tomato leaf problem

Can someone help, please? I'm in Oregon, and all of a sudden, all of my tomato plants and my bean plants have the same problem - the leaves look like something is eating them - they have lacey kind of holes in them, more on the bottom of the plant than the top. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Terri

Reply to
Terri.J.Warren
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snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in news:1180841019.203581.52750 @q69g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:

You may be able to ID the bugs that are eating your leaves if you pay attention. Aphids are a common tomato bug, I wouldn't put it past them to eat beans too.

Around here, when the bugs get too bad we usually use seven dust.

Puckdropper

Reply to
Puckdropper

Best thing would be to first figure out what is responsible.

If you haven't noticed any caterpillars or obvious insects, I would suggest these inconspicuous suspects that can result in tattered looking leaves:

flea beetles: extremely tiny dark beetles which hop off the plant when disturbed; usually only a short-term problem with young plants

images of typical damage

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active at night; take a flashlight out in full dark to catch them feeding; can be killed at that time with soap spray, or set traps

image of earwig damage

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active at night and sometimes during wet/rainy evenings; tiny juvenile slugs might not leave obvious slime trails

Reply to
Pat Kiewicz

SEVIN: A CONTROVERSIAL INSECTICIDE

by

Winand K. Hock Extension Pesticide Specialist Penn State University

If you can believe the headlines which appeared in newspapers from the Delaware Valley and New Jersey last spring, the manufacturers of carbaryl (Sevin) must have developed and released to the public a 'chemical black death' which will make Love Canal, DDT, PCB's, and Kepone in the Chesapeake Bay seem rather insignificant.

One Canadian environmental organization in a letter addressed to local citizens cites some of the 'documented' effects of carbaryl.

  1. It causes birth defects in mammals, especially dogs. 2. It worsens the condition of people with hypertension and people on anti-depressant drugs. 3. It impairs the function of the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, and the reproductive system. 4. It causes hyperactivity and learning disabilities in mammals. 5. It could increase the chance of heart attack in people with weak hearts. 6. The main break-down product, nitrosocarbaryl, which is easily created in the human gut, is a potent cancer-causing agent. 7. It causes irreversible chromosomal damage to human DNA (the genes in our cells).

These are indeed very serious accusations against a pesticide that presumably has had a good safety record for over 20 years. How did such a situation develop? Was it media sensationalism or was it simply a lack of understanding that promoted the outcry against the use of Sevin for control of gypsy moth in New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania last spring? It all started in Cape May County, New Jersey, where several young women gave birth to babies with defects...specifically four cases of Spina bifida, a crippling birth defect where the spinal cord protrudes from the body, and three cases of hydrocephalus, which is an accumulation of fluid in the brain.

As a result of the accusations leveled against Sevin that the chemical causes birth defects, the New Jersey Department of Health conducted a rather extensive case study in which they investigated the occurrence of birth defects in three New Jersey counties where gypsy moth spraying with Sevin had occurred.

Carbaryl is an insecticide and like any other insecticide, it must be toxic to insects to be effective. And, like all pesticides, carbaryl is also toxic to certain nontarget organisms, including humans. But, with proper use and handling, carbaryl is rarely a problem to the applicator, the general public, and to the environment.

Sevin is the registered trademark for carbaryl insecticide. Carbaryl is the common name for the active ingredient, 1-napthyl methylcarbamate. Union Carbide discovered carbaryl, a synthetic organic carbamate pesticide, and is the sole domestic producer and major world manufacturer of the chemical.

Sevin insecticide was introduced commercially in 1958 and now ranks third in domestic sales among all insecticides. It occupies a leading position in commercial agriculture, forest and rangeland protection, and in home and garden pest control products.

During recent years the economic benefits derived by users of Sevin for agricultural pest control ranged from an estimated 3 to 24 dollars per dollar invested. Sevin is a key product in certain pest management programs. It also represents at least 22 percent of the insecticide usage by homeowners and grounds maintenance professionals.

Carbaryl breaks down readily and experience shows it readily de- composes on plants, and in soil and water to less toxic byproducts. Accumulation in animal tissues and biomagnification of residues in food chains with carbaryl and its metabolites does not occur.

