Importance of the Topic: Pesticide exposure has been a major health effect concern in the past few

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

What has been brought to light in recent years is the effects of these chemicals on the body’s immune response. By introducing these toxic chemicals into the body, the potency of the immune system is compromised. More commonly than not, the body’s magnificent defense system will kick in and destroy foreign invaders but all it can take is an overwhelming amount of chemicals to slow or even shut down the body’s response systems. A large amount of these types of chemicals introduced into the body at one time would be considered acute toxicity and could even cause death. Additionally, a small amount of these poisonous substances brought into the body over a long period would be considered chronic toxicity and can have detrimental effects on the body’s natural response (Hoernschemeyer 55-57). This information is startling enough to want to make a change from conventionally grown food to pesticide-free organic

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

Symptoms of pesticide poisoning are often deceptively misdiagnosed as flu or allergies. Other problems associated with the use of chemicals include headaches, nausea, fever, breathing difficulties, high blood pressure, and temporary paralysis. The National Academy of Sciences reports that at least one out of seven people are significantly harmed by pesticide exposure each year (American Defender Network, 1989). Unfortunately, due to the high costs of inspection, tests for pesticide poisoning are rarely performed.

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

Nonprofit organizations such as Cultivate the City raise awareness of issue concerning pesticides; they are farmers who aim to feed families and communities with pesticide-free, locally-grown food. They also help people grow and develop skills and access resources to start successful and sustainable farm operations. By doing this, the organization teaches the people that there are methods that they can use to grow fruits, plants, etc. that do not put them at risk of developing any illnesses linked to pesticides. According to the Toxic Action Center, “Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of human health hazards, ranging from short-term impacts such as headaches and nausea to chronic impacts like cancer, reproductive harm, and endocrine disruption” (Toxic Action Center ). Some of these impacts can even be fatal when the exposure is higher. Cultivate the City seeks to further expand their mission .They have been currently working with schools to integrate the garden with the classroom curricula and it is a great way to get involved and educate children at a young age. This is important because 13 percent of apples, 7.5 percent of pears and 5 percent of the grapes in the US food supply expose young children eating these fruits to unsafe levels of organophosphate insecticides (Cummins 1999). According to the CTC website, “Students at JO Wilson Elementary School help

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

This article talks about what a pesticide is and how it affects people. This is relevant to my research topic because I will be using pesticides on plants to measure the growth. In order to do this, I will need to know what a pesticide is and what it does. A unique feature of this article is that it includes videos explaining the topic, and links at the bottom of the page to look further into pesticides. A strength is that the article is very specific and on-point. However, it doesn't show much more than just what a pesticide is. There is no bias in this source.

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

This scholarly text book, part of a series called Current Controversies, is composed of primary sources taken from a diversity of informational categories including books, newspapers, periodicals, international government documents, and the publications of organizations. The authors in this series examine some of the issues that typical arise in the debate about pesticides, including whether they are detrimental to human health, animals and the environment, whether they are essential to curtailing international hunger, and what the future of pesticides might be. This book widely mirrors the mosaic of opinions in both parts of the debate regarding the benefits and harmful effects

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.

America the Beautiful! So why are we destroying it everyday with the use of pesticides? It has been proven that pesticides have affects on it's surrounding, although made to improve earths resources, they typically take there negative effect on the environment in time. Pesticides affect more than the environment; they also affect the animals and humans living in the environment. There are alternative, to this major problem but, we as the caretakers of earth must act fast. In the following paper I'm going to share with you what pesticides are. I'll tell you why they are not safe to use and some of the affects of pesticides. Last, I will talk about some new alternatives there are

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

In this reference work by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Community Outreach & Education Program, I gathered information mostly about pesticides used in conventional farming techniques. With their concentration on pesticides the EHP gave information about the different effects of pesticides on organic and conventional foods. Providing even