Through the years, arsenic has been found at more than a dozen South Florida golf courses, the result of a variety of herbicides Herbicides, also commonly known as weedkillers, are substances used to control unwanted plants. Selective herbicides control specific weed species, while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed, while non-selective herbicides can be used to clear waste ground, industrial and construction sites, r…Herbicide
Is arsenic sequestered by lake sediments on Florida golf courses?
Arsenic seems to be sequestered by the golf course lake sediments with concentrations as high as 302 mg/kg, which were significantly higher than the 0.1 to 3 mg/kg expected for comparable sediments in central Florida. Arsenic correlates well with Fe in the top 15 cm of the lake sediments suggesting that As is sorbed by hydrous ferric oxides (HFO).
Is arsenic distribution in soil influenced by Mn or Fe?
This result seems in accordance with the finding that arsenic distribution in the soils has a stronger correlation with Mn ( R2 =0.767) compared with that of Fe ( R2 =0.483) and Al ( R2 =0.546).
What is the concentration of as in the lakes of golf courses?
Total As concentration in all golf course lakes ranged from a minimum of 0.1 to a maximum of 124 μg/L. The lowest As concentration were generally seen in lakes from golf course R, which recently underwent complete renovation.
Why do golf courses have arsenic?
The repeated use of organoarsenical herbicides on golf courses results in concentrated application of arsenic in the localized areas.
What pollutants come from a golf course?
The average golf course uses 312 gallons of water per day for maintenance of the grounds. As this water flows through the property, it can pick up contaminants such as petroleum, pesticides, and fertilizers.
What chemicals do they spray on golf courses?
Chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide used extensively in the agricultural industry, as well as on golf courses, green houses, and as mosquito adulticide.
Is living on a golf course toxic?
Toxic Fairways People living near a golf course may be affected by sprays and dusts blown from the golf course onto their property and into their homes. Finally, pesticides applied to the turf may run off into surface waters or leach down to groundwater, which can then expose people to contaminated drinking water.
Why is golf bad for the environment?
Environmentalists argue that golf course land is not only a waste of space, but also harbors harmful impacts to the earth and environment, such as pesticide use. This negative impact occurs by using large quantities of water and destroying habitats for wildlife species.
Are golf courses unhealthy?
Limited research has been conducted on the health effects of pesticides used on golf courses. Two studies have concluded that players on golf courses are exposed to more pesticides than non-golfers, but at levels that are probably not harmful in the long run [Murphy & Haith, 2007; Putnam et al., 2008].
Do golf courses use toxic chemicals?
The Pesticide Specialist explained that pesticides are used on golf courses and other recreational areas to maintain the health and appearance of the turf. James learned that most golf courses have highly trained golf course superintendents who manage the course, including turf management and pest control strategies.
Do they use Roundup on golf courses?
D. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup and related non-selective herbicide products. Roundup is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, and, in my ex- perience, is applied on most U.S. golf courses.
When did golf courses stop using paraquat?
July 2021Paraquat Applications This herbicide's capability to control weeds made it a popular choice for groundskeepers. It has been used on golf courses around the USA for decades, but since July 2021, the EPA has prohibited its use on golf courses and parks.
Is it bad to live next to a golf course?
One of the biggest concerns you may have living next to a golf course is a golf ball landing on your property. While small, golf balls can cause big damage. You can up your home insurance coverage, but that will lead to a higher monthly premium.
What are the disadvantages of living on a golf course?
The most obvious drawback to living on a golf course is the constant activity behind your home if you live directly on a fairway or green. There are busy parts of every neighborhood, but few involve golf carts and a steady stream of people as early as 5 a.m. on every possible day the weather allows it.
Do golf courses use pesticides?
The Pesticide Specialist explained that pesticides are used on golf courses and other recreational areas to maintain the health and appearance of the turf. James learned that most golf courses have highly trained golf course superintendents who manage the course, including turf management and pest control strategies.
What water pollutants could originate from a farm?
