...to make conscious decisions surrounding what goes into the body. When choosing what to eat, Organic foods are the best choice because they do not contain harmful chemicals or pesticides, are better for our environment, and are less harmful to the people who grow and harvest food. When eating...
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...prior to the debate is that in regards to what should be allowed to be used as pesticides, I believe that both synthetic and natural pesticides have its advantages and disadvantages. Natural pesticides that are found in certain plants have been specifically derived by that plant to protect itself from harmful pests. Although it may be effective in killing certain insects, it may not be as effective for other uses. For instance: a plant is found to secrete toxic chemicals in its nectar that target fire ants and the only way for the ant to be poisoned would be if it drank from the nectar, or bit into the plant itself. This toxin is contained inside the plant and has no exterior effects to surrounding animals. If a manufacturer extracted the pesticidal ingredients from the plant and turned it into a spray that people can use in their homes, how do we know what kind of effects it will have on the environment? Yes, the ingredients are all natural, but it was made specifically for the plant and it was fully contained in nature. The toxin could have acidic properties and enzymes that could deteriorate surrounding environments and kill other organisms, not just fire ants. Perhaps there is a reason why the toxin is found to be naturally isolated inside the plant. Although there have been negative opinions towards synthetic pesticides, sometimes man-made pesticides may actually be more beneficial to the environment than their natural counterparts. Scientists are able to manipulate and create...
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...Fertilizes and pesticides have been really important to farmers all over the world and the consumption of such chemicals increase every year even though in Greece the consumption decreases. “Fertilizers are any solid, liquid or gaseous substances containing one or more plant nutrients in known amount, that is applied to the soil, directly on the plant (foliage) or added to aqueous solutions (as in fertigation) to maintain soil fertility, improve crop development, yield and/or crop quality” (International Fertilizer Industry, No Date). From the other hand “pesticides are chemicals used to prevent, destroy, or repel pests” (EPA, 5/9/2012). Fertilizes and pesticides have a big history which starts decade ago as technology improves the methods of using pesticides and fertilizers changes rapidly. The first pesticide according to Toxipedia (Katerina Lah, May 09 2011) was created by the Chinese around 1000BC and it was sulfur, the Chinese were using sulfur back then to control bacteria and fungus. Sulfur is also used nowadays from farmers in fungides to protect the plant from diseases. The next big invention again by the Chinese was arsenic, arsenic was uses as insecticide (Kill insects) and as herbicide (Weed killer). This category of pesticides is called mineral and metals, but the most important pesticides that humans use are the synthetic ones. The most important synthetic pesticides are the DDTs. DDT was firs use in huge amount in WWII to control the lice that spread typhus and...
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...The environmental impact of pesticides consists of the effects of pesticides on non-target species. Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, because they are sprayed or spread across entire agricultural fields. Runoff can carry pesticides into aquatic environments while wind can carry them to other fields, grazing areas, human settlements and undeveloped areas, potentially affecting other species. Other problems emerge from poor production, transport and storage practices. Over time, repeated application increases pest resistance, while its effects on other species can facilitate the pest's resurgence. Each pesticide or pesticide class comes with a specific set of environmental concerns. Such undesirable effects have led many pesticides to be banned, while regulations have limited and/or reduced the use of others. Over time, pesticides have generally become less persistent and more species-specific, reducing their environmental footprint. In addition the amounts of pesticides applied per hectare have declined, in some cases by 99%. However, the global spread of pesticide use, including the use of older/obsolete pesticides that have been banned in some jurisdictions, has increased overall. Agriculture and the environment The arrival of humans in an area, to live or to conduct agriculture, necessarily has environmental impacts. These range from simple crowding out of wild plants in favor of more desirable cultivars...
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...disputes over the use of chemical pesticides. Her book helped raise awareness for the environment, warn humans of the dangers of using pesticides such as DDT, preserve several plant and animal species, and make the atmosphere cleaner. Her intent in writing Silent Spring was to warn the public of the dangers related with pesticide use. Throughout her book are countless case studies documenting the harmful effects that chemical pesticides have had on the environment. Along with these facts, she explains how in many occasions the pesticides have done more harm than good in eliminating the pests they were supposed to destroy. Carson points out that many of the long-term effects that these chemicals may have on the environment, as well as us humans, are still unknown in addition to her report. The argument in Carson’s Silent Spring led to the passing of environmental legislation and the establishment of government agencies to better regulate the use of these chemicals (Griswold 2012). Kairos: While working for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, Miss Carson first became aware of the effects of chemical pesticides on the natural environment. Her main concern was the government’s use of chemical pesticides such as DDT, a colorless substance used as an insecticide that is toxic to humans and animals when swallowed or absorbed through the skin (Guralnik 1970). She was familiar with the studies of DDT and knew that it was dangerous and its effects on the environment. According to Carson, ...
