Study urges sparing use of garden sprays

Press, 8 September 1989, Page 10

Study urges sparing use of garden sprays

By

CLAIRE GRANT

Spraying the roses, feeding the lawn, or killing bugs on the tomatoes all sound like normal weekend activities for the average gardening New Zealander, but how much do we really know about the chemicals we are piling on? New Zealand’s poor handling of pesticides, detailed in the recent Lincoln College study of pesticide use, shows it is not just the commercial grower risking mis-use of chemicals.

Home gardeners have been identified as one of the largest mis-users of pesticides and herbicides.

Some may even be putting their families’ lives in danger. Calls fielded by MAFTech scientist Dr Barbara Barratt back up the report’s claims that many people do not read the instructions, and do not take adequate safety measures.

“The attitude is to use a bit more than it says on the packet, just to make sure.”

Dr Barratt cites one example of not reading the instructions, that could have been serious, where a gardener used a soon-to-be-with drawn lawn fertiliser containing DDT, on his tomatoes.

“Home gardeners have a sense of trust in chemicals, if it is on the market, it must be ok to use anywhere.” Seventy one tonnes of active ingredients were used by the New Zealand home gardener in 1987. Dr Barratt said it is not known what effect these chemicals have on the health.

Although it is very difficult to prove, she said there could be some links between pesticide mis-use and health disorders such as ME.

A lack of training in proper chemical application is evident in the New Zealand home gardener, unlike the West German gardening enthusiast, who must be licenced to buy pesticides for home use. Using chemicals wisely on the garden needs some common sense guidelines. Dr Barratt said they should only be used sparingly where absolutely necessary. Following instructions on the label is vital.

Adequate safety measures are also essential, and chemicals should be stored away from children and pets in clearly marked containers. Avoid old food and drink containers.

Protective clothing, in-

eluding rubber gloves, gumboots, and wet weather gear should be worn and washed down afterwards. Spraying should not bd done when it is windy to avoid drift on to other plants and neighbouring properties, and if possible, a mask should be worn to avoid inhaling. Sprayers should be thoroughly washed immediately after use, and old chemical containers should be handed in at the tip. Most pesticides warn against spraying when bees are around. Care should be taken when picking garden produce, to take note of the withholding time from spraying to harvest. If you do have an accident, seek medical advice as soon as possible, taking the chemical bottle with you.

“These are all sensible precautions, but are often ignored by gardeners who think they are all right, because they have been doing it their own way for years without apparent harm,” Most garden sheds have at least one insecticide, something for weed control, and fungicides, but Dr Barratt questions the need for many of these products. “It is good to keep a few pests for their natural predators to survive. Often insects, such as the spittle bug, look unsightly but do little damage to plants in small numbers. A simple spray with the garden hose will get rid of the problem.” There are safer pesticides coming on to the market all the time, and Dr Barratt suggests trying organic products, such as Derris Dust and Pyrethrum to control problems.

“The message is to respect chemicals and be very careful when using them on the garden. Ask for professional advice if you are not sure.”