Jump to content
Green Blog
Lynn Fang
Lynn Fang

5 Reasons Why Pesticides are Bad

At this point, most people are at least somewhat aware that pesticides cause a great deal of environmental harm. Less well known are the effects pesticides have on individual and public health. Here, I give you 5 compelling reasons to avoid pesticides.

A quick note: This list is a little data-heavy.  To start, it will help to read through the bold lines first, and then go back to see the data behind each claim.

1. Acute exposure can kill you.

“Late in the afternoon of April 1, 1990, a three-year-old girl playing in front of her trailer home in California's San Joaquin Valley suddenly lost control of her body and began foaming at the mouth. By the time the girl arrived at the local emergency room, she was near death. She recovered eventually. A report filed with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation concluded the child had been poisoned by aldicarb, a highly toxic insecticide that works the same way on people as it does on bugs -- like nerve gas. ‘Somebody had parked a tractor with pesticide material on it right in front of the play area,' said Michael O'Malley, the author of the report and a physician at the University of California, Davis.â€

-- Matt Crenson, Associated Press, December 9, 1997

Some common symptoms of over-exposure include burning, stinging, or itchy eyes, nose, throat and skin; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, coughing, headache. These symptoms can range from mild irritation to death. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed and not attributed to pesticide poisoning. [Peel Public Health]

2. Chronic exposure to pesticides can lead to neurological damage, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Several studies have shown a link between pesticide exposure and the onset of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other neurological conditions such as epilepsy. The main path of exposure is airborne: breathing pesticides. Recently, UCLA researchers looked at Central Valley residents diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and found that “years of exposure to the combination of these two pesticides [the herbicide paraquat and fungicide maneb] increased the risk of Parkinson's by 75 percent. Further, for people 60 years old or younger diagnosed with Parkinson's, earlier exposure had increased their risk for the disease by as much as four- to six-fold.†[ScienceDaily]

Dr. Patrick Carr of the University of North Dakota finds that low doses of pesticide exposure induces physical changes in the brain, shown in a PET scan. These changes correlate to “a loss of neurons in particular regions of the brain.†Other regions not experiencing a loss instead express different amounts of neurotransmitter chemicals, altering the delicate chemical balance in the brain. [MPRNews]

3. Chronic exposure to pesticides increases the chance of developing endocrine and reproductive disorders. Here are two pesticides to use as case studies:

DDT:

Young women exposed to DDT (in the 1950s) have a greater chance of developing breast cancer later in life. From the Pesticide Action Network - UK:

One recent study found higher levels of miscarriages among women exposed to DDT, and reproductive disorders associated with DDT are well documented in animal studies[6,7]. Another recent study found developmental delays among babies and toddlers exposed in the womb[8]. Other studies have linked DDT to reduced breastmilk production, premature delivery and reduced infant birthweights[9,10]. DDT is classified by US and international authorities as a probable human carcinogen[11].

DDT is now banned in the US, but is being revived for use as an anti-malaria agent in developing nations. I mention DDT because it shows you the egregious effects of using pesticides that have been poorly studied. Additionally, DDT is still present in our air.

Atrazine:

Atrazine has been one of the top two selling pesticides in the US, also commonly found in household pesticide sprays. Many studies on frogs and rodents have shown that atrazine causes developmental disorders and delays and compromises healthy immune function. Most significantly, atrazine causes male frogs and rodents to feminize and produce ovaries and eggs. Animal studies have predictive value in humans, as hormone functions are very similar among all animals. Tyrone Hayes, professor of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley (whose course I took, he is absolutely amazing, by the way), has done extensive work on this subject and is a prime example of science activism. His website, atrazinelovers.com informs the public about all deleterious effects of atrazine and is backed up with extensive research data. His site states,

similar to atrazine’s induction of prostate cancer and mammary cancer in laboratory rodents, men exposed to atrazine in a Syngenta production facility in Louisiana developed prostate cancer at 8.4 times the rate of unexposed factory workers [9, 10] and women whose well water was contaminated with atrazine were more likely to develop breast cancer when compared to women who lived in the same area, but who do not drink well water [11].

4. Pesticide spray can drift through the air, being carried thousands of miles from where it was originally sprayed. They contaminate our waterways, and can be found in drinking water.

Pesticides can be detected miles from agricultural sites, can be detected in rainfall, as well as in the air. A study by the US Geological Survey in 2000 revealed that “every rain and air sample collected from the urban and agricultural sites had detectable levels of multiple pesticides. The magnitude of total concentration was 5-10 times higher at the agricultural site as compared to the urban site.†In this study, methyl parathion was the pesticide with highest concentration in both air and rain samples. Additionally, even though two decades have passed since the ban of DDT in the US, a metabolite of DDT (p,p’-DDE) was detected in every air sample collected from the agricultural site and in over half the air samples from the urban site.

Atrazine:

Atrazine is highly mobile and can travel as far as 600 miles from the initial point of application. Every year, a half million pounds of atrazine returns to the US in the form of rain and snowfall. It is also the most common groundwater contaminant, and has persisted in France where it has not been applied for 15 years. [atrazinelovers.com]

The EPA allows an average of 3 ppb (parts per billion) of atrazine to be present in drinking water. This is a running average, and does not consider the maximum level that could possibly be present during peak use of atrazine. “Concentrations as low as 0.1 ppb have been shown to alter the development of sex characteristics in male frogs.†[NRDC]

5. Persistent pesticide use over long periods of time results in lower crop yields, reduced soil fertility, and increased susceptibility to attack by new forms of pests and disease.

