In an April 20 letter to the editor, a mother told how she and her toddler, in their own home, had been exposed to the chemical 2,4-D by a neighbor's lawn care service.
Similarly, in my own yard, I was exposed to herbicide drift by a lawn care service spraying weed killer nearby. MDA officials investigating the incident reported that a herbicide containing 2,4-D, a chemical once used in the production of Agent Orange, had been used and that the applicator had violated wind label restrictions and record-keeping requirements.
This incident occurred despite my requests that the company provide notification before applying chemicals and to refrain from spraying on windy days. To date, these requests have gone completely unheeded.
Pesticides and herbicides, by nature, are poisons containing ingredients linked to serious health hazards. There are strict laws to protect patrons from secondhand smoke in bars and restaurants, and workers are required to be notified of toxins present in workplaces.
Yet, in our own homes and on our own property, the places where we should enjoy the highest level of safety, we can be exposed to chemical hazards without even a simple forewarning in order to protect ourselves and our families.
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Something is very wrong when the fuss over maintaining a perfect lawn has come to outweigh concern for human health.
Dennis Hatleli
Lake City
