Local councils still using weed killer glyphosate despite WHO warning it 'probably causes cancer'. Follow our live coverage for the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic. Councils across Australia are using the weed killer glyphosate in sensitive areas like playgrounds, despite a World Health Organisation WHO warning the chemical probably causes cancer.
Glyphosate was originally trade marked as "Roundup" and is commonly used by households, farms and local councils. Last year, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC upgraded its assessment of the common herbicide from "possibly" to "probably carcinogenic to humans," placing it in the same category as red meat. The IARC found limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mostly in agricultural workers.
In a statement it said: "It is important to note that the hazard assessment conducted by IARC was not a complete regulatory risk assessment". APVMA said there was no conflict of interest in investigating a product that contributed to its budget. The industry body for agricultural chemicals, CropLife Australia, said it had not, and would not be making contact with the regulator regarding its re-assessment of glyphosate.
The process of bringing a new product to market takes years," Mr Cossey said. Mr Cossey reiterated that the industry believed glyphosate was completely safe, and said the vast body of research supported that. Residents in Castlemaine and Bendigo in Central Victoria have petitioned their local councils to stop using glyphosate-based pesticides.
Weeds are controlled for the following reasons: appearance - weeds detract from the overall appearance of an area and trap litter safety - weed growth can interfere with visibility for road users and obscure traffic signs. Weeds in kerbs or around drains can prevent or slow down drainage.
Their growth on pavements may damage their surface causing broken and uneven slabs structure - weed growth can destroy paving surfaces, force kerbs apart and crack walls, greatly increasing our maintenance costs. We will treat: public footways kerbs and channels car parks which are owned by the council. Please remember there are 1,km of footway so weed spraying is a long process. We do not remove weeds following the spray, weeds are left to rot away.
Read more about our use of herbicides containing glyphosate When are weeds treated? We do all we can to treat weeds at appropriate times. However, we cannot treat them if: the weather is very hot because the weed-killer can evaporate before it has been absorbed by the weeds there is a risk of rain because the weed-killer would be washed off before it was absorbed by the weeds there are high winds.
This is to make sure the herbicide doesn't drift in the air to adjoining land or cause damage. How to report weed problems on the highway Use the highways report it form for weeds or call us on Weedspraying schedule Find the treatment dates for your area.
Foamstream M A high performance system, ideal for use on all types of large and open areas. Optional Extras Our optional extras mean our machines can be used for so much more than just weed control.
Pre-owned Machinery Occasionally we have a range of used machinery available, including ex-demo machines. View all Products. Foamstream Alternatives to glyphosate Foamstream vs.
How UK councils benefit from using Foamstream in their boroughs. Many councils across the UK have already implemented Foamstream as the chosen method of green and urban space management in their districts. Councils which have already implemented Foamstream in their boroughs Given the concerns and pressures surrounding authorities, there has been an initial wave of UK councils who have made the conscious decision to move away from herbicides, to a herbicide-free approach, in order to protect their residents and the communities in which they live.
The benefits of implementing Foamstream in your borough There are many alternative herbicide-free solutions available on the market, however Foamstream offers councils a number of benefits to help solve the key organisational challenges they are faced with when looking to make a policy which moves away from herbicides. Foamstream is the most cost-effective herbicide-free solution on the market. Avoid any costly downtime. No safety risk to the operator, public or the environment.
No specialist training or equipment required. Positive publicity for the borough. Speak to Weedingtech Are you looking to join the herbicide-free movement happening across the UK and bring many benefits to your borough, its residents and the communities that they live in?
Glasgow City Council, reflecting an approach taken by many authorities, say they use glyphosate in varying amounts depending on the type of weed and how prevalent it is. Other authorities prefer to stick with tried and tested glyphosate-based herbicides. Cost is an important factor when considering whether to ban glyphosate. This brings us back to the Oxford Economics report. However, it should be noted this is based on the full adoption of foam which is the most expensive alternative. The study was also commissioned by the Crop Protection Association and the figures were released by the Amenity Forum — two organisations representing industries heavily reliant on glyphosate.
Aside from the issue of glyphosate versus alternative methods of weed control, a more pertinent question might be our overall attitude to vegetation.
Without pollinators food production fails. Garden plants and familiar landscapes will become unproductive and unrecognisable. Removal of vegetation also reduces the amount of food and habitat available for other invertebrates and has a direct impact on some birds, mammals and amphibians through loss of shelter, nesting sites and food. This feature first appeared in Local Government News magazine.
Click here to sign up to your free copy. The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.
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