Wendy Oellers-Fulmer: Lawn chemicals threaten water, wildlife and public health

To The Daily Sun,

On a recent walk, we passed a home where the grass had been recently sprayed with chemicals, by one of the companies that promise lush, green, bug and weed free lawns. While I understand the aesthetic value of a “perfect” lawn, I wonder if homeowners fully understand the impact of these chemicals— not only on the environment, but for our pets, wildlife and our own health.

Lawn chemicals can last for years, in the soil and gradually leaching into groundwater, affecting drinking sources over time.

Herbicides and insecticides are not selective. While they may target insects or weeds, they also harm beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies — species essential to our ecosystems. When insect populations decline due to pesticide use, birds suffer as well. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Audubon Society, an estimated 7 million birds are killed each year due to household pesticide use.

Fertilizers have high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous. When these nutrients wash into nearby streams, ponds and lakes, they create a “superfood” for algae. The algae blooms and eventually dies creating “dead zone,” where no aquatic life can survive.

Exposure to lawn chemicals have been linked to severe health issues including cancer — for wild mammals, pets, and humans alike who come into direct contact with treated grass, contaminated soil, or water.

A beautiful, healthy lawn doesn’t have to come at such a cost. There are effective alternatives that support both aesthetic values and our environment. Visit blog.nwf.org/2024/08/dangers-of-lawn-chemicals-impacts-and-alternatives for more information. 

This Earth Day, it is worth considering what we are putting on our lawns, and its actual cost to the world around us.

Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

Gilford