Even just getting out of the car, anyone of us can step in glyphosate.
The morning ritual in Spring of spraying at parks, for emerging unwanted vegetation occurs almost unnoticed, and poses health risks to anyone nearby, or who may come along even 30 minutes later.
I suppose it’s even possible that just letting a dog out of the car could expose the animal. And what about the wheels on baby strollers placed at the curb, or near the curb? You may not notice the City Parks Spray Mobile and the worker, who (in the course of standard operating procedure) drenched the curb area where you happen to park, or the ground where you’re walking. You may potentially be breathing a foul tasting air, and getting herbicide on your shoes. Your pets may have their noses and paws in vegetation saturated with herbicide. And kids, they pick up things, and then put their fingers in their mouths.
More on SOP…. Standard Operating Procedure
I came out to Land Park this morning (Thursday, April 7, 2022 before 8:00am) to photograph some flowers, and test soil compaction depths around high foot traffic areas and high use areas, to compare with the soil compaction caused by heavy trucks driving daily over the root zones of the Redwoods at Land Park.
I’ve also been wondering, about something that really stands out at Land Park, and is noticeably un-natural. Where there would be fallen leaves, and green grasses, weeds and flowers that nurture nature and help to keep the living moist, there is only barren dry dirt. Turns out that is another sad, bad story.
Even worse, a likely unhealthy situation for the Land Park community of residents, health and fitness visitors, dog walkers and wildlife.
Spraying Parks
It is irresponsible of the City of Sacramento to employ poisons without any signage or posting of such use of copious amounts of glyphosate products (generic Roundup) Ranger Pro.
If you see this truck at the Park, don’t get too close, and watch out for wet vegetation, with a yellow hue, the signs of herbicide spray, and overspray….
Ranger Pro Herbicide, Land Park, and You
The Ranger Pro (generic Roundup) EPA listed Product Safety Data Sheet states:
“PPE is required for early entry to treated areas that is permitted under the Worker Protection Standard and that involves contact with anything that has been treated, such as plants, soil, or water: coveralls, waterproof gloves, shoes, plus socks. and protective eyewear.” That’s common sense for the workers.
If I understand that correctly, herein lies the tragedy of the commons.
People and mammals (both pets and wildlife) are most likely to be UNPROTECTED without the above mentioned PPE required during “early entry to treated areas”. How is early entry defined? Target vegetation remains wet for 20-30 minutes at 7:30 am when people are walking pets, leaning on trees to stretch, or using the Park’s exercise stations.
The worker I saw, had on a simple mask, waterproof gloves and boots, and heavy coat as PPE – no goggles. (I DIDN’T have any protective gear and thus didn’t get too close – I could smell it in the air). And I wonder if the City explained to the worker, the dangers inherent in his job. More on that in a bit.
I spoke to him briefly, asked him what he was spraying, and he said Ranger.
I knew it was a herbicide, and, as I continued to photograph this debacle, I noticed people were walking with dogs through wet vegetation recently sprayed just minutes before. And everyone I approached (all were walking dogs), as I expressed my concern that just 5 minutes ago this truck (by then a hundred yards away) had sprayed copious streams of a herbicide called Ranger Pro (generic Roundup), right where they and their dogs were walking, showing them the wet ground and vegetation, they thanked me, and they immediately moved out into the street. There may be a concern here.
Look closely at the photo immediately below and notice how wet the borders to the decomposed granite path are, and the vegetation, and the base of the tree, where the yellow hue of spraying residue is most obvious. The one dog’s paws and nose were right into the wet surface of the ground and vegetation., a few moments later, another dog – the same thing again.
The morning’s walk did provide the answer to my earlier question as to why there is a wide circle of barren dry dirt, around the base of trees at Land Park!
Loosely translated perhaps it’s best described as overspray (verb participle noun), I would venture to say the City is way over-spraying (the present perfect progressive/continuous verb form) the once green border of the everyday (and in-use) decomposed granite paths, the curbs, too – that’s both sides of the walking paths, the exercise stations, picnic tables, – and around the base of most of the trees at Land Park!
Well as they say; The only common thing about Common Sense, is how uncommon it is! I will let the pictures and film show the emerging story.
But what is Ranger Pro besides being called “generic” Roundup? Why would it be of concern to Land Park visitors?
