"Garlon" relates to the author's previous article,
"Down With The Gap." If you have not read it yet, we highly
recommend it.
According to a website, "Extoxnet," Garlon, the trade name
for triclopyr, does not have very many reproductive, teratogenic (ability to
produce birth defects), mutagenic, or carcinogenic effects. It is slightly
toxic to mallard ducks, but almost non-toxic to fish. They say that triclopyr
is rapidly neutralized and degraded by soil microorganisms.
Extoxnet is run by Cornell University, Michigan State University,
Oregon State University, and University of California at Davis. They are
supported and funded by the USDA/ Extension Service/ National Agricultural
Pesticide Impact Assessment Program.
According to another study, Garlon 4 (a form of Garlon) is highly
toxic to salmonids of the Pacific Northwest. One of two main products
produced when Garlon degrades, pyridinol metabolite is as toxic as Garlon 4
to juvenile salmonoids, and pyridine is more toxic to young pink salmon.
I'm not a scientist, so I can't really say now significant these
studies are. But there are criticisms of herbicide studies. According to an
article regarding the use of Garlon in Mendocino County, Greg Krouse of
Neighbors Against Herbicides, said that "studies were either done by Dow
Chemical, which he does not trust, or by research financed by Dow...claims
research has been inadequate or poorly done." Krouse also said that
"they (the herbicide manufacturers) can do these little minute
regulatory things-do three or four basic studies to get minimally
registered-at which point it becomes physically impossible to get them (the
pesticides) out." According to him, if data is falsified, it is
difficult to prove the data is false, which is what happened with Agent
Orange and Roundup.
Remember how I said companies always want to maximize profit? Well,
to maximize the growth of Redwoods and Douglas Fir, companies must get rid of
hardwoods such as Tan Oaks. A company can either cut and chip oaks or use
herbicides to kill them to make room for conifers. Companies don't always
just cut and chip oaks because it's not economical. When chip prices drop,
companies turn to herbicides.
So, what to do now? There's lots of information out there on the
web; I couldn't even begin to compile everything into an article. I've just
given a little bit of what's out there. Visit MRC's website and read the
community's letters to them, then visit the other websites I've posted up
here and decide for yourself if Gap is still worth supporting.
Links to:
A Personal Account About Herbicides
Mendocino Redwood
Company
Herbicides in Chico Parks
Krouse Article
Extoxnet
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