We all face innumerable hazards every day of our lives - crossing the road, climbing ladders, getting in to our cars, smoking just to name a few.  The world we live in is a risky place, but even so the risk of something unpleasant actually happening to us is very low.

The home itself provides its share of hazards - for instance 17,000 people every year are injured opening household packaging.  Thankfully garden chemicals represent a negligible risk to the consumer compared with most common every day activities.  This is clearly shown in the government statistics.  The Household Accident Surveillance Statistics (HASS) reported that in the garden even the humble flower pot is more dangerous than garden care products!

So why are some gardeners nervous about the risks of garden care products, and are those fears justified?

Health - they may give me cancer!

	These products are tested for many years and are highly regulated by the Government agencies responsible.
	Sir Colin Berry former head of UK Government Advisory Committee said "...we have a great deal more information about pesticides, than we do about a pharmaceutical compound used in human medicine."
	The products are specially formulated to use in the garden, without need for any protective clothing.

Products are highly regulated and used according to the label, garden care products are, for all practical definitions, safe for the consumer.

Biodiversity - they may damage the wildlife in my garden

	Research shows that a well managed garden with abundant healthy plants on average supports more flora and fauna than most habitats in the UK.
	Before a garden care product is approved all aspects of any possible effects of a product on wildlife are reviewed.
	Biodiversity in the garden is enormous and garden care products used occasionally will have negligible effects.
	Product labels indicate any risks to be avoided, for example, application near water.

Compare this with the risk to wildlife from cats and traffic. (see section Strange but True)

Pollution - they may contaminate the environment

	All life is chemical based and all things can contaminate - just think about household waste. Garden care products are generally designed to break down in the environment - many household products are far less friendly to the environment. (How much plastic do you use every week?)
	Garden care products break down and are present in truly minute quantities in the environment.  For example, EU legislation requires that no plant care product must ever be found in ground water at a concentration greater than 0.1ug/l.  That is 1part per 10 billion.  Put another way, that is equivalent to a single drop in an olympic size swimming pool.