides/herbicides as a potential factor.  According to the WDFW website, they are relying upon the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) to help inform their understanding of this issue.  Interestingly, NCASI membership is composed of forest products companies and owners/managers of industrial woodlands. 
​  Citizens and wildlife of Southwest Washington are in need of truly independent research in order to understand the impact pesticides are having on the ecosystem.  They are also in need of forest practices reform to ensure that toxic chemicals can’t slip under the radar.  Government officials had better start showing leadership on these issues, and quickly.  People and animals are suffering.  The land is sick.  Too much is at stake to remain quiet on this issue.  I know I won’t.This article was written to the Seattle Times by Jonathan Gosh.i

[sled]

  I Went Through A Pesticide Class.  Some Scary Crap.  I Just Touched The Surface On The Different Types, And No Longer Have Any Interest In Holding A License To Spray Or Mess With It At All.

[snowpack]

I'm surprised there hasn't been an initiative on this yet.  I bet if they planned to spray near Seattle/Bellevue/Issaquah there would be more uproar.

[bowbuild]

bbnares,

                      I am a applicator, and if you can prove your claims I support you 100% Can you please refrain in calling herbicides being applied as pesticides?? I realize legally they are both pesticides, by definition. I would be willing to bet that the majorty of people that know little about the industry are thinking they are mass spraying for insects ......if they are, by all means I personally would love to know what. Timber companies are required to leave a certain amount of debri for beneficial insect actvity.

I surely hope you are aware of how many on the shelf items at your local feed, or hardware store contain 2-4D.....it is a VERY common product in broadleaf killers designed to kill the broadleaf, and not your grass.

Bowbuild

[sled]

bbnares,

                      I am a applicator, and if you can prove your claims I support you 100% Can you please refrain in calling herbicides being applied as pesticides?? I realize legally they are both pesticides, by definition. I would be willing to bet that the majorty of people that know little about the industry are thinking they are mass spraying for insects ......if they are, by all means I personally would love to know what. Timber companies are required to leave a certain amount of debri for beneficial insect actvity.

I surely hope you are aware of how many on the shelf items at your local feed, or hardware store contain 2-4D.....it is a VERY common product in broadleaf killers designed to kill the broadleaf, and not your grass.

Bowbuild

  Call It What You Want.  It's Still Nasty Stuff.  Anything You Spray That Will Kill Vegetation For Three Years Is Not Good For Anything!

[MHWASH]

Just like anything else, when used within reason, and according to law, pesticides are very safe. The toxicity of most pesticides are very low. Please do some research and learn the facts before jumping to any conclusions.

[grundy53]

bbnares,

                      I am a applicator, and if you can prove your claims I support you 100% Can you please refrain in calling herbicides being applied as pesticides?? I realize legally they are both pesticides, by definition. I would be willing to bet that the majorty of people that know little about the industry are thinking they are mass spraying for insects ......if they are, by all means I personally would love to know what. Timber companies are required to leave a certain amount of debri for beneficial insect actvity.

I surely hope you are aware of how many on the shelf items at your local feed, or hardware store contain 2-4D.....it is a VERY common product in broadleaf killers designed to kill the broadleaf, and not your grass.

Bowbuild

  Call It What You Want.  It's Still Nasty Stuff.  Anything You Spray That Will Kill Vegetation For Three Years Is Not Good For Anything!

It's good for fir trees.....

sent from my typewriter

[sled]

Just like anything else, when used within reason, and according to law, pesticides are very safe. The toxicity of most pesticides are very low. Please do some research and learn the facts before jumping to any conclusions.

Ha!

[sled]

That's About it

[singleshot12]

Just like anything else, when used within reason, and according to law, pesticides are very safe. The toxicity of most pesticides are very low. Please do some research and learn the facts before jumping to any conclusions.

Depends where you get you get your research? the toxics coalition or the chemical company's? Of coarse the chem company's will say it's safe

[pope]

Just before the 2011 modern rifle deer opener I was pedaling my bike trailer up to a spot where I wanted to stash it for the season. Out of nowhere a chopper appeared spraying some kind of herbicide. I didn't take a direct hit but the odor was POWERFUL. I reached a junction in the logging road where a sign warned "DO NOT ENTER-HERBICIDE SPRAYING AREA" which meant I had been where I shouldn't have....only Hancock forgot to post this information at the gate on the highway.

[hughjorgan]

I'm surprised there hasn't been an initiative on this yet.  I bet if they planned to spray near Seattle/Bellevue/Issaquah there would be more uproar.

Don't be naive, how do you think they keep the landscapes in those areas looking nice? Pesticides are used everywhere from your parks to schools to the forests. Applicators are required to keep up to snuff on the latest by WSDA. Pesticides have their place.

[sled]

  Yeah.  But Do They?  Maybe Half If Lucky.

[MHWASH]

  I Went Through A Pesticide Class.  Some Scary Crap.  I Just Touched The Surface On The Different Types, And No Longer Have Any Interest In Holding A License To Spray Or Mess With It At All.

Sled, obviously you didn't pay attention in class. Does the term LDL mean anything to you? No, not surprised, after your comments about "some scary crap" you don't know what your talking about.

[sled]

  I Went Through A Pesticide Class.  Some Scary Crap.  I Just Touched The Surface On The Different Types, And No Longer Have Any Interest In Holding A License To Spray Or Mess With It At All.

Sled, obviously you didn't pay attention in class. Does the term LDL mean anything to you? No, not surprised, after your comments about "some scary crap" you don't know what your talking about.

  Your Right!  I Have No Idea What IM Talking About.  I DoKnow I Want Nothing To Do With That Crap.  I Know A Guy Now That Has Hodgekins?  Cancer ThatIs Most Likely due To Applying Pesticides.  So He Has Been Told.  It's My Preference.  Spray Away Buddy, I Wish You, And OUR Wildlife The Best!