Sevin is a mild to moderate cholinesterase inhibitor: cholines- terase is the enzyme that regulates the flow of nerve impulses in humans. Recovery in cases of accidental exposure is usually quite rapid. Atropine is the only antidote recommended and then only in more severe poisoning cases such as the accidental ingestion of carbaryl by a child. During the almost two decades of extensive carbaryl use in the United States, few cases of overexposure have occurred and no fatalities have been reported. Under most use situations, no special protective clothing is necessary to provide worker safety and no federal or state agencies require adult re-entry restric- tions following the application of Sevin. Toxicology/Toxicity

The toxicology of Sevin carbaryl insecticide has been extensively inves- tigated by many different research groups, including universities, governmental agencies, and private research foundations. Laboratory tests to determine toxicological (tumor producing, birth defects, mutations, etc.) effects have been conducted on at least a dozen species of mammals. In addition, toxicity (how poisonous is the chemical) studies are known for at least 20 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, and 40 species of fish. Even some human exposure studies have been conducted.

We do know that carbaryl is quite toxic to honey bees, certain beneficial insects such as lady beetles, and parasitic wasps and bees, certain species of aquatic insects, and some forms of shellfish such as shrimp and crabs. Care must be taken when using carbaryl in areas where these organisms exist.

Extensive evidence indicates that carbaryl does not cause cancer or genetic changes in animals. Carbaryl has also been extensively tested for its effect on reproduction and the occurrence of birth effects (we call this teratogenic potential). Experiments have been conducted on various strains of rats and mice, and on hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, sheep, and monkeys. Adverse effects have occurred only in dogs. New Jersey Department of Health Study

The purpose of this investigation was to explore whether there is any correlation between spraying for gypsy moth with carbaryl and the occurrence of birth defects. The study was designed to answer two questions:

  1. Is there an increased rate of birth defects in municipalities where carbaryl is used in aerial spraying for gypsy moth? 2. Is there a relationship in time between the occurrence of birth defects and this spraying?

The counties of Morris, Monmouth, and Cape May were chose for this study based on the level of spraying conducted in the three counties and the common suburban/rural characteristics of each county. The time frame for the study includes all births from January 1, 1977 through March 31,

1980. Birth records from all 10 hospitals in the three counties with maternity services were reviewed by personnel of the New Jersey Department of Health. The study population consisted of 34,355 live births; only the occurrence of birth defects in live born infants was included in the analysis.

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Philip A. Gruccio, who last May rejected an appeal to stop further use of the insecticide, reached the same conclusion that Sevin is safe as currently used in the gypsy moth program.

Now I would like you to consider some additional facts when analyzing the Sevin/gypsy moth spray program.

  1. The highest human exposure measured during gypsy moth spraying is
740,000 times less than that encountered hourly during a 40-hour work week by carbaryl manufacturing plant workers. Some workers have been exposed to carbaryl for more than 10 years with no clinically significant adverse effects. 2. Human volunteers have orally ingested carbaryl at 2 mg/kg of body weight with no observed effects. Exposure during gypsy moth spray programs is about 20,000 times less than the human volunteers ingested. 3. The exposure during gypsy moth spray programs is 100 times lower than the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for humans established by the World Health Organization. 4. Exposure during gypsy moth spray programs is 5,000,000 times lower than the dose fed to rats during pregnancy and 200,000 times lower than the dose fed to pregnant monkeys. Even more important than these safety margins, birth defects did not occur in rhesus monkeys fed carbaryl throughout the gestation period. The monkey anatomy and physiology are, of course, quite similar to those of humans.

EPA Reaction

What does EPA say about the use of carbaryl and the accusations of teratogenicity or birth defects associated with the use of the chemical? In a letter addressed to the Secretary, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, EPA states...and I quote...

'The Agency has reviewed all available information on the teratogenic potential of carbaryl and concludes that the weight of evidence suggests that this potential effect from carbaryl in humans is low. There is more data on carbaryl in this area than for most chemicals. The scientific data available does not pose an imminent hazard...'

EPA also points out, and rightfully so, that ' one must never conclude the risks from exposure to any chemical are zero... and that women of child-bearing age should avoid any unnecessary exposures to carbaryl and other chemicals as well.' This is certainly sound advice, no pesticide is absolutely safe to all persons at all times.

In conclusion, EPA does not plan to initiate any regulatory action against carbaryl at this time. The final chapter of this saga came in December 1980, when EPA returned carbaryl to the regular registration process, thus completing the review.

  • * * *

Disclaimer: Please read the pesticide label prior to use. The information contained at this web site is not a substitute for a pesticide label. Trade names used herein are for convenience only; no endorsement of products is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products implied. Most of this information is historical in nature and may no longer be applicable.

For more information relative to pesticides and their use, please contact the PMEP staff at:

5123 Comstock Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853-0901 (607)255-1866

Caveat Emptor

- Billy Coloribus gustibus non disputatum (mostly)

Reply to
Bill Rose

Is it true that the last hurricane to hit New Jersey created $5,000,000,000 worth of improvements? ;-)

- Billy Coloribus gustibus non disputatum (mostly)

Reply to
Bill Rose

As a mother of three from NJ, I tell you honestly and without personal malice, FOAD.

