MSMA , also known as monosodium methanearsonate , is a commonly used herbicide in the gardening and landscape gardening industry . However , it has been blackball for residential habit due to its potential health and environmental risks . The Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) has impose strict restriction on the use of MSMA to protect human wellness and prevent contamination of drinking piss sources .
One of the master reasons for the ban on MSMA for residential employment is its potentiality to contaminate drinking H2O . Organic arsenical like MSMA can convert over time to inorganic ratsbane in soil , which is a more toxic form . When this contaminated soil is subjected to overflow , it can get in pee bodies and contaminate imbibing body of water sources . Inorganic white arsenic is a known carcinogen and can have serious health effects when consume in high concentration over a farsighted period of time .
To prevent pic to inorganic arsenic in drinking water , the EPA has implemented restrictions on the purpose of MSMA . These restrictions include prohibiting the use of MSMA on residential turf , including lawns and home base gardens . This insure that the potential for overflow and pollution of drinking water system sources is minimized .
In accession to the risk of infection of water contamination , MSMA also nonplus health risks to those who use it . As an herbicide , MSMA is designed to kill weeds and undesirable flora . However , it can also harm good plants and organisms if not used properly . The EPA has recognized the potential for exposure to MSMA through inhalation , cutis contact lens , and ingestion , and has take for it necessary to restrict its employment to protect the wellness of those who handle and hold the product .
Furthermore , there have been concerns about the perseveration of MSMA in the surroundings . It has been found to have a tenacious half - life in soil , think of that it can remain alive and potentially harmful for an extended catamenia of fourth dimension . This persistence increases the risk of collection in the environment and likely shock on ecosystems .
It is authoritative to note that while MSMA is banned for residential exercise , it may still be allow for sure commercial-grade or agricultural applications . This is because these uses may have strict regulations and guidelines in place to minimise the risks associated with its usance .
MSMA is ban for residential use due to its potential to contaminate drinking water system sources with inorganic arsenic , its health risk to those who handle and apply it , and its persistence in the environment . The restrictions enforce by the EPA aim to protect human wellness and the environment by minimizing vulnerability to this herbicide .
Caroline Bates
