Weed killers seem to do more harm than good at this point in time. A new study proved that male frogs were chemically "castrated" from the popular weed killer, atrazine. It also turned 10% of male frogs exposed into females! The other male frogs exposed had decreased amounts of sperm and fertility. This accounts for the decline of amphibians in the midwestern United States and even around the world. This pesticide fools with the frog's hormones and brings in estrogen rather than testosterone.
In 2004, European Union banned the use of atrazine because it consistently showed up in the people's drinking water. The EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, just launched a new study to see if there is a relationship between the pesticide and cancer. Despite all the proof that atrazine is unhealthy to the frogs, farmers in the United States still continue to use it. So, what happens when there are no more frogs to keep the bug population down? Probably more pesticides.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/science/03/01/pesticide.study.frogs/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Wow.... this is very interesting and also horrible for frogs. For them to be chemically castrated and also turned into females thats messed up.
ReplyDeleteThis is horrible, it's just another example of how chemicals are ruining our wonderful biodiversity. Hopefully the frogs will make a full recovery.
ReplyDeleteGosh! Could you imagine this happening to you? This seems horrible, even though its a frog! I agree, its just proof that human made chemicals go on to destroy another living creature.
ReplyDeleteThis is really sad for the frogs. These farmers need to come up with a safer form of pesticides. This stuff doesn't seem good for humans either if it could possibly be related to cancer and its showing up in the water..
ReplyDeleteThe United States really needs to ban the use of it. This is scary to both the frogs and us. Something needs to be done about it. However, finding out which one of my peices of fruit has been sprayed with it will be very hard to find. They should make a reagent that can detect it so people can choose not to each certain foods.
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