Too many unknowns exist to persist in herbicide use

CapeCodonline  June 21, 2011

I urge readers to sign the GreenCAPE petition against herbicidal spraying, at Change.org.

Our sole-source aquifer is at risk of contamination. People are talking about herbicides, from Provincetown to Sandwich. 

Indeed, two of the five toxic chemicals NStar intends to spray under the power lines have been in the news recently. The first is glyphosate. Consumers know this chemical as Roundup, a powerful weed killer. 

According to a report by Earth Open Source, Monsanto and industry regulators have known for decades that glyphosate causes birth defects in laboratory animals.

The second herbicide is imazapyr, which the National Seashore plans to use on a Truro cranberry bog. This chemical kills reeds, known as phragmites. The Seashore also intends to apply imazapyr at Herring Pond, in Wellfleet, this fall. One study found imazapyr in groundwater eight years after its application.

At a time when herbicide use across the country has come under intense scrutiny, it seems crazy to persist in using herbicides. Scientists are connecting the dots and realizing toxic chemicals can lead to autism, ADHD and other diseases.

Since traces of these herbicides will end up in our drinking water, I urge those responsible at both NStar and the National Seashore to seek safer options.

Alexandra Grabbe

Wellfleet

Congrats to GreenCAPE

As of March 14, all 15 towns have passed the resolution requesting NSTAR to abandon their herbicide spraying of Cape Cod Rights-of-Way!

Cape Alliance for Pesticide Education   
www.greencape.org
http://www.greencape.org/saynay.html 

Living Downstream

Based on the acclaimed book by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., Living Downstream is an eloquent and cinematic feature-length documentary. This poetic film follows Sandra during one pivotal year as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links.

FREE and Open to the Public
Saturday, March 19, 2011 - 2:00-4:00 P.M.
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
Film & Discussion: Toxins in the Home & Community:
Cheryl Osimo – Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition & Silent Spring Institute
Sue Phelan -GreenCAPE (www.GreenCAPE.org)

Congrats to GreenCAPE: NStar extends power line spraying moratorium

NStar will extend a moratorium through 2011 on using herbicides to clear vegetation beneath its power lines on Cape Cod, according to a statement released by the company today.

Opponents have rallied over the past year calling for an end to the practice, citing concerns about health effects from the chemicals on the region's water supply.

... The announcement comes a day after state lawmakers from the Cape filed legislation that would require utilities to negotiate with towns that don't want herbicides used beneath power lines in their communities....

Read the story:

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110302/NEWS11/110309944

 

http://www.greencape.org/ 

Cape Cod for A Truly Green NSTAR -- updates

GreenCAPE blog "Protect water supply from herbicides..."

Protect Cape Cod Water and Our Health–Say Nay to the Spray

Opposition to NSTAR’s Defoliation Plan Grows on Cape Cod 

NStar should raise bar on herbicide use (Rep. Cleon Turner)

Risk in Herbicide Spraying Too Great (Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, Erin Boles, Cheryl Osimo)

...In a region plagued with exceptionally high breast

cancer rates, residents deserve the safest vegetation

management methods available in order to avoid

chemical products whose impact on the disease is

largely unknown. The Massachusetts Breast Cancer

Coalition supports non-chemical methods of controlling

vegetation along the rights-of-way, limiting resident’s

exposure to toxic chemicals.