Advantages And Disadvantages Of Pesticides

Pesticides and preservatives are not only harmful to human beings, but they are also harmful to our environment and ecosystems. Pesticides used in organic farming may run-off and contaminate nearby bodies of water. If enough contaminated run-off from pesticides and artificial fertilizers get into water, it is able to poison animals and fish that live there. According to Raloff, recent studies have demonstrated that exposure to hormones has a substantial effect on the gender and reproductive capacity of fish, throwing off the natural cycle, (1). This is not only harmful to the animals that live there, but if enough fish are dying because of poisoned run-off, the fish industry could suffer and it will affect humans as well. The same chemicals that poison bodies of water could seep into our groundwater and affect the well water we drink and use daily. This does not happen with organic farming, because no chemicals are ever sprayed on the fields and there is much more run off because of tilling practices.

Anything that is consumed by an organism inherits some of the properties of what it has consumed. Pesticides are beneficial chemicals to farmers as they provide profits for them and less work, effort, and time to deal with the problem affecting their crops. This process can be harmful to humans as they are consuming products which were sprayed by these harmful chemicals and therefore ingesting part of those chemicals. ARTICLE CITATION according to

However, pesticides are used to control pests, which include insects, mice and other animals, unwanted plants (weeds), fungi, or microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Often misunderstood to refer only to the insecticides, the term pesticide also applies to herbicides (that control weeds), fungicides (that control fungi), and substances used to control other pests. In addition, because many pests tend to travel between farms, resistance to pesticides can evolve at an inefficient rate. Farmers can increase the economic efficiency of chemical use by adapting integrated pest and resistance management practices, such as rotating crops and pesticides, reducing reliance on a single pesticide, adjusting planting and harvesting dates, scouting fields, and using more benign, and biological control

Carson clarifies that “the sprays, dust, and aerosols are now applied almost universally to farms, gardens, forests, and homes-nonselective chemicals that have the power to kill every insect, the “good” and the “bad”.” In contemporary world today many people use these mankind chemicals without understanding the effects of nature. For example, the reproduction of bees are dropping traumatically because of the pesticides effects on the insects. According to CNN “How Pesticides are killing the bees “Recent data published in science, Nature and other un journals show that bees are dying from some pesticides that are found in our food supply.” The damaged the chemicals are doing to the bees have worries many scientists. The New York Times wrote, pesticide linked to honeybee deaths, “a group of pesticide believed to contribute to mass deaths of honeybees.” Another example of the harmful chemicals affecting the good insects are by destroying favorable insects such as lady bugs and butterflies, which are another great alternative way to pollinate flower. These beneficial insects are very important for human wellbeing; therefore, we should minimize the use of

What exactly is a pesticide? “A pesticide is a chemical used to prevent, destroy, or repel pests” (EPA). There are many different pests. Some examples are the termites that cause damage to our homes, dandelions in our yards, and

As stated from a survey at Harvard University, there are 20,000 people a year are reported to be suspected of pesticide poisoning in the United States. Out of all these people reported, only 10% of them are actually admitted to a hospital. Around the world, there are about 200,000 people who die from pesticide poisoning in a year. Children are more susceptible to pesticide poisonings since they are usually playing in areas closer to the ground and where pesticides are. By playing near these hazardous chemicals, their bodies can be permanently damaged. Some perceptual effects children may get include damage to the brain, reproductive organs, nervous system, lung, and the endocrine and immune systems (Pesticides: What You Need to Know). The risk increases depending on how exposed the children are; children living on farms are more likely to develop these problems (Agricultural Health Study). Even the flea and tick products put on pets have the capability to harm youths the same way regular pesticides used outside do (Pesticides: What You Need to Know). Although children are more likely to be affected by pesticides, it does not mean that adults are free from its dangers. In adults, those who are exposed to pesticides can get various types of cancers and diseases. More exposure to it causes a higher rate of being diagnosed with leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and soft tissue sarcoma, as well as

Although there are various pest control products you can use, they are harmful to your health.

This suggests that the roadsides was once beautiful and bloomed with healthy and lively vegetation; however, they are now destroyed due to the use of pesticides. From these examples, it can be shown that even though pesticide is beneficial, its deadly effects outweigh its benefits; in addition, it is a dangerous substances to the environment, organisms, and even human.

A pesticide is a substance used to eliminate insects or other organisms that come into contact with the plant life that the substance is placed on, this tactic of removal is damaging to both harmful and helpful insects or organisms.

It is also shown that pesticides are partly responsible for the rising cancer rates and birth defects among children (“Pesticides”).

Pesticides have caused more talking points than most other food related topics. Pesticides are dangerous chemicals sprayed on to the crops to kill off any and all pests and bugs. Exposure to pesticides can cause diseases and illness to any organic being that come into contact with it. The University of Colorado conducted a study that shows exposure to a common pesticide causes the person to develop Parkinson's disease. Many are against the uses of pesticides.

Pesticides may poison non – target species either directly or through accumulation in the environment since it have biological activity (Peter Brown et al, 1996). The continuous used and direct usage of pesticides will contaminate the environment mostly water due to its active ingredient. Olivier Austin (2012) predicts that a significant proportion of the pesticide may remain in the soil and discharge to drains and spread to surface waters after periods of rainfall.. To conclude, for country that wanted to applied pesticide for their agriculture sector, they must acquire approval from registration scheme.

One concern about pesticides and herbicide usage is the amount of residues left on the end product of crops sprayed with the chemicals, and their effects on human health. (Williamson, 2007, p. 184). However, these effects are closely tested and levels are strictly regulated to ensure there is no danger from possible pesticide residues. Since 1910, many rules, regulations, and agencies have been formed to monitor the safety of the pesticides and herbicides used in conventional farming. These chemicals must meet specific safety standards in order to be registered for use, and regulations on levels of each product safe for use are also put in place. (Tafel et al.,2007, p.184). All pesticides are rigorously examined to ensure they have no significant effects on human health, or the environment. The residues in the food chain are closely monitored, and regularly tested, to ensure they are below legal limits. In a recent survey of residues

What are pesticides? Pesticides are substances used to kill pests that are found on many of the crops such as fruits and vegetables that heterotrophs ingest. As Americans, one should be aware of the consequences caused by those harsh chemicals found in pesticides. Honeybees are one of the main insects responsible for production of over half of the food we digest. In Vanishing of the bees, the documentary examines the sudden departure of honeybees when the agriculture business had a crisis because a condition known as Colony Collapse Disorder took full effect and killed billions of bees. While in “Vanishing Biodiversity”, Karaim discusses the loss in biodiversity conservation on farms. Both sources deal with the disappearance in species. Although pesticides main use is to kill pests that destroy food crops and is the cause of loss in biodiversity, farmers should minimize their practical use of pesticides to protect the ecosystem.

Worldwide it is estimated that approximately 1.8 billion people engage in agriculture and most use pesticides to protect the food and commercial products that they produce. Others use pesticides occupationally for public health programs, and in commercial applications, while many others use pesticides for lawn and garden applications and in and around the home (1,2). Pesticides are defined as “chemical substances used to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate any pest ranging from insects (i.e., insecticides), rodents (i.e., rodenticides) and weeds (herbicides) to microorganisms (i.e., algicides, fungicides or bactericides)” (1,3).