effects of pesticides

A detailed Summary of effects of pesticides

Today, the use of pesticides has increased dramatically because of the growing population and the demands this population. The high increase in population means more food must be produced and spreading of diseases is more likely. Like other organisms, humans compete with other species for food and shelter and struggle to protect ourselves and predators. In order, for a stable healthy population to survive the use of pesticides must be applied to crops for greater efficiency and insecticides used to kill insects which transmit diseases. These pesticides which are usually synthetic chemicals made up of different chemical compounds are intended to eliminate pests and provide a safer environment for humans. However, the use of pesticides in the United States has caused a profound negative effects on our environment and the living organisms. Basically, the pesticides affect three different areas of a society including human health, the environment, and the future effects.

Currently, humans are exposed to pesticides and their residue everyday and many negative results are caused by this exposure. First, most of the fruits and vegetables that are imported to the US contain large traces of pesticide residue that are consumed withou

In addition, the use of pesticides has caused substantial damage to our surrounding environment. When a farmer applies a pesticide to his field it is sprayed carelessly throughout the air and is carried by the wind to nearby areas. These nearby areas often contain many native and non-target species which are eliminated along with the pests. It is estimated that up to 90 percent of pesticides used never reach their intended targets. Many birds, fish, and helpful insects are killed by the pesticides that are carried in the water or wind. Also, as more humans are sickened by pesticides, more insects, weeds, and rodents are genetically changing and are building up immunities to specific pesticides. According to Rudd, "More than 120 of the some 5000 species of insects and mite pests on earth are now to some degree less susceptible to control chemicals than they were fifteen years ago" (141). Consequently, the farmers must apply more pesticides to get the same results as ten years ago. All of these pesticides accumulate in the soil and nearby water including lakes and streams where they can persist for years in the ecosystem. Then, these accumulations enter the food chain and gradually are found in human tissue.

Finally, the use of pesticides must be controlled for the future generation in order to prevent a hazardous environment. Many of the chemicals found in pesticides such as arsenic and mercur

Some common words found in the essay are:
According Rudd, Rotenoids Carbamates, , College Massachusetts, Caroline McIsaac, harmful chemicals, pesticides addition, human health, household insecticides, protect ourselves, pesticides home, pesticide residue, medical field, eliminate pests,

Approximate Word count = 952
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science