Question

Rachael Carson brought to the public’s attention, the health effects of pesticides and her actions lead to the creation of the modern-day United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Discuss the environmental health challenges posed by the use of pesticides in the USA and around the world.

Answer 1

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES POSED BY THE USE OF PESTICIDES

• Pesticides give good yield of crop. But they also cause negative effect on the environment. Likelihood of dangers associated with use of pesticide has surpassed their beneficial effects.
• Out of all the Varieties of pesticides, the most toxic variety considered to be the insecticides whereas fungicides and herbicides are second and third on the toxicity list.
• Pesticides set foot in the natural ecosystems by two distinct ways based upon their solubility. That is either water soluble or fat soluble.
• Water soluble pesticides get dissolve in water and enter ground water, lakes, rivers and streams hence causing harm to untargeted species.
• Fat soluble pesticides through bioamplification process pesticides set foot in the bodies of animals
• These pesticides entered into the body remains in food chains for extended period of time as they absorbed in the fatty tissues of animals
• Pesticides can contaminate water, soil, turf, and other vegetation.
• Contamination of water by pesticides is extensive because pesticides can reach surface water through runoff from treated plants and soil.
• According to the USGS, at least 143 different pesticides and 21 transformation products have been found in ground water, including pesticides from every major chemical class. Therefore groundwater pollution due to pesticides is a global issue.
• Dense use of pesticide on treatment of soil can cause populations of loose microorganism which are beneficial for the soil to be fruitful.
• Indiscriminate use of chemicals might work for a few years, but after awhile, there aren't enough beneficial soil organisms to hold onto the nutrients. If we lose both bacteria and fungi, then the soil degrades. Overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has effects on the soil organisms that are similar to human overuse of antibiotics.
• Additional to this it also kills insects or weeds, birds, fish, beneficial insects, and non-target plants.
• Pesticides can cause adverse effects on human health this effect would be acute or chronic.
• Acute adverse health effects are rashes, nausea, diarrhea, stinging eyes, blisters, blindness, dizziness, and death.
• Chronic adverse health effects are reproductive harm, birth defects, neurological and developmental toxicity, cancers, and disruption of the endocrine system.