The sun is shining and it appears that winter is finally over. Students are flocking to grassy areas around campus to study in the sweet sunshine. But what are they sitting, lying and playing on? The first thought that may come to mind is probably not pesticides, but it's true. Every student who is sitting, walking or lying on Bascom Hill is being exposed to pesticides and harmful endocrine disrupters.
Many professors and graduates on this very campus have published papers and books warning of the dangers of endocrine disrupters, specifically from lawn chemical use. Professor William Porter is one of them. Many of you may have had him for an introductory science class or perhaps have heard him speak as a guest in another class. Without getting too deep into the science, endocrine disrupters are of concern because they mimic estrogen. The body uptakes them accidentally, which becomes incredibly problematic. Endocrine disrupters are seriously messing up fish and amphibian sex ratios and reproduction, and they are even starting to mess with human reproductive systems too, as they seep into groundwater and as our exposure to so many of them on a day-to-day basis increases.
With this knowledge, UW-Madison has the responsibility to modify its behavior. We can no longer accept the use of toxic chemicals on UW grounds. Harvard University has shown that a knowledge-based approach (organic composting) to lawn care offers benefits that cannot be obtained through the traditional product-based methods (spreading chemicals). The Environmental Studies Club has been working hard this past week to pass around a petition to show UW that students care about and demand the university's use of pesticides be discontinued. We would like to implement Harvard's successful strategies, which are proven to greatly improve ecological health and save money in the process. This initiative will: 1) Eliminate the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and synthetic fertilizers, 2) Provide educational opportunities and raise awareness about endocrine disruption, composting, environmental health, and organic landscape management, and also will 3) Improve the health of the soil, plants and lake, while at the same time reducing costs.
We know pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are bad for us and for our environment, and we know alternative methods that work better and are safer. So why aren't we using alternative methods yet? Using organic lawn care practices, as shown by Harvard, is better for the grass better for the environment, better for the people who sit on the grass, better for the lake that is next to the grass, and better for our wallets. UW needs to step up and change its practices, as historically it has been a world leader in the environmental movement and has produced many great environmental thinkers. However, they need to listen to what those current thinkers are telling us and warning us about before it is too late. The 40th Anniversary of Earth Day is this April; what better way to celebrate and honor the great Gaylord Nelson than by celebrating a victory over pesticides?
Ella Schwierske is a member of the Environmental Studies club. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