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...economy and contributes 18% to the GDP. Ensuring food security for more than 1.27 billions Indian populations with diminishing cultivable land resource is a herculean task. In the process of achieving the target pesticides play an important role in Indian agriculture. Pesticides, the agrochemicals, are one of the invaluable inputs in sustaining the agricultural production as substantial food production is lost due to insect pests, plant pathogens, weeds etc. However since the green revolution (1966) has been started in India, the application of these chemicals increased more than hundred times and causing tremendous loss to environment and human health. Internationally big effort is made to safe use of chemicals which are reflected in which identified the elements for the sound management of the chemicals. In India Nearly 65% of the workforce derives livelihood from agriculture and are therefore exposed to chemical pesticides (Asian Monitor Resource Centre). The rampant use of pesticides has played havoc with living beings and the environment as these chemicals persist and seep in environment for a long time because of more water solubility, tendency to adsorb to the soil (soil adsorption) and more half-life that is tendency to persistence in the environment. The term pesticide covers a wide range of compounds including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, molluscicides, nematicides, plant growth regulators and others. Among these, organochlorine (OC) insecticides,...
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...Over 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used in the United State each year and approximately 5.6 billion pounds are used worldwide. Pesticides are a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to animals. But do they actually work and do the job they are suppose to do? The use of pesticides in the United States has caused profound negative effects on our environment and the living organisms. Pesticides affect different parts of the society including human health, the environment, wildlife and the future effects. Pesticides have an enormous negative effect on human health. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 3 million cases of pesticide poisoning each year and up to 220,000...
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...problems within the environment from causing deformations, death, miscarriages, and many other problems. These pollutants can harm the air or water in the ecosystem and cause many problems. There are many types of pollutants and those are anything in the environment that does not belong. These pollutants can be anything from burning fossil fuels, spraying pesticides, toxic chemicals being released into the water, and trash loose in the ocean. These types of pollutants have different effects on the environment and can do different things. There are two types of air pollution; these are primary and secondary pollutants. The primary air pollutants are emitted right into the air from a source. These can come from anything that burns fossil fuels. These are car burn fossil fuels and create carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere which contributes the harm of the ozone layer creating the green house gasses. This is caused mainly because there is a incomplete combustion of the gasses leaving the gas in a state in which it is difficult to change. The carbon dioxide does not only come from car emissions but also the transportation activities, electricity, and industry emissions. These all release emissions into the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels which is where they get the energy they need to function. There are other types of air pollutions as well. Secondary air pollution happens after primary pollutants are released into the environment and then end up reacting...
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...problems for human health. Many that are produced in enormous quantities have never been tested at all. Usually, it takes dramatic episodes of workplace injuries or wildlife poisonings, combined with rigorous scientific proof of harm and public outcry, before the government will act to restrict or ban any chemical. And that is no accident. The current regulatory system allows synthetic chemicals into our lives unless proven beyond doubt to be dangerous. Terms Dioxins are not intentionally manufactured. They are unintentionally formed as byproducts of chemical processes involving chlorine, such as the manufacture of pesticides and the bleaching of paper. The manufacture and incineration of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC, commonly used in consumer product packaging and medical devices) is another major source of dioxin. Two of the most serious health effects of dioxin exposure are cancer and endocrine disruption. The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and hormones that regulate many of the body's functions including growth, development, and maturation, and the way various organs operate. The endocrine glands –- including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, thymus, pancreas, ovaries, and testes – release carefully-measured amounts of hormones into the bloodstream that act as natural chemical messengers, traveling to different parts of the body in order to control and adjust many life functions. An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that, when absorbed into the body...
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...exactly what Rachel Carson writes about in her novel Silent Spring. Pesticides are all around us, they are in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the ground we walk on. Their effects on our bodies and the environment are unknown, but chances are that they are not going to be good. Rachel Carson dedicates an entire novel to try to prove her point of how horrible they are for the world. She argues constantly that we need to find an alternative before it is too late. Within her arguments, Carson uses several different methods and types of evidence while trying to convey her point. Throughout the entire novel, Carson is constantly putting down the use of pesticides. However, everything she says would be useless if she did not have evidence. She uses qualitative and quantitative data several times throughout the book. Her use of qualitative data begins with her first paragraph. She describes the beauty of nature and how much life is abundant in it. Then as her fictional story continues, she begins to start explaining how none of this would be with the continuous use of pesticides. Carson also goes into detail describing the disastrous effects that it could leave on the environment as a whole. Her realistic descriptions of the possible harms of the pesticides can really appeal to the reader. With the vivid descriptions that she has, the reader can imagine the world as she describes it and then imagines the effects that could occur if the problem persists. Our imagination can only...
