Lawn Care Products and Dogs
 Lawn care products have been a concern to pet owners for many years.
The public is under the impression that these products are primarily
pesticides, and that they are very toxic or pose a significant health
threat. Here are some common questions and the answers about lawn care
products.
How can your pet become exposed to lawn care products?
The two most common routes of exposure are orally and dermal. Exposure
to liquid concentrates and granules are possible with homeowner storage.
Exposure to the diluted liquids is possible during application or before
foliage drying. Exposure to applied granular material usually is the
result of spills during loading equipment’s, spreader equipment
failure, or spreading granules on non lawn surfaces such as driveways
and sidewalks.
Does exposure result in toxicosis?
Intoxication from these products is dose related. In most cases, exposure
will not result in any adverse effects, there are some exposures that
could. Consumption of liquid concentrates while mixing or granules in
storage in more likely to result in toxicosis than any other common exposure.
This is because of the higher chemical concentration and total amount
of product available to the animal. Consumption to excessive amounts
of granules such as in driveways or from spills may result in mild clinical
signs. Oral or skin exposure to lawns where diluted liquids or granules
are properly applied generally are of negligible risk. This statement
is made when considering (1) the low chemical concentration of the liquid
application, (2) the large area of application, (3) low liquid volume
applied per unit area of lawn, (4) low percentage of dislodgeable chemical
residue from foliage, (5) granular deposition in the thatch layer, and
(6) less the exposed dose. The exposed dose is then often compared to
the no observable effect level (NOEL) determined in the chronic experimental
studies and other experimental forensic data.
Do lawn care chemicals cause cancer in animals?
Long-term chronic experimental studies in dogs do not support the conclusion
that the chemicals identified in table 1 are carcinogenic. The only scientific
data that are in conflict with that conclusion is the much publicized
work of Hayes et al. (1992). It is the author’s opinion that serious
flaws in this epidemiological study have negated the conclusions of this
study. Unfortunately, there are no other epidemiological studies.
What information do I need to strongly suspect lawn care chemical
toxicity?
The clinical signs and clinical history must be compatible with specific
chemical exposure . In the case of death, a postmortem examination should
reveal the appropriate chemically related target tissues, and gross and
histopathologic findings. The amount of chemical in the exposure must
be sufficient to cause adverse effects. Any clinical pathologic findings
should be compatible also. An example would be an alleged acute organphosphate-related
death depression of brain cholinesterase. Exposure alone is not sufficient
evidence to diagnose intoxication. Currently, in most cases, there is
not enough information available for these chemicals to determine an
expected lethal or toxic concentration in tissues or body fluids. Therefore,
the analytical findings of a chemical in animal tissue or body fluids
is evidence of exposure but not necessarily intoxication
Is there a toxicological concern about inert ingredients?
Since the majority of the applied liquid products are soluble in water
and are diluted when mixed with water and are diluted when mixed with
water, inert ingredients in the products themselves are of little concern.
In general, the inert ingredient in granular products also not of toxicological
concern.
Is there a concern about mixtures?
There are not many good experimental studies using standard mixtures
of these products. Because most of these products have different mechanisms
of producing toxicity and based on current experimental work with mixtures,
it does not appear that most mixtures result in toxicological potentiation
or synergy.
Why does posting of lawn applications occur?
In many states and localities, positing of lawn care product application
is required by law. Posting serves s a notification that lawn care application
occurred. It is part of the community’s right to know. Posting
is not related the toxic potential of materials used.
Why is it recommended that animals and human stay off lawns until
liquid applications dry?
It is recommended that animals and humans stay off the lawn until the
liquid application is dry to limit exposure. As with any chemical (e.g.,
lawn care product, detergent), there should be an effort by the public
to limit exposure. The amount of chemical that is dislodgeable decreases
as the liquid dries. The overall difference between the actual exposure
dose and a toxic dose is changes little by foliage drying; therefore,
the risk is still negligible without drying.Most commonly used lawn care
products chemicals Fertilizers Fungicides Polyphosphates Iprodione Urea/reaction
products Thiophanate methyl Potassium chloride Ammonium phosphatesInsecticides
herbicides Diazinon 2,4-Dichlorphenoxyacetic acid Chlorpyrifos MCPP Isofenphos
MCPA Carbaryl Dicamba Cyfluthrin Pendimethalin Triclopyr Glyphosate
References: DIANE F. GERKEN,D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl.A.B.V.T.
> For more information visit the site http://www.laserles.com
Information supplied by:
David Tayman, D.V.M.
10788 Hickory Ridge Rd.
Columbia, MD 21044
Phone: 410-730-2122
Fax: 410-992-9511
E-mail: info@petshealth.com
URL: www.petshealth.com
Other articles on Gardening, Plants and Gardening can be found at:
Your Home
|
