Concerns Over Herbicide Threat in Wetlands Differ

But the two side differ on the potential environmental threat the herbicides pose.

The state Pesticides Board is considering a request from the state Division of Water Quality to investigate herbicide spraying in the wetlands used to grow pine trees in North Carolina's coastal plain.

Timber companies and smaller landowners use herbicides to kill plants that compete with pines for nutrients and sunlight. But their label guidelines can be unclear.

Some area residents and environmentalists are concerned that the chemicals could be entering surface waters.