What Are the Sources of Water Pollution from Agriculture?Industrial Animal Agriculture.Industrial Crop Production.Algal Blooms, Dead Zones and Acidification.Heavy Metal Contamination.Nitrates and Other Contaminants in Drinking Water.Pathogen Contamination and Disease Outbreaks.More items...•
What are the negative effects of water pollutants on aquatic ecosystems?
Algal blooms can reduce the ability of fish and other aquatic life to find food and can cause entire populations to leave an area or even die. Harmful algal blooms cause thick, green muck that impacts clear water, recreation, businesses and property values.
Abstract
Monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) is a commonly used herbicide on golf courses. To investigate the variation in abundance of arsenic (As) after MSMA application, 28 golf course lakes were monitored monthly for one year. The As concentrations varied substantially in and between individual lakes with values up to 124 μg/L (mean = 10.9 μg/L, n = 336).
1. Introduction
The use of monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) on golf courses is a wide spread practice for weed control ( Busey, 2004) and there is increasing interest in the fate of MSMA in the environment ( Snyder and Cisar, 2002 ).
2. Materials and methods
The four golf courses (B, C, R and RY) chosen for this study are located in Hillsborough County, Florida, exact locations in form of GPS coordinates are B: 28°03′09.35″N, 82°28′23.92″W; C: 28°04′19.29″N, 82°24′31.00″W; R: 28°01′11.55″N, 82°25′25.99″W; RY: 28°58′41.85″N, 82°33′26.42″W.
3. Results and discussion
Total As concentration in all golf course lakes ranged from a minimum of 0.1 to a maximum of 124 μg/L. The lowest As concentration were generally seen in lakes from golf course R, which recently underwent complete renovation.
4. Conclusions and outlook
Arsenic concentrations in the 28 golf course lakes were higher than those in comparable lakes not associated with golf courses. Concentrations fluctuated on an annual basis and correlated positively with the application of MSMA.
Acknowledgments
We thank the 4 golf courses and their staff for the tremendous support throughout the duration of our study. Without their cooperation this study would not have been possible. Funding was provided through a University of South Florida, University Community Initiative grant to TP and RB.
How much did Richgreens sell for?
Richgreens has offered to sell the property – acquired in 2016 for $2 million – to the city for $14.3 million. Last month, after the extent of the environmental problems had become known, the city counter-offered $9 million. Negotiations are continuing.
Is Richgreens spreading sludge?
About two months ago, when Richgreens told the county it was going to begin spreading nonhazardous sludge at the site as part of the pilot program, county officials advised against it until the second license was secured. Nevertheless, the county had no power to stop it from proceeding, officials said.
Abstract
High concentrations of arsenic have been detected in soils and underlying groundwater of some South Florida golf courses, indicating the possible impact of the application of arsenic-containing herbicides. The mobility of arsenic in the soils from selected golf courses was studied using a simple two-step sequential extraction procedure.
1. Introduction
Arsenic is an element of great concern in the terrestrial as well as aquatic environments because of the high toxicity of certain species. Recent research suggests that arsenic in drinking water may be more dangerous than previously believed ( Kim and Nriagu, 2000 ).
2. Materials and methods
Fourteen surface soil samples were obtained from DERM, Miami, FL. These samples were collected from five golf courses in Miami-Dade County and analyzed for physico-chemical properties and arsenic content. The samples were freeze-dried and separated into two size fractions.
3. Results and discussion
The metal concentration in neutral unbuffered salt extracts is a fair approximation of the concentration in the mobile fraction, which represents equilibrium soil solution and mobile fraction of arsenic in soil systems ( Gupta et al., 1996 ).
4. Conclusions
A simple two-level sequential extraction procedure was developed to evaluate the mobility of arsenic in South Florida golf course soils. Soils were separated into fine (<0.25 mm) and large (0.25–0.71 mm) particle fractions. The results indicate that arsenic is closely related to the distributions of Fe, Mn, and Al in these soils.
Acknowledgments
This research was partially supported by the Foundation/Provost's Office Research Award at Florida International University (FIU). Soil samples were provided by the Dade County Environmental Resources Management (DERM). We would like to thank the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility (AMSF) at FIU for providing the access to the ICP/MS.