Herbicide Dangers: Environmental & Health Risks Explained

Herbicide is any type of chemical or product designed for the purpose of killing weeds or other undesirable plants; while herbicides can be useful in agriculture and gardening they pose certain environmental and health risks.

Function

• Herbicides are made of chemicals that are toxic to the plants they are meant to kill. In some cases they may also be toxic to other plants which may cause inadvertent damage to plants that are not weeds.

Environmental Effects

• While certain plants may be considered weeds by humans, they may be valuable food sources for animals; herbicides can harm the balance of an ecosystem.

Contamination

• Herbicides in the ground can potentially find a way into lakes, rivers and other water sources through rainwater.

Immunity

• Using herbicides can potentially cause the weeds being treated to develop resistance or immunity to the chemicals.

Considerations

• The effects of herbicide exposure to humans can vary; some herbicides may be non-toxic while others may contain chemicals that are harmful to humans.