Soil fertility and crop yield:

Pesticides reduce activity of beneficial microflora in soil, therefore while yields are initially high, they will decline over time due to loss of soil health and fertility. I will have to save discussion of beneficial microflora in soil for a different entry, but in essence, soil health depends on a large variety of factors. These include a combination of beneficial bacteria (rhizobia), fungi (mycelia), worms, etc, working together to aid plants in nutrient absorption. A study by Tulane University Professor John McLachlan reveals the inhibitory effects pesticides have on these beneficial microflora and fauna, and how this translates to declining yields over time, as well as declining soil health (the ability to continue to grow crops).

Genetic diversity for resistance to pest and disease outbreak:

Industrial agriculture also promotes growing crops in monoculture, which means to grow only one species of crop, eliminating any genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is an asset which protects against new diseases. Pests, viruses, and bacteria are all constantly mutating. If an invading pest arrives with a powerful new mutation, a monoculture cannot withstand the pest attack. However, a genetically diverse set of crops will have a greater chance of withstanding the attack, as some variations may have better protection against new intruders than others. Don’t put your eggs in one basket! Such extensive pesticide use increases a monoculture crop’s vulnerability to disease and also accelerates pesticide resistance in weeds. [PANNA]

To end on an optimistic note: The amount of detectable pesticide residues in human urine drops immediately after switching to an organic diet. [Chengsheng Lu et. al]

For further reading:

Pesticides in rain in four agricultural watersheds in the United States

NYTimes: Debating Just How Much Atrazine is Safe In Your Drinking Water

Chronic dietary exposure to low-dose mixture of Genistein and Vinclozolin modifies the reproductive axis, testis transcriptome, and fertility

Harvard School of Public Health: Pesticides Exposure Associated With Parkinson's Disease

Daily Mail UK: Breathing pesticides can trigger MS and Parkinson's disease

User Feedback

Recommended Comments



There need to be tighter regulations on pesticides and more education on those who are in possession of such lethal product. I'm sure the driver did not intend any harm but that poor little girl could've died and it would've been so easily preventable. Glad she is ok but let this be a lesson learned in responsibility!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree, tighter regulations are necessary. Only issue is biotech companies that make the stuff don't care how terrible their product is, they find any way they can to avoid seeming bad and lobby the government to loosen regulations. I think more education is the most important thing. If people are armed with knowledge, they will be able to distinguish what is bad and what is good to use.

This type of stuff happens all the time! That is just one recorded story. I have read other news stories of these situations. Once, two middle school kids were waiting for a bus and a truck spraying pesticides drove by, the truck driver made eye contact with the kids, but went ahead spraying and doused them in pesticides! They had to go to the hospital, nauseous and dizzy and totally sick. Who knows what kind of lasting damage that will have on them!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi there. Thats a useful post. We've been going green in the garden as well. Managed to start our own green garden without the use of any chemicals what so ever. This, in our effort to have almost zero environmentally harmful practices on and around the Hotel premises :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great article. I think one thing you mentioned that most people don't consider is the container they are planting in. the chemicles in treated lumber are just so bad for you, especially in the older form of wood cca. Even the newer acq lumber which doesn't contain the arsenic is probably just as bad. I love using wooden planter boxes though and I build them all myself from reclaimed antique wood. This way I get a gorgeous planter without any chemicals and do some recycling in the process. Thanks again for the article, good reading.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hopefully you can put it in your report that one of the three main reasons we are not a 3rd world country ravished with hunger and disease  .... is our use of pesticides. The others are, medicine and indoor plumbing.  Why not tout the great strides we've made with how applications are made instead of some freak accident and then claim "that happens all the time?"  We'll ALWAYS have accidents and over exposure even with 'green products'.... It is irresponsible to present(presumed) facts of 50 years ago or actions of a few as the norm and now the entire world must change to make a minority happy.  Without responsible pest control and application of pesticides, your world would be a much darker place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I completely agree with you. One thing many people don't realize is that pesticides are even widely used by organic farmers; they just contain safer chemicals. Yes, pest control products can be harmful. Yes, freak accidents occur. But that's because they are being used incorrectly. There are also plenty of water-based or botanically-based products that can achieve the same results WITHOUT harmful chemicals. This sector of the pesticide industry is too often overlooked, and I think there needs to be more education on these kinds of safer products.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yeah, but look at our country. we're full of fatasses stuck on processed foods and pumped with prescription drugs. We deviated from the right path and need to fix it. Technology is advancing so rapidly yet our health seems to be declining. We might be living longer but what's the point if you can't fully enjoy life with true health. Pesticides are not the answer. Organic farmers have more than proven the successful methods that don't include any of these dangerous chemicals. Leave it to an American to respond with your point of view lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So you're not American? You seem to go both ways, but then again your argument holds no water as our (Americas) health is far better than ever, our health system is the greatest in the world (ask Fiedel) and organic farmers use inorganic pesticides all the time and have proven nothing except they can't grow any real quantity and what they do grow costs far more. Yeah, a true American- Land of the FREE & Home of the Brave--- We're glad you could visit & hope you'll stay and contribute.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a great post. I am with you 110% on that. I have 2 toddlers at home and I am very careful with what we use in the house and in the garden. I think people that are using pesticides are either unaware of the hazards, uninformed about alternatives, or just too lazy to try them out! For anyone that wants a high level overview, I'd recommend this article that got me all started: http://www.ridmothsnaturally.com/moth-balls/chemicals-can-hurt-you-more-than-they-can-help-you.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There traces of pesticides in food crops that pesticides were used on and we eat these foods every day so automatically we have traces of pesticides in our system. ARE WE SAFE???

Link to comment
Share on other sites




Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audience is coming from. To find out more, please read our Privacy Policy. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.