A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute says dog owners who spay or dust their lawns with weed killers containing 2,4-D are doubling the chances of their pet getting cancer.
Dogs walk across, roll in and ingest toxic chemicals when they lick their coats and paws.
Needless tosay that children can come in contact with the chemical but so far no one has studied the effects of weed killers on children and other family members using treated home yards.
Studies by oncologists Dr. Lennart Hardell and Mikail Eriksson of Sweden have revealed clear links between the herbicide glyphosate to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer.
Glyphosate is commonly known as Roundup and is used indiscriminately to kill off any plant it comes in contact with.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is eliminating the use for nearly all household purposes pesticides containing Dursban also known as chlorpyrifos.
Exposure to this pesticide can cause neurological damage in shildren especially.
This chemical can be found in animal flea collars, and insecticide dusts in a broad range of products used for lawn and home purposes.
When buying insecticides, read the label.
Want to try a home brew remedy for those pesky bugs?
According to a pamphlet available from County of Broward, Fla., a non-toxic pesticide spray can be made from ingredients available in your home.
And it may be worth a try.
RECIPE 1...All-purpose. Take an empty spray bottle and fill about 3/4 with water, then add a few drops of Ivory liquid soap, some hot peppers or hot pepper sauce and some garlic. This works well, but needs to be reapplied after a storm and every couple of weeks.
RECIPE 2...All-purpose. Grind together three hot peppers, three large onions and one whole bunch of garlic. Cover mash with water and place in a covered container and let stand overnight. Strain mixture through cheescloth or a fine strainer and add enough water to make a gallon of spray.
RECIPE 3...All-purpose. Mix two-and-a-half tablespoons of mild dishwashing detergent plus the same amount of vegetable cooking oil with one gallon of water. This can be spayed on all plants. Remember to spray both the top and underside of the leaves.
RECIPE 4...All-purpose. Finely chop 10 to 15 cloves of garlic and soak in one pint of mineral oil for 24 hours. Strain and spray as is or add a few drops of soap for extra stickiness.
RECIPE 5...Rosebushes. Soak chopped tomato leaves in water and apply as a spray onto leaves and branches.
RECIPE 6...Spider mites, spiders, cabbage worms, and weeds. An ounce of table salt to a gallon of water has been shown to stop these pests. Straight salt in non-garden or non-lawn areas can stop weeds.
A WORD OF CAUTION: be careful with sprays containing pepper as it can burn if sprayed into eyes.
