The Pros And Cons Of Genetically Modified Crops

According to the Public Voice for Food and Health Policy, over the past few years, pesticide use on fruits and vegetables has drastically risen, “per acre pesticide application rates increased by 125 percent over the past 25 years” The foods that cause the most children age 5 and under to exceed an unsafe daily dose of pesticides are apples, peaches and grapes. The FDA found “34 different pesticides on apples, 30 on grapes and, 28 on peaches” This means that the healthy foods that most children do eat are poisoned and do pose a threat to the well being of children. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration found these chemicals in food consumed mainly by children, “methyl parathion, dimethoate, chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos methyl and azinphos methyl” All these pesticides are highly toxic and pose a bigger threat to children than to adult’s because the current pesticide laws are not adequate enough to protect children. One reason children are more vulnerable to pesticides is that they weigh less; a little bit of poison to an adult is proportionally more to a child. In a 1998 analysis of government data conducted by

Some research studies show that these chemicals are also the cause of birth defects in children. With the increase in the use of these chemicals, there will be an increase in birth defects. According to research done by the University of California, pregnant mothers who live within a mile away from crops that are sprayed with pesticides are more likely to develop autism in their babies. If the use of pesticides continues to grow, one day the human race with completely diminish.

“The study proved that this type of pesticide is only transmitted through diet” (Parvin). Although this study focused on only one particular pesticide, many of the possible pesticides we ingest through non-organic foods are the result of farmers using these pesticides on their crops, which later are absorbed by the body, possibly causing damage through various bodily systems.

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.

To understand pesticides, we must look at the facts about them. According to the EPA, pesticides are chemicals specifically designed and sold to prevent, destroy, or repel pests from garden, greenhouses, fields, and orchards (Learn About Chemicals Around Your House). Charlotte Gerber’s article, How Do Pesticides Kill Bugs, explained that pesticides targets insects and kills them by attacking the nervous system and then when the muscles are over-stimulated, this will lead to paralysis and death. The effect of the organophosphates that cause that in pesticides was discovered in the 1930's during World War II. They were used in the creation of nerve gas, which was used in chemical warfare. When used in lethal dosages for humans, organophosphates cause extreme excitability, convulsions, paralysis and in most cases, death (Gerber). According to Effects of Pesticides on Human Health, The World Health Organization estimates that there are 3 million cases of pesticide poisoning each year and up to 220,000 deaths, primarily in developing countries (Lah and Glibert 2011). Children, and any other young and developing organisms, are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides. Even very low levels of exposure during development may have adverse health effects. Exposure can even lead to neurological health effects such as memory loss, loss of

It has been a prime location for studies to be conducted by health organizations to see if there are any links to the pesticide usage occurring along with people living in the vicinity of where it is being used. ARTICLE PESTICDES STUDY (Kehoe) The study correlates a link between certain chemicals that are used in the manufacturing of pesticides and these chemical ORGANOCHLORINES to Alzheimer’s disease along with many autism related defects between children. Children are who we try to keep safe as they are the young and will be our future. Pregnant women living in pesticide applied areas were more likely to have a child with birth defects as the chemicals are absorbed through the air and can reach the fetus via the bloodstream. These are also the most susceptible to these chemicals being used by farmers and the by the produce they

Even if an agricultural worker isn't seriously affected by the effects pesticide losses from hospitalized people, treatment, lost work and fatalities amasses to a total of $1.2 billion annually (Pimentel). Additionally, the development of Parkinson's and people with higher concentrations of pesticides had strong links connecting each other. These links would show that the toxic pesticides would result in a neurodegenerative disease, such Parkinson's (Kamel). Although considered a rare case, the increase in the disease's prevalence would add to the $25 billion that the disease already costs the United States in treatment, social security payments and lost income from inability to work ("Statistics on

Andrew Campbell points out that, “Another study looked at why some agricultural workers who use glyphosate have pregnancy problems and showed that it is toxic to human placental JEG-3 cells within 18 hours of exposure in concentration lower than those in agricultural use-- and that effect increases with concentration and time with roundup adjuvants” (1). This illustrates the damage that glyphosate, which is a pesticide, can cause. It can hurt pregnant women and their unborn child in less than a day. Michael Pollan “Those chemicals have been proven to cause cancer damage nerve cells, and disrupt your endocrine system-- your hormones. These poisons are routinely found in non-organic produce and meat” (133). This proves how non-organic food, or foods with GMOs, cause trouble in cells and hormones. The destruction the pesticides do on body systems can mess up the whole system.

Human beings were negatively affected in a multitude of ways including contracting illnesses as a result of ingesting pesticides and also indirect negative effects. Because of this issue, the pesticides should be banned and non-chemical responses found to deal with the insect problem.

According to a recent study done by EPA, thirty-three percent Unites States household use toxic chemicals such as pesticides and of thirty commonly used pesticides, nineteen have studies pointing toward carcinogens, thirteen are linked with birth defects, twenty-one with reproductive effect, and fifteen with neurotoxicity, twenty-six with liver or kidney damage. Environmentalist Rachel Carson book Silent Spring discusses the lethality of pesticides, specifically parathion. Rachel Carson hopes to change American’s attitudes toward nature and pesticide use. In this influential passage, Rachel Carson discusses disastrous affect of parathion on nature in order to dissuade the further use of toxic chemicals. Carson begins the column by illustrating

The use of pesticides in the United States began after WWII. During this time there was no regulation on the use of pesticides such as DDT and other chemical compounds known as chlorinated hydrocarbons crystallized in 1962. Pesticides usage is at an astronomical 850 million pounds a year. Pesticides are also sold for home use as well, this poses a main health concern to the general public who are unaware of the potential hazards of selling pesticides.

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

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

This paper explores three published articles that reflect the findings from studies conducted to examine the relationships between environmental hormone mimics (endocrine disruptors) and their effect on the human body. This paper specifically discusses three key environmental hormone mimics: bisphenol-A, dioxins, and pesticides. Each of the three studies links the chosen environmental hormone mimic to abnormalities caused by exposure to the chemicals. Bisphenol-A is linked directly to altering estrogen levels in women. The consequences are carried onto the child if the carrying mother ingests BPA while pregnant. Dioxins are extremely harmful and cannot be disposed of easily despite the amount of land, money, and clean up efforts that are taken. Pesticides simply from working in fields or by eating fruits and vegetables are very harmful in men. A male’s reproductive system is directly impaired as sperm counts drop dramatically and abnormalities effecting sperm size and shape occur.

According to European Charter on Environmental and health, Environmental health includes human health and disease that occurs or get affected from environmental factors such as social, physical, chemical, biological or psychosocial. I totally agree with this definition as it has effectively explained that not a single factor is responsible for the ill outcomes pertaining to environment but multifactor plays a crucial role and according to my perspectives, drastic use of pesticides in agriculture is one of the serious environmental degradation practice.