Toxics

Toxic chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are used in farming and agriculture, timber operations, homes, small gardens, and golf courses. They can move off site of application and harm people, fish, rare plants and beneficial organisms.

Environmental Commons advocates for reducing the use of pesticides and other toxic chemicals to the greatest extent possible. We recognize that identifying where pesticides are used and in what amounts is the first step towards reducing their use. We work collaboratively with agencies, organizations, landowners, and citizens to identify where toxic chemicals are being used to accurately assess the risk to environmental quality.

Toxics and Human Health

Toxicant and Disease Database - a searchable database created by The Collaborative on Health and the Environment.

Toxics and their Effects on the Ecosystem

New Study Shows Roundup® may be highly lethal to tadpoles and frogs
New Considerations for Evaluating Pesticide Impacts to Endangered/Threatened Species 304K - EPA is using an inadequate method for evaluating risk to aquatic endangered species. This report portrays an alternative and more effective method.
Pesticides in Stream Sediment & Aquatic Biota
Pesticides in Streams of the United States - Initial Results from the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

Toxics in Agriculture

Smith River Flood Plain Pesticide Aquatic Ecological Exposure Assessment 656K - Ninety percent (90%) of US lily bulbs are grown in the Smith River floodplain. Four of five (4/5) chemicals studied exceeded the level of concern for aquatic endangered species.

Toxics Use in Mendocino County, CA

Pesticide Use in Mendocino County Timber and Winegrape Industries.
Mendocino Redwood Company Uses Thousands of Pounds of Broad Spectrum Herbicide in Mendocino Forests. 104K Herbicide's persistence troublesome to the ecosystem.
Pesticide Use in the Gualala River Watershed, 2001 Data.
Imazapyr Herbicide Factsheet 80K - Imazapyr is the most widely used (per pound of active ingredient) broad spectrum herbicide in the northern California logging industry.
Mancozeb Fungicide Factsheet 60K - Widely used in the vineyard industry, this fungicide is a potential human carcinogen and is known to cross the placental barrier.
Glyphosate Herbicide Factsheet 124K - Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide. The active ingredient in products sold under many trade names, including Roundup®, glyphosate is a post-emergent, nonselective, broad-spectrum herbicide.