Boron

Reply to
Boron Elgar

Honor to where honor is due. James penned the following insensitive lines.

Not to take James side in this but, I think he meant was that it is unconscionable for both the state and federal governments not to address the large number of toxic waste sites in New Jersey. At least, that's what I hope he meant. Otherwise, it would be beneath contempt to mock a child because of the place where s/he was born.

And that's what Billy Rose snipped-for-privacy@sonic.net said.

- Billy Coloribus gustibus non disputatum (especially with little kids)

Reply to
Bill Rose

You have been reading those "Jersey Devil" stories again haven't you?

It is true that the "Weird" series of books started in NJ as a magazine many years ago. That may mean something.

BUT, seriously, I live in NW NJ, farm territory except where they are growing houses in the fields more and more now. Other then the comunist style government the place is not as bad as it seems.

Reply to
Him

Bergen Record - June 2, 2007

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arrested at Paramus school

By CAROLYN SALAZAR STAFF WRITER

PARAMUS Police arrested a Record reporter Saturday as he accompanied a lab technician taking soil samples at West Brook Middle School, which was closed last week after pesticide contamination was found on its grounds.

The reporter, Michael Gartland, 33, of Jersey City, along with Thomas Adamkiewicz, 63, of Hewitt, a field manager for an environmental testing firm, face trespassing charges after they went to the school to collect soil for an independent analysis.

Gartland broke the story about the tainted soil which was found five months ago and school officials failure to notify parents until May 23. The revelations caused outrage in the borough.

Officials closed the school Tuesday after authorities found aldrin, dieldrin and chlordane in mounds of soil on its grounds.

The state Department of Environmental Protection launched a probe last week into how the matter was handled. The agency also is testing the soil around the school and the air inside the building to determine whether it poses serious health threats to anyone exposed to it.

The Record hired Aqua Pro-Tech Laboratories, a Fairfield-based environmental testing firm, to perform an independent study of the soil at several district schools.

Police first questioned Gartland and Adamkiewicz about 10:10 a.m., after they were seen carrying sealed bags of soil from the Roosevelt Avenue school, Deputy Chief Richard Cary said. He said the two had trespassed and were obstructing an ongoing state investigation.

My position is certainly Michael Gartland knew that this investigation was ongoing, Cary said. Im not sure why they felt that they needed to do an independent investigation. We put up police tape and barricades, so they clearly knew that they were not permitted to enter the site. They had to get through barricades to get to where they went.

Frank Burgos, managing editor of The Record, said determining whether soil on public land is toxic and a danger is of great public concern.

Given the questions regarding the safety of soil in Paramus and at West Brook Middle School, we at The Record feel it is our journalistic duty to pursue this matter and to provide the answers people have a right to expect, Burgos said.

Jennifer Borg, vice president and general counsel of North Jersey Media Group, which owns The Record, said the paper will not allow the arrests to deter its investigative efforts.

Just as we vigorously continue to seek the truth about soil contamination at West Brook, we will vigorously defend the charge against Mike, she said.

Officials from the Paramus hazardous materials team, rescue squad and ambulance corps and the Bergen County Police hazardous materials team responded to the scene.

Gartland and Adamkiewicz had to undergo decontamination in front of the school their shoes and socks were removed and, with their pants rolled up, their feet were hosed off. Police seized the soil samples, as well as their shoes and socks.

They were placed in handcuffs and taken to police headquarters about

1:30 p.m.

Borg said the paper will seek the return of the samples so the paper can publish its results.

The Record will continue to vigorously pursue the facts surrounding the contamination controversy, Burgos said. He also questioned the need for bringing in the hazmat team.

One obvious question troubling me is this: If all the contaminated soil has been removed from the school, why were our reporter and environmental expert required to relinquish their shoes? he said.

Reply to
Charlie

I think what Charlie is saying, in his minimalist style, is,"Don't shoot the messenger".

- Billy Coloribus gustibus non disputatum (mostly)

Reply to
Billy Rose

My first suggestion would be to release some ladybugs. They are inexpensive compared to the cost of other things, and they love their work. This past week when the praying mantis eggs hatched, I had to go to a neighbors for aphids and even there, they were difficult to find. Since I've been releasing ladybugs, everyone's yards in our neighborhood are more pest-free.

Just north of you in southwest Washington.

Glenna

Reply to
Glenna Rose

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