Herbicides are Never the Answer

I appreciate the respect for the environment that your beautiful magazine conveys. Therefore, I was surprised by the positive reference to herbicide spraying in Gina Covina's article "New Life for the Laguna" (October-December 2005)—without any mention of the harm it can do. Even if someone thinks herbicide use is sometimes necessary, it's essential to add that the massive amount of spraying done by agencies and individuals is polluting water and soil as well as killing plants and animals (including humans). Even low levels of herbicide exposure are a public health risk.

Over 30 counties in California have banned or stringently reduced herbicides, yet Alameda, Contra Costa, and other counties continue unnecessary regular herbicide spraying of roadsides, including alongside watershed and reservoir lands. A local community group, Parents for a Safer Environment (P.O. Box 6673, Moraga, California 94570, junfishpfse@hotmail.com) gives presentations on pesticide toxicity.