Weed control, out of control

To the Editor:

When the weeds are gone, what else disappears?

As someone who values the health of our communities, not just for people, but for the wildlife we share it with, I feel compelled to speak out about the continued use of toxic herbicides like Roundup in residential neighborhoods.

Roundup contains glyphosate, a chemical classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer as a probable human carcinogen. Multiple studies have linked glyphosate exposure to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers in humans. And yet, it continues to be sprayed just feet from neighboring homes, gardens, and yards where children play and pets roam.

“Research shows glyphosate can damage vital organs and disrupt gut bacteria, the microbes humans and animals rely on for digestion, immunity, and overall health.”

But the damage doesn’t stop at the property line. Glyphosate drifts, settles, and lingers. It kills clover, violets and other natural food sources. Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are dying or losing habitat because the very plants they depend on are wiped out.

No one should have to worry that their neighbor’s weed control is putting their health — or the health of their animals — at risk. There are safer, non-toxic alternatives available. What’s missing is the will to use them. This isn’t just about weeds — it’s about the intentional flowers planted for bees, butterflies, and our own well-being. Roundup drift doesn’t just choke weeds — it threatens flowers and edibles, risking contamination, death, or distortion. Our yards deserves respect.

Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, has been banned or restricted in over 20 countries due to health and environmental concerns. These include Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and several Middle Eastern nations like Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Even within the United States, more than 150 cities and counties, from Miami to Minneapolis, have enacted bans or severe restrictions on its use. If so many communities across the globe are choosing to protect their people and ecosystems, why are we still pretending it’s harmless?

Lori Chiolino

Rhinelander