Subject: Roundup
From: "Bill Robinson" <roseguy@flash.net>
Organization: Michigan State University
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 14:09:18 -0700
Message-ID: <MOD$970816.7652@rec.gardens.ecosystems>


The following Q&A has been added to the FAQ:

I.07.01: Q.: Is Roundup safe for use in the home garden?

A.: Extoxnet is a reliable and impartial reference
on the toxicity of pesticides. They report that
Roundup is relatively non-toxic to mammals, birds,
fish, bees, and soil microorganisms. This is for both
acute and chronic exposure. It doesn't seem to be
carcinogenic or particularly sensitizing to most people.

The URL for Extoxnet is:

http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet

One hears that the Roundup formulation contains
ingredients that make it more toxic than the
glyphosphate alone. Extoxnet reports the toxicity of
the technical(glyphosphate) is essentially the same as
the formulated (Roundup)

The Roundup website says, "Roundup breaks down into
naturally occurring materials such as carbon dioxide
once it contacts the soil. Treated areas can be re-
planted just one day after applying Roundup". This is
perhaps a stretch. Extoxnet says, "Glyphosphate is
highly absorbed on most soils especially those with
high organic content. . . Microbes are primarily
responsible for the breakdown of the product. The
time it takes for half of the product to break down
ranges from 1 to 174 days.

Roundup is not permitted on certified organic crops.
It is not an organic product but it seems to be
relatively safe and relatively friendly to the
environment. It is probably O.K. to use in spot
applications as a tool of last resort.