Orchard Hills Neighbors,
Living next to the orchards gives us amazing views and a secluded atmosphere, but it also brings us in close proximity to the pesticides/herbicides they use on those orchards. Before purchasing, I was assured that any pesticides/herbicides would only be sprayed on non-windy days and that we were safe, but seeing the workers in full hazmat suits, driving trucks that spray green liquid over the tops of the trees not more than 200 feet away from our homes, got me a little concerned.
According to the following articles, pesticides can drift over a quarter mile. That's 1320 feet. Considering the orchards are well above to the roof-lines of most of our homes, it's not unreasonable to think that these chemicals are settling on our playgrounds, pools, and backyards.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pesticide-drift/
http://www.panna.org/blog/blowin-wind-aka-drift
https://www.pesticidereform.org/pesticides-human-health/
This article explains that all pesticides are harmful, just in varying degrees. Long term effects include: cancer, tumors, brain and nervous system damage, birth defects, infertility, damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and other body organs.Short term effects include: irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, headache, nausea, dizziness and diarrhea. Me and my family have been experiencing these short term effects and although I don't want to jump to conclusions, I'd rather be safe than sorry.
The Orchards at Orchard Hills are owned by the Irvine Company, but operated by Irvine Valencia Growers. I requested a list of Pesticides/Herbicides they use on their trees and this is what they sent me:
IRVINE RANCH - ORCHARD OPERATIONS CHEMICALS LIST
Herbicides:
Glyphosate (Round-Up, Glphyos Extra)Princep Caliber 90
Pesticides:
Success NaturalyteSupreme 415 OilAgri-Mex 0.15Veretran DPCQ Bait (Diphacinone Granules)Rait Bait Block (Diphacinone Blocks)Diazinon G-14
Fertilizers:
Nutri-PhiteSulfuric Acid FertilizerUrea Ammonium Nitrate 32%Urea Solution 46%Potassium thiosulfateZinc 9% SolutionGypsum
Fungicides:
Copper Count N SolutionTri Basic Copper Sulfate 53%
That first one, Glyphosate, has been in use for over 40 years and only recently has been tangled in multiple legal battles for causing cancer. Even with the monetary might of Monsanto/Bayer, manufacturer of Glyphosate, the victims of these cases are winning their lawsuits. The latest to the tune of $2 billion.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/05/30/727914874/safe-or-scary-the-shifting-reputation-of-glyphosate-aka-roundup
So what do we do? I started a petition that we can take to the HOA meetings and send to the Irvine Company to urge them to make their orchards Organic.
Please sign the Petition!: http://chng.it/Y2nLhjsBbc
I have spoken to numerous people who say they love Orchard Hills but are afraid to move here because of the pesticides. If we can turn the orchards organic, it would not only be good for the environment, our health, and our future, but also our home values!
Living next to the orchards gives us amazing views and a secluded atmosphere, but it also brings us in close proximity to the pesticides/herbicides they use on those orchards. Before purchasing, I was assured that any pesticides/herbicides would only be sprayed on non-windy days and that we were safe, but seeing the workers in full hazmat suits, driving trucks that spray green liquid over the tops of the trees not more than 200 feet away from our homes, got me a little concerned.
According to the following articles, pesticides can drift over a quarter mile. That's 1320 feet. Considering the orchards are well above to the roof-lines of most of our homes, it's not unreasonable to think that these chemicals are settling on our playgrounds, pools, and backyards.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pesticide-drift/
http://www.panna.org/blog/blowin-wind-aka-drift
https://www.pesticidereform.org/pesticides-human-health/
This article explains that all pesticides are harmful, just in varying degrees. Long term effects include: cancer, tumors, brain and nervous system damage, birth defects, infertility, damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and other body organs.Short term effects include: irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, headache, nausea, dizziness and diarrhea. Me and my family have been experiencing these short term effects and although I don't want to jump to conclusions, I'd rather be safe than sorry.
The Orchards at Orchard Hills are owned by the Irvine Company, but operated by Irvine Valencia Growers. I requested a list of Pesticides/Herbicides they use on their trees and this is what they sent me:
IRVINE RANCH - ORCHARD OPERATIONS CHEMICALS LIST
Herbicides:
Glyphosate (Round-Up, Glphyos Extra)Princep Caliber 90
Pesticides:
Success NaturalyteSupreme 415 OilAgri-Mex 0.15Veretran DPCQ Bait (Diphacinone Granules)Rait Bait Block (Diphacinone Blocks)Diazinon G-14
Fertilizers:
Nutri-PhiteSulfuric Acid FertilizerUrea Ammonium Nitrate 32%Urea Solution 46%Potassium thiosulfateZinc 9% SolutionGypsum
Fungicides:
Copper Count N SolutionTri Basic Copper Sulfate 53%
That first one, Glyphosate, has been in use for over 40 years and only recently has been tangled in multiple legal battles for causing cancer. Even with the monetary might of Monsanto/Bayer, manufacturer of Glyphosate, the victims of these cases are winning their lawsuits. The latest to the tune of $2 billion.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/05/30/727914874/safe-or-scary-the-shifting-reputation-of-glyphosate-aka-roundup
So what do we do? I started a petition that we can take to the HOA meetings and send to the Irvine Company to urge them to make their orchards Organic.
Please sign the Petition!: http://chng.it/Y2nLhjsBbc
I have spoken to numerous people who say they love Orchard Hills but are afraid to move here because of the pesticides. If we can turn the orchards organic, it would not only be good for the environment, our health, and our future, but also our home values!