“Ranger Pro with 41% Glyphosate (same active ingredient as Roundup) is a complete broad spectrum non-selective post-emergent professional herbicide. Ranger Pro is the generic of Roundup Pro, and is equivalent and just as effective as the name brand, only much less expensive. This generic roundup will kill most weeds and grasses. It is formulated as a water-soluble liquid with surfactant, therefore no additional surfactant is needed. Ranger Pro moves through the plant from the point of foliage contact to and into the root system. It is then absorbed into the soil and breaks down naturally, and therefore will not spread through the ground and kill neighboring plants.”
The Product Description
“Ranger Pro is a postemergence, systemic herbicide with no residual soil activity. It gives broad-spectrum control of many annual weeds, perennial weeds, woody brush and trees.”
“Annual weeds are easiest to control when they are small. Best control of most perennial weeds is obtained when treatment is made at late growth stages approaching maturity. “
“Ranger Pro moves through the plant from the point of foliage contact to and into the root system. Visible effects are a gradual wilting and yellowing of the plant which advances to complete browning of above-ground growth and deterioration of underground plant parts. Effects are visible on most annual weeds within 2 to 4 days, but on most perennial weeds may not occur for 7 days or more.”
“Always use the higher product application rate in the range when weed growth is heavy or dense, or when weeds are growing in an undisturbed (non-cultivated) area. Reduced weed control may result from treating weeds with disease or insect damage, weeds heavily covered with dust, or weeds under poor growing conditions.”
The label states:
“Do not spray foliage to the point of runoff.”
“Weeds germinating from seed after application will not be controlled. Unemerged plants arising from unattached underground rhizomes or rootstocks of perennials will not be affected by the herbicide and will continue to grow.”
Which means Re-application will come around in time.
“Ranger Pro is a broad spectrum non-selective post-emergent professional herbicide that contains 41% glyphosate. The herbicide is a generic version of Roundup Pro, and is equivalent in terms of ingredients, just less expensive.”
What’s the Problem?
“The glyphosate contained in Ranger Pro Herbicide was classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in July 2015 as being “probably carcinogenic” to humans. Monsanto, the company that developed glyphosate for use in its Roundup weed killer, currently faces more than 4,000 lawsuits filed on behalf of people who claim they developed lymphoma and other forms of cancer as a result of exposure to the herbicide.”
Glyphosate Dangers
“The glyphosate in Ranger Pro Herbicide has been linked to the following serious side effects:”
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Large Diffuse B-cell Lymphoma
Follicular Lymphoma
Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma
DANGER! PELIGRO!
NATION WIDE LYMPHOMA LAWSUITS
(All 50 States)
Apparently, if a person “got cancer after using, handling, or being otherwise exposed to Ranger Pro Herbicide or another glyphosate weed killer, you could contact a law firm.”
Last Updated: March 24, 2022
“The glyphosate in Roundup is currently the subject of more than 4,000 lawsuits alleging the weed killer caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other types of cancer. Seeing as Ranger (Pro) Herbicide contains the exact same ingredient, people injured by it may also qualify to file suit against the manufacturer seeking compensation for their injuries.”
“HARMFUL IF S\VALLOWED OR INHALED”
“Do not get in eyes, or on clothing.”
“Avoid any contact with skin, or breathing spray mist.”
“Applicators and other handlers (other than mixers and loaders) must “;vear: long-sleeved shin and long pants, shoes plus socks. and protective eyewear. Mixers and loaders must wear long-sleeved shirt and long pants, water proof gloves, shoes, plus socks and protective eye wear. Discard clothing and other absorbent materials that have been drenched or heavily contaminated with this product’s concentrate. Do not reuse them.”
“It is a violation of Federal Law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. Do not apply this product in a way that will contact vorkers or other persons. either directly or through drift. Only protected handlers may be in the area during application.”
“PPE is required for early entry to treated areas that is permitted under the Worker Protection Standard and that involves contact with anything that has been treated. such as plants, soil, or water is: coveralls, waterproof gloves, shoes, plus socks. and protective eyewear.”
Does the City understand the tragedy of the commons here?
In terms of day-use visitors, everyday people and pets and wildlife, are most likely to be UNPROTECTED and without the above mentioned PPE required for workers, during their morning walk through treated areas.
Just another day at the Park!
Tom DiFiore
Copyright Disclaimer
By invoking the ‘Copyright Disclaimer’ Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.”
§ 107. Limitations on exclusive rights- Fair use: Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
If you or anyone wish to use copyrighted material from this article for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Tom DiFiore
…Yes well, I also cook, and bake, these are bialys, and a roasted tomatillo salsa with the unique Type A local grown Mexicola avocados – just the best avocados
