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Old 23-08-2004, 06:18 PM
pb
 
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In article , "Philip Eden"
philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom says...
This might sound too bizarre to believe, but
it is absolutely genuine. Any sensible advice will be
welcomed.

My elderly mother, now nearly 90, has grown
tomatoes in her greenhouse for the best part of
50 years. Occasionally the plants get whitefly, and
that happened this year. She picked up what she
thought was the correct spray to give them a jolly
good going over, but -- her eyesight not being
what it was, and both cans being yellow -- she
sprayed them all with weedkiller.

Although she realised her error within an hour and
subsequently sprayed them with water, naturally
they all shrivelled and died within 24 hours. However,
there were dozens and dozens of ripening tomatoes
on the plants which she has since harvested and put
in the sun to finish the ripening process.

The weedkiller was glyphosate, and it says on the
can that it's safe to use around children and pets,
and that it breaks down quickly in the soil after use.

The question is: are the tomatoes safe to eat?


Have a look at: http://www.poptel.org.uk/panap/pest/pe-gly.htm

One part of the article says:

Studies of humans have shown glyphosate to cause lung congestion
or dysfunction; erosion of the gastro-intestinal tract and
massive gastro-intestinal fluid loss; abnormal electrocardiograms
and low blood pressure; kidney failure; and through direct skin
contact swelling of the eye and lid, rapid heartbeat, raised
blood pressure, swollen face, tingling of the skin, and recurrent
eczema. Severe poisoning following ingestion of lethal amounts
involves respiratory and kidney failure, cardiac arrest, coma,
seizures, and death. (Cox ,1995; IPCS , 1994)


Although another part says that glyphosate is not readily
digested, its perhaps not a good idea for a 90 year old to eat 'em.