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...Problem A pesticide is defined as “a chemical preparation for destroying plant, fungal, or animal pests” (Random House Dictionary). Pesticides have been used for thousands of years, but only recently has it been used in vast amounts to ‘protect’ plants in order to feed the ever-growing population of the world. in order to identify the effects of industrial amounts of pesticides on surrounding inhabitants including but not limited to humans, cattle, domestic pets, etc,. The EPA is responsible for the safety of humans and the environment by creating laws and regulations. Discussion Pesticide use is regulated by the EPA, whose sole purpose is to “...ensure that all Americans are protected from significant risks to human health and the environment where they live, learn and work...” (Environmental Protection Agency). Pesticide use has plenty of benefits such as less crop loss due to pests and/or disease, and because less crops are lost, more money is saved, even though pesticides are purchased, they are relatively cheap and do not negate the total savings. On the other hand, there is a plethora of reasons that pesticide use is heinous, and harmful to all those involved from the person whose job it is is to administer the chemicals to the cat that ate the poisoned mouse. Many different problems have been associated with pesticide use. Scientists have executed tests on various food goods, water, and environments throughout the United States and have identified multiple chemicals...
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...Keith Lyman Professor Patrick Welsh AMH2020 – 218620 21 October 2016 Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Book Review In the environmentally historical book Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, the horrific consequences of insecticide use on the environment and ecosystem are chronicled. Carson’s novel was originally published as a three-part journal article in the New Yorker in June followed by the publication of the book in September of 1962. The book is known for beginning the modern environmental movement, which eventually led to the banning of “the domestic production of DDT and the creation of a grass-roots movement demanding protection of the environment through state and federal regulations” (Carson/Lear 9). Carson used her widespread knowledge...
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...primary issues which must be addressed. One of the main issues the farmers of the world must deal with is the problem with crop destroying insects and invasive plant species. Pesticide is used to identify both insecticides and herbicides, or (as I like to refer to them) bug and weed killers. Although pesticides curb the effects of insects and weeds in food cultivation, the detrimental health issues concerning the effects of pesticides continues to increase; therefore, pesticides should have stricter standards imposed upon their use, and more focus should be made towards developing alternative methods and safer solutions. Depending on location, environment, weather, and many other variables there is a great need to protect the world’s crops from the devastating effects of bugs and weeds. Certain species are capable of terminating the growth of necessary food sources. Of course humanity would react as alarmist and jump to an immediate solution of “Kill! Kill ‘em all!” without first considering the possible consequences to themselves or future generations. I’m told its human nature, and can relate to the pressures of solving the mysteries of life but, seriously?!? What would make them consider that another living creature, be it plant or animal, would not be capable of adapting resistance if the pesticides were not strong enough to injure...
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...| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | An Overview of Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution | This page is one of a series of web pages developed by the CAR/RCU on various Environmental Issues in the Caribbean. These pages are a good starting point for research into many of the pressing concerns of the nations and territories of the Wider Caribbean Region. They contain definitions, descriptions, discussions, links to relevant on-line documents and web sites. Read about other Issues. | | * Introduction * Land based pollution sources and their environmental impacts * Sewage * Oil hydrocarbons * Sediments * Nutrients * Pesticides * Solid waste and marine debris * Toxic substances * Planning and management of environmental pollution * CEP and land based sources of pollution * Pollution related CEP reports * Links to pollution related websites | INTRODUCTION | The major sources of coastal and marine pollution originating from the land vary from country to country. The nature and intensity of development activities, the size of the human population, the state and type of industry and agriculture are but a few of the factors contributing to each country’s unique pollution problems. Pollution is discharged either directly into to the sea, or enters the coastal waters through rivers and by atmospheric deposition. In order to mitigate and control the impact of pollution on coastal and marine resources, it is essential...
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...very popular. But navigating the maze of organic food labels, benefits, and claims can be confusing. Is organic food really healthier? Do GMOs and pesticides cause cancer and other diseases? What do all the labels mean? This guide can help you make better choices about which organic foods are healthier for you and better for the environment, and how you can afford to incorporate more organic food into your diet. ------------------------------------------------- What is organic food? Making a commitment to healthy eating is a great start towards a healthier life. Beyond eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good fats, however, there is the question of food safety, nutrition, and sustainability. How foods are grown or raised can impact both your health and the environment. This brings up the questions: What is the difference between organic foods and conventionally grown foods? Is “organic” always best? Are GMOs safe? What about locally grown foods? What does “organic” mean? The term “organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as "organic." Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors...
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