Pesticide Legislation

Traditional markets are replaced by the supermarket. “Market products are invariably indigenous and grown locally” (344) they remind us the kind of agriculture practiced in the area. Blemishes and the odd shapes of fruit and vegetables remind us they are still grown by traditional method. Foods are grown naturally without any pesticides, herbicides and antibiotics which are healthy for our lives. Technology has enormous benefits we can produce any kind of products even it’s not the season. The use of pesticides supplies higher crop yields, reduces the cost and labor of farming, and produces relatively unblemished, visually appealing produce. However, some scientists think that pesticide residues in conventional foods could, over many years,

Most people know of the existence of pesticides but many of them also do not have to use them nor do they know

Procedural History: Under the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Insecticides, Fungicides, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), manufacturers were required to register their pesticides. EPA had a “me-too” process that allowed for the pesticide equivalent of generic drugs. Monsanto Corporation sued because EPA was making them publicize trade secrets, which they claimed was a taking. Congress reiterated in Section 3(c)(1)(D)(ii) of FIFRA that EPA should make administrative decisions about how much money these manufacturers would get for damages from loss of their trade secrets. Union Carbide sued because they felt that the decisions should be made by the judicial court, not an administrative agency. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York held that the claims challenging the arbitration provisions were ripe for decision and that those provisions violated Article III. Standing was approved for all appellants, who took a direct appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The increase in desire for perfect produce, drives the need for pesticides today. Much debate of the effects of chemicals used on commercial crops and overall long term effects on humans is an increasing concern. With the increase in advertising of organic produce, many standards of farming have been criticized. Many are claiming a large increase in risk to humans for consuming commercially grown produce, because of the chemicals used to manage such a large volume of crops. There have been many debates of the actual risk of pesticide consumption. With advancing technology and farm equipment, many types of chemical sprays and powders have been used. The actual effect of these pesticides and long term exposure can be harmful to human health.

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

Bolivia has doubled the amount of pesticides it imports over the past five years (Langman). Of all the pesticides Bolivia imports inside the country, 30% of it is contraband that is smuggled in illegally (Langman). According to studies done by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, developing countries use 20% of pesticides purchased on the global market, but have about 99% of all farmers who get poisoned by pesticides or insecticides (Langman). There are about 70,000 yearly poisonings that could possibly lead to death or have long term illness. Agribusiness companies such as Monsanto produce pesticides which are tested and approved by government entities before they are used. The underlying problem in this particular case is the use of cheap and toxic pesticides by inexperienced farmers without proper precaution over their personal health. The profitability to be made in the agricultural industry, especially that of GM crops in developing nations is so high farmers are willing to seek maximum profit by taking shortcuts and purchasing illegal pesticides so they can maximize

As it happens, the United States has a 18-47% import on their fruits and vegetables from primarily Central and South American countries. In these countries such as Costa Rica and Honduras many of the pesticides that are illegal in the United States are used heavily there. Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide used for bananas that are shipped to the United States by the trillions. It has been known to “harm workers, communities and the environment (Environmental Working Group’s).” Many children were subject to mental retardation and decreased brain function because of the banana farms. This is one example of a pesticide that the United States is indirectly using through Costa Rica in order to avoid the environmental costs of chlorpyrifos on the people and the land. But the problem is not with Costa Rica or the other Central American countries, it’s that we are perfectly capable of growing own own food and are running out of “other ponds” to take advantage

The way we grow and consume our food nowadays has changed so much from previous years. Technology and biotechnology have played a big role in today’s food production and agriculture. Biotechnicians have come up with different ways to make sure that our food doesn’t consist of any pests when we eat out of it. They have come up with a chemical pesticides they we can spray in our fruits and vegetable to be safe from any pests to penetrate the food. Pesticides in general are known as a substance that can eliminate insects or any other organism that may destroy plants or crops. Many people use pesticides for many reasons they use it around their house, and usually use it for their garden. That’s why farmer’s now spray chemical pesticides all around their crops, so their crops don’t get damage from any pests. Farmers in the past would usually lose a lot of crops during harvest season, because of all the pests that are found in their crops. The government and scientist are now promoting the use of chemical pesticides in crops so we can have a pests free vegetables, but do we really know what is being put in these chemical that are being spray in our food. The government should be more concern to inform the public of what is being put in our food. We should be able to have the both sides of the story, are they hiding any information that they don’t want us to know. Are we missing any information that we should be told?

