Pesticides Essay

     Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill, control, or repel insects, plant diseases, weeds, rodents, and germs. (Most pesticides are used in agriculture production, to killing pests found on hundreds of different crops including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cereal grains.) All these foods form a good majority of North America’s diet, and the majority of these foods consumed contain pesticide residues. Pesticides are also used to get rid of unwanted pests in homes, schools, and parks. All of these chemicals are especially harmful to children because they can routinely come in contact with various pesticides through their distinctive diet and play activities. Water and apple juice are proven to

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.

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

One of the most direct way of pesticides reaching the fish population is contamination of water sources due to soil erosion, leeching, run-off and accidental exposure. This leads to mass death of aquatic life forms due to poisoning and depletion of oxygen. Sometimes, pesticides intended to eradicate a pest in one species has fatal outcome to another species. Two such pesticides, Alphamax and Salmosan introduced in New Brunswick Salmon Farming Industry to fight sea lice infestation has killed lobsters far away from the site of salmon farms. As stated by Wayne Moore, director general of Regulatory Science for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, “Reports indicate that there are potential (lethal) issues associate with Salmosan and Alphamax usage” (CBC NEWS, 2015). More so, treating seeds of canola, soybean and corn with Neonicotinoid, a pesticide to ward off aphids (insect pests), has been in practice since long in Canadian farming. Bird’s ingestion of these treated seeds or contaminated insects has been a major cause of an alarming decline in their population due to poisoning. Certain bird populations like barn swallows, tree sparrow, common starlings and chimney swifts are down by 75% in recent years. It is not just the birds that are affected by lethal concentrations of the pesticides such as Neonicotinoid; the

The chemical pesticides used in farming affect the quality of water because of run off which then go into lakes or rivers. In chapter four, Carson concentrates on the water pollution caused by pesticides. The pollution can be unsafe for use and causes fish to die. An example used is a study done by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1960 that showed that “our waters have become almost universally contaminated with insecticides.” (pg.41) The pesticides are especially threatening to groundwater which is an important source of drinking water for humans. Consequently, the chemicals in pesticides can cause cancer and other harm effects on our health. Another issue is that the pesticides in water and can mix with other chemicals and become a new chemical. Therefore, it can lead to the creation of an unknown chemical with harmful

"It is not possible to add pesticides to water anywhere without threatening the purity of water everywhere. Seldom if ever does Nature operate in closed and separate compartments, and she has not done so in distributing the earth's water supply" (Carson 42).

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

The chemicals that are sprayed on the ground, even household weed killers, have a tendency to wash into local streams and rivers with the first rain. This has caused many incidents of fish, numerous miles down a river, to be found dead due to the toxins in the water. Carson states that the best way to eliminate a pest problem is to use natural predators, which are non-toxic, and a better long-term solution then pesticides, since many pests will become immune to most chemicals.

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

This connects to the idea that even when something as small as a tadpole is negatively affected by pesticides, this small species overall affects a greater amount of wildlife depending on other animals relationship with the smaller species. To support my second claim of pesticides negatively harming humans due to its ability to cause crippling illnesses as well as death, as reported by CQ researcher, a trustworthy database because of its reliable information, recent findings show that exposure to various pesticides is associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, depression and lung cancer. Pesticide exposure may also increase the risk of allergic asthma, diabetes, thyroid disease and colorectal and pancreatic cancer as well as melanoma. This article from CQ researcher was written on June 5th, 2016 by Jennifer Weeks, and is important to note because consumers of pesticides face many dangers due to the harmful chemicals found in

Pesticides do a lot of good; however, they can also do a lot of harm. Researchers have found that pesticides can cause diseases, such as cancer. There are many issues with the intake of

Direct human poisoning is only a part of the danger of pesticide use. The toxic effects of pesticides are felt throughout the environment as well. Improperly used or disposed of pesticides that enter the waterways through runoff can cause substantial fish kills . Wild animals, domestic livestock, and birds also consume pesticides by eating smaller animals or vegetation in which toxic chemicals persist. The poison moves up the food chain in this manner and is often eventually ingested by humans .

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

Pesticides are prevalent in many societies, they are used on crops to ward off insects and other nuisances, in homes to kill rodents, and in gardens to remove weeds. It is interesting that humans are continuously exposed to chemicals that are literally used to kill other living things. Despite the fact that many studies have shown that certain chemicals in pesticides have adverse side effects, pesticide use remains so common place that most people are exposed to pesticides on an almost daily basis. There are many classes of pesticides, like organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids, and each class of pesticides effects humans differently. In the empirical article “Organophosphorous pesticide exposures and sperm quality,” Melissa Perry, et al. look at the association between urinary organophospophorous (OP) pesticide metabolites and the concentration and motility of sperm.