It is commonly mixed with water to form a milky liquid spray. It first causes uncontrolled growth in broadleaf plants, then, as more chemical is taken up, it cuts the growth cycle abruptly, resulting in malformed leaves, stems, and roots, and eventual death. Several studies have linked 2,4-D exposure to cancer, though these results have been hotly contested. It is readily absorbed through the skin or through inhalation but doesn t appear to accumulate in the body. It is slightly to moderately toxic to birds.
Some formulations are highly toxic to fish and aquatic plants.
It's the third most common herbicide found in urban streams. Use organic fertilizers and plant grass mixtures suited to your climate. Glyphosate may be America's favorite all-purpose weed killer. It's a nonselective herbicide, which means it kills virtually anything that is green, including annuals, perennials, grasses, sedges, broadleaf weeds, and woody plants. It disrupts amino-acid synthesis, causing white spots or streaks on leaves and eventual cell and plant death.