What are the negative effects of using herbicides?

Question

Does it have something to do with bioaccululation?

Answer 1

The advertised safest herbicide on the market  is glyphosate sold as Roundup, Touchdown, Glyphomax,  etc. It is reported to be inert in the soil after ~12 hours. This may not be as total as once thought and the other chemicals  used to spread and stick the glyphosate to the weeds are  also harmful in some mixtures.

This was originally thought to completely degrade in sunlight. It is now being found to endure in the soil longer than the first studies indicated possible. Some always remains adhering to soil particles that is ‘inactivated’ but not degraded for years. The level of inactivation is now being shown to be less than complete.

"It has been suggested that damage to maple trees increases during the second year following treatment with glyphosate, and that clover planted 120 days following treatment showed reduced nitrogen fixation and growth. This implies that glyphosate which is bound to soil particles can remain active and may be released from soil and taken up by plants(23). "

"However, while glyphosate alone has low toxicity, the formulation of glyphosate with the surfactant polyoxyethylene amine (POEA), which is widely used, is significantly more toxic."

"Some soil invertebrates including springtails, mites and isopods are also adversely affected by glyphosate. Of nine herbicides tested for their toxicity to soil microorganisms, glyphosate was found to be the second most toxic to a range of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and yeasts"

http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/g...

Other studies showed less impact on beneficial insects in field conditions (as tested by this group) but they also noted accurate application and local habitat considerations were important factors.

http://www.biotech-info.net/glyphosate.h...

Answer 2

Wikipedia says: "Certain herbicides affect metabolic pathways and systems unique to plants and not found in animals making many modern herbicides among the safest crop protection products having essentially no effect on mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles. Some herbicides can cause a variety of health effects ranging from skin rashes to death. The pathway of attack can arise from intentional or unintentional direct consumption of the herbicide , improper application resulting in the herbicide coming into direct contact with people or wildlife, inhalation of aerial sprays, or food consumption prior to the labeled pre-harvest interval. Under extreme conditions herbicides can also be transported via surface runoff to contaminate distant water sources. Most herbicides decompose rapidly in soils via soil microbial decomposition, hydrolysis or photolysis and some herbicides are more persistent with longer soil half-lives. Other alleged health effects can include chest pain, headaches, nausea and fatigue. All organic and non-organic herbicides must be extensively tested prior to approval for commercial sale and labeling by the Environmental Protection Agency. However, because of the large number of herbicides in use, there is significant concern regarding health effects. Some of the herbicides in use are known to be mutagenic, carcinogenic or teratogenic."

To your question: yes, it has something to do with bioaccumulation. If you ate some crops, which have been treated with DDT, something of the DDT might get inside your body. Therefore, it can be harmful to your body. Is it clear?