No Pesticides! For years people have been on the verge of trying to eliminate pesticides from their local farm growing as they have seen a drastic improve in future health problems with can lead to huge amounts of death each year. Pesticides are the only toxic substances released intentionally into our environment to kill living things. This includes substances that kill weeds (herbicides), insects (insecticides), fungus (fungicides), rodents (rodenticides), and others. These two types of pesticides have been tested for their exact use numerous amounts of time in insure safety to all people. Another way pesticides can spread and cause potential harm is by volatilization. Volatilization occurs when a pesticide turns into a gas or vapor after …show more content…
After countless studies, pesticides have been linked to cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, ADHD, and even birth defects. Pesticides also have the potential to harm the nervous system, the reproductive system, and the endocrine system. Not only are pesticides found in farms, but they are found in or around your home, too. Lots of people use insect repellent in the summer to avoid getting bitten by blood sucking insects such as mosquitoes. Well, insect repellent has the pesticide in it. If you have a wooden deck on your house, then that probably contains that pesticide Chromated Copper Arsenate, which helps in to preserve the wood so it does not rot overtime. Some other common items that contain pesticides are known as bleach, certain types of paint, and even a few swimming pool chemicals. If you have a lawn, you probably have weed killers, or herbicides, to prevent the growth of weeds. Some pesticides are also used on other animals besides insects, such as unwelcome rodents like rats and roaches. All sorts of food products have pesticides such as organic foods and much more. DDT was a most used pesticide for insect control in the United States until it was banned in 1972 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DDT was initially used by the military in WW II to control malaria, typhus, body …show more content…
Not only are pesticides dangerous to the environment, but they are also bad to a person's health. Pesticides are stored in your colon, where they slowly poison the body. You may not know this, but when you are eating a non-organic apple, you are also eating over 30 different pesticides that have been sprayed on the apple and on to the thousands of crops. Even if you wash a piece of fruit, such as an apple, there are still many pesticides on it and they could have entered into your fruit or vegetable. Strawberries, apples, carrots, celery, spinach, grapes, apples, cucumbers are just a few types of food that you should not eat if they are not organic because the pesticide level is the highest on them. After numerous amounts studies, pesticides have been linked to cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, ADHD, and even birth defects. Pesticides also have the potential to harm the nervous system, the reproductive system, and the endocrine system. Pesticides can even be very harmful to fetuses because the chemicals can pass from the mother during pregnancy or if a woman nurses her child. Although one piece of fruit with pesticides won't kill you, if they build up in your body, they can be potentially detrimental to your health and should be avoided as much as
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.
Image 1 (Hlahane, Keneilwe November 2016) chemicals causes runoff which spread the chemicals to soil and water all over. When these chemicals get into lakes, they can cause eutrophication (see Image 1) which leads the lake to die altogether and during this process, chemicals can get into the food sources of many animals such as the birds that may eat the fish from this chemically infested water. This heavy use of pesticides also can lead to biologically resistant pests and diseases that can cause much more damage than original forms that could be easily killed. Harm is also seen in animal production such as cows and pigs. When these animals are clustered together in a dirt lot, all their waste piles up and rather than providing fertilizer
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 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
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.
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
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
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 is also shown that pesticides are partly responsible for the rising cancer rates and birth defects among children (“Pesticides”).
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
Organic, all natural, and genetically modified are phrases you find every day in your local grocery store. The most common misconception concerning GMO’s, is that they are harmful to humans. There are lots of benefits to GMO’s that most of the anti-GMO activists don’t know about because they don’t know what they really are. While the greatest feature for stores is to have their very own marketing gimmick, the gimmick being their products are non-genetically modified. There are lots of genetically modified organisms that humans have been consuming for many years without even realizing it.
I agree with Alice in that the connection Sobel establishes with her readers using personal experiences is extremely captivating. However, my love of her little stories and metaphors become distractions to me truly grasping the scientific nature of what she is describing. Whereas Grinspoon's fact and reasearch heavy writing style becomes a little dry and I seem to lose interest after digesting so much information. After sampling both authors' styles, I find myself torn between the two. I want to be told of the stories of Sobel's friend getting moon dust as a secret love gift and gaining powers but I also need the structure of Grinspoon's multifaceted explanations of basic principles like convergent evolution to help me fully comprehend what
Pesticides also have a great affect on the food we consume. Food is one of the great necessities of life. Yet, a growing amount of evidence indicates that the food supply is being contaminated with pesticides (Mott & Snyder vii). These pesticides are most commonly
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