As the global population move into an increased dependence on technology, there is a negative feedback observed between natural ecosystem and humans. That is, the resources from plants and animals, unfortunately, becomes the driving force for our conspicuous consumption. However, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an organisation that helps to mitigate some of this unsustainable means of production. Their main mission is to manage the world’s forest in a way that promotes environmental, social and economic prosperity. One of the initiatives set up by this organisation to help meet their goal is the FSC Pesticide Policy.

In chapter two of the book, “Silent Spring” it talks about how in the twentieth century humans have figured out how to alter nature. Humans are altering nature to if what they wanting living and not living. Before this life on earth was based on living organisms and how they reaction and function to the environment. Now humans have made a chemical overdose that is irreversible and is harming more than what it was indented for. This chemical is being sprayed on crops, gardens, and lawns that are poison to the living organisms that living on them. Along with killing of many species of insects, we are also killing am adaption period. The insects and critters being subjected to this pesticide cannot adapt because humans are always coming out with a different and not giving time for adaption because it waste too much time. In making this pesticide, we are now not just killing insects we are forming radiation that came from tampering with these chemicals, making for an unnatural creation. With this creation, we have

Pesticides are chemicals that are used to control crops from weeds, insects, and more (1). Pests are plants, animals, and organisms that could become a threat to the food supply and health (5). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for the regulation of pesticides in the United States. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), all manufacturers of pesticides must register their products with the EPA (1). The EPA has set strict rules regarding the use and availability of pesticides. Pesticide manufacturers must provide test data to the EPA about the toxicity, and the EPA will then approve the pesticide for specific use, such as controlling a specific species of insect on a type of plant (1). Pesticides are evaluated for many risk-factors including potential danger to humans and wildlife (3). Before pesticides are approved for use, the manufacturer must prove that the pesticide is not too toxic to be used on crops that will eventually be consumed by humans (3). They must also prove

Pesticides are normally misused by people with little knowledge or care for their harmful effects. Without effective enforcement of regulations, pesticides are easily spread beyond their projected areas. According to research, the overuse of pesticides causes many human diseases, animal diseases, and disruptions in our ecosystem. Well defined regulations, along with consumer education, could limit the misuse of pesticides and protect our fragile pollinator populations from continued decline to help ensure future food sources for many generations to come.

The Dow Chemical Company specializes in agricultural chemicals such as pesticides. I used the pesticides listed on their website to cross reference what pesticides are being used in Salinas and in the town of Monte Maiz in Argentina. Monte Maiz is a town that has been plagued with cancer and neurological damages to pregnant mothers fetuses because of the high concentration and persistence of pesticides in the community. Through cross-referencing chemicals I found that the insecticide Lorsban 48 E, also known as chlorpyrifos, is used on the soybean crops in Argentina (DOW AgroSciences, np). Here in the Salinas Valley the same chemical, chlorpyrifos, is being used on apple orchards primarily in Watsonville, a city here in the county. The consequences and effects of chlorpyrifos being used in Monte Maiz illustrate the potential ramifications of the use of this harmful chemical. Due to a director at the local hospital in Monte Maiz noticing increases in patients with cancer, an organization, the Network for the Protection of Health and Environment, conducted research on the town. The team concluded, “ One of the most significant findings obtained from the survey was that while the expectation of new cancer cases in Monte Maiz was 11 per year, in 2014 the town had 35 cases - three times as many. The town also had five times the national average of spontaneous abortions - and 50% of children between six and seven years had respiratory

Vietnam and the Philippines have enjoyed long, friendly, and mutually beneficial relations. This year, Vietnam imported about a third of its rice from the Philippines, while the Philippines imported about a quarter of its pesticides from Vietnam. Recently, however, relations between Vietnam and the Philippines have been clouded by a catastrophic industrial accident. A concentrated form of the chemical pesticide CP-70 leaked from a chemical plant in Vietnam, adversely affecting large tracts of Philippine farmland. The chemical plant was built three years ago by VinaChem International, a manufacturer of pesticides and fertilizers, and is owned and operated by the government of Vietnam. VinaChem developed CP-70 and is its sole manufacturer.

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