Allan Balliett wrote: > A current problem for those of us who accept manures, yardwastes, and > agricultural materials such as straw from off site, is contamination with > xenobiotic substances.
SNIP! > > Best regards, > > Frank Teuton > Hey Frank - Let's go back to first principles. There is every reason to expect that any organic molecule can be attacked by some microorganism and broken down to it's component parts. Therefore, someplace on this earth, we are likely to find the organism capable of doing that job. Thus, Will Brinton is still correct in his statement. Generally you can trust that toxics will be decomposed. But while we're looking for the organism(s), things are pretty grim in the compost world. The plant material to which clopyralid has been applied is actively herbicidal and does not decrease in toxicity with time. There is currently no decomposition occurring. We will likely find the organism to degrade it, but after how much time? How much toxic plant material will build up before then? Isn't it more intelligent to stop using the compound until such time that the organism to decompose it is found? ONCE the material can be safely detoxified, then the herbicide could be released. But not until then. Most of the applicaitons of clopyralid I know of is to grass, and thus, right now, any grass coming into your composting facilities should be viewed as potentially contaminated. Check your sources, and if they don't know what was put on the grass, you won't be able to use it. For that reason, clopyralid should be banned from use until a method to re-mediate it is found. Once the organism to decompose it is found, facilities need to be made to receive this material so the chemical can be removed. Clopyralid should be treated as a controlled substance until that time. Currently there is no research on-going that I know of, although I'm certain the WSU folks are working on it. David McDonald ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) quite an extensive summary of recent work, so let me direct you there for more information. Hope this answers your question - Elaine
