Human Health And Pesticides In The United States

Agriculture is the most fundamental resource of society. Without it, humans could not live, especially in the ways we do now where people reside in cities. This means that those cities could not exist without large scale agriculture to sustain them. Since agriculture is such a necessity, people have developed methods to gain more from their land. One of the many solutions besides machinery they have developed to produce higher crop yields is through the use of pesticides. However, those pesticides which have resulted in high crop yields have come at price, and that is human health itself. This seems rather contradictory. Pesticides were designed to help people and society by increased the success of producing high crop yields, and they

In the early 1940’s, a new technology emerged that was able to successfully combat crop-damaging and disease-carrying insects. A new age of synthetic chemical pesticides use arose. After their impressive success in fighting deadly insect-borne diseases during World War II, pesticides were used widely to combat insect pests for agriculture and public health. Few people challenged the benefits of the new scientific and technological products and many embraced pesticide use with enthusiasm. Despite its success, doubts about pesticide use began to appear a decade later in the 1950’s, when the government began a vigorous pesticide campaign across the country against insect pests. Scientists began reporting heavy losses of avian and

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

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

Since the beginning of time, people have had a few basic needs. Somewhere to live, and most importantly, something to eat. Nature works within a very delicate balance, and one of the biggest challenges we face is the battle to keep our food supply plentiful and safe. Various plants, animals and other organisms can threaten our food supply, along with our health and comfort. When they display a threat we consider them to be pests, and their impact is never taken lightly.

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

To begin, Pesticides are used to kill insects and unwanted bacteria that destroy the growth of crops. Everyone becomes directly or indirectly affected by these chemicals. Unfortunately, society came up

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.

On the contrary, many may argue that even though organic food at times possess such threats they do not come close to comparing to the threats possessed by chemically treated foods. Researchers such as Joanna Jurewicz, believe that children being exposed to pesticides at any time during foetal life will have some type of health effect. She addressed that each year “almost 50,000 children are poisoned annually by exposure to pesticides” (Jurewicz 71), while emphasizing that the most common health effects are on foetus and young children. She proposed that all acute exposures to pesticides cause “skin irritation, lesions in the respiratory tract, and severe toxic neurologic effects”, in long exposure she blames their constant motive to put everything in their mouth and their immature detoxification systems with how they are the easy target for pesticides and chemical

This paper argues that there needs to be a greater harmonization of legislation regulating highly hazardous pesticides used in agriculture within all nations. With the numerous studies conducted illustrating the harmful effects to human health and environment, this stricter control of legislation across developed and developing countries is of utmost importance. This requires each nation to have a complete understanding of the methods and practices used to regulate pesticides in other countries and work together to converge the various approaches. It is the role of the government to find a responsible balance between enabling judicious pesticide use where such use is necessary to achieve desirable crop production levels, and reducing the

Pesticides is substances that kill or keep away things, which will harm or other your plants or products such as insects, weeds, bacteria, rodents, or fungi. For example, famers and gardeners uses chemical spray on their plants to keep away or kill insects or any animals that would harm their products.

Since the banning of DDT in the 1970's, pest control has come a long way, with the primary focus being on moving away from the use of chemicals with harmful toxins that may compromise the health of humans and domestic pets. The emphasis has thus shifted more towards safety, with organic pest control and methods involving the use of 100% natural products at the forefront. With safe, effective and easy-to-use pest control products constantly being introduced into the market, do it yourself pest control (pest control without the assistance of professionals) is also on the rise.

According to Dragich, (2013), “The two federal agencies responsible for food regulation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), focus primarily on food safety, fair dealing, and nutrition. The USDA notes “that there is an expected level of contamination that naturally occurs when food is being harvested and produced” (FDA, 2016). Additionally, the chemicals that are used on plants is principally for the purpose of controlling insects, rodents, and other natural contaminants. According to the USDA, the use of pesticides has little, if any impact on natural and unavoidable defects in foods. Pesticides are used in the field to protect food plants from being ravaged by destructive plant pests (leaf feeders, stem borers, etc.). Thus,

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