Pesticides and Lawn Chemicals Recently, the use of pesticides and lawn chemicals has increased dramatically among homeowners and golf course managers in hopes of obtaining " the perfect turf." However, the negative effects associated with achieving one's "dream land" are mainly caused by the direct use of pesticides and chemicals. The chemical pesticide industry is failing to address these issues and has made every effort to keep this information hidden from the public. Herbicides and pesticides are not a natural way to achieve a beautiful lawn, contrary to what lawn care companies would have you believe. They are broad-spectrum biocides and by their very nature can damage organisms other than the target species (Dieglman, 1996). Pesticide industries make false claims claiming their chemicals are heavily diluted, failing to mention that the toxins are still extremely dangerous even in small quantities. Other false claims include companies like ChemLawn that say a child would have to ingest ten cups of treated grass clippings to equal the toxicity of one aspirin. In reality, the real danger is not grazing the lawn. Most poisonings result from inhaling pesticide residues or absorbing them through the skin (Begley, 1988). These chemicals include wartime defoliants such as Agent Orange, nerve gas-type pesticides, and artificial hormones (Dieglman, 1996). In some cases, pesticides such as DDT, which remain active for many years, accumulate in our bodies and are released at potentially toxic levels. In women, lifetime exposure to these chemicals is released into the breast milk of the firstborn (International Joint Commission, 1990). Pesticides drift and settle during application where they can easily reach homes and paper centers. .....the risks to human health that exceed the expected results. It is necessary to develop alternative strategies that lead to better environmental outcomes. Long-lasting solutions, which require less time, are certainly the best starting point.ReferencesN. Diegelman. Poison in the grass. 1996. Begley, Sharon and Hager. “Please don't eat the platforms.” Newsweek May 16, 1988. International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes. “Selected Persistent Toxicants in Human Breast Milk in the Great Lakes Basin.” March 1990.American Defender Network. “Chemical Hazards in the Lawn.” 1989.American Cancer Society, Erie County Branch. "Caution: the use of pesticides can be dangerous to your health." 1991.G. Davidson. "Pesticides: the killing fields". Women's Day. 1994.N. Polk. "The perfect lawn isn't always green." The New York Times, October. 17, 1990.