Hydrolife Magazine April/May 2017 (USA Edition)

grow
“
we are only beginning to collect
meaningful data about the risks and
concerns of control products utilized
during production.”
Myclobutanil is a good example of pest control and science
not being applied in equal measure. This pesticide works by
blocking an enzyme in fungal cells; this impacts the way the
fungal cell membrane is built and maintained leading to cell
death. It is a systemic pesticide, which means that it enters the
plant through the leaves and then spreads internally through
the plant to provide protection to the whole plant and not just
at the site of application.
Since this pesticide is carried inside the plant, it cannot be
washed off. While its levels decrease over time, the frequency
that it has been applied to the crop will impact the final
amount left in the plant at harvest.
Also concerning is that the pesticide is soluble in common
solvents used in production of cannabis oil, which means
as the cannabis oil is being concentrated, the pesticide is
being concentrated too.
At temperatures above 205°C, the pesticide breaks down into
a number of byproducts, one of which is hydrogen cyanide.
This byproduct is dangerous because it is known to cause
problems in most of the major systems in the body—the brain,
the lungs, heart, and hormone control center.
Overall, myclobutanil is a terrible choice for pest control
in cannabis. While it is effective against powdery mildew,
it has a high cost of use for the patients who are exposed
to products treated with it. This is one clear example of a
common pesticide used in one industry being adopted by
a different industry without consideration given to the way
the crop is processed or consumed.
In response to the recent product recalls, Health Canada
has committed to random testing of products for pesticides
to provide a level of assurance to the patients in Canada.
For personal growers, the use of pesticide products is not
regulated by the federal government, so the bottom line is to
be diligent, know what you are applying to your plants, and
know what the potential impact is to you as a grower and
you as a patient. You can’t see pesticides or the residues,
but a good test lab will have sensitive equipment that will
detect the presence of pesticides.
Jodi McDonald is the president and founder of Keystone
Labs and is a medical microbiologist, inventor, and super
science-geek. She has 20 years’ experience in the quality
control, regulatory, and quality assurance environment for the
pharmaceutical industry. Jodi believes testing is essential for
taking control of your personal health.
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grow. heal. live. enjoy.
myhydrolife.com