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Magaly Madrigal
Mrs.Roy
AP Humanities
8 March 2015
The Use of Pesticides
In 2014 it was reported by the USDA (US Department of Agriculture)
that organic food contains 73% less pesticides then none organic. Four years
earlier a study was done by the University of Montreal and Harvard that
concluded that pesticide residues found on produce could make a child twice
more prone to future ADHD. The US is the only country that has not banned
5 of the most harmful pesticides and continues to use them. Although
pesticides are a universal tool in agriculture; they should be banned for its
harmful effects of humans and for the environment.
Pesticides are used in order to contain or kill anything such as plant
and animals that would be considered pest. John Unsworth in The History of
Pesticide Use, states that natural defoliants were first used 4500 years ago
however the first inorganic ones were original to the 1940s after the World
War 2 in terms to end world hunger. There are 6 different types of pesticides
which are herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, bactericides, and
larvicides. The pesticide most used in agriculture is herbicide. Herbicides are
intended to kill or control weeds in farms were food is being produced such

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as fruits and vegetables. Insecticides are the second most used pesticides in
agriculture; they however kill and prevent insects from destroying or eating
plants.
Pesticides are man-made and they intentionally harm the planet. Not
only do they kill and control pest but the chemicals within are toxic and can
be dangerous for the environment. These chemicals can accumulate in water
ways and it is a big threat to soil. Over time the chemicals can weaken the
soil by destroying some of its nutrients and its microorganisms. These
pesticides can also be picked up and carried by wind where they will likely
spread them to other places and continue to contaminate the soil. When
they are not absorbed by plants and soils they occasionally become surface
runoff in water bodies such as streams. After they have been turned into
runoff or absorbed by plants and soil they then began to become harmful to
humans because of their chemical properties.
As kids we were always told to wash our fruits and vegetables before
eating however you will be surprised to find out that most produce still
contains residues of pesticides. Produce with these chemicals are more
reachable to us than what we think, non-organic food such as those that are
GMOs or grown with pesticides are cheaper than that that is grown
organically making us reach more to what fits our budget. Although these
pesticides were made to help the human race ironically they are bad for us.
Chlorphyrifos is an insecticide that is found in 93% of the people tested by

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the CDC; this insecticide has a link to ADHD. Current the number of people
that are high in risk due to exposure of agricultural pesticides is at 2 million
people worldwide. Not only can pesticides harm us through consuming foods
with them but also inhaling them and through skin absorption.
The EPA ( Environment Protection Agency) is set to do what it is called
for but surprisingly they do not test chemicals such as pesticides to see if
they are bad. Ironically Rachel Carson the creator of the book Silent
Summer which influenced the creation of the EPA stated, A Who's Who of
pesticides is therefore of concern to us all. If we are going to live so
intimately with these chemicals eating and drinking them, taking them into
the very marrow of our bones - we had better know something about their
nature and their power (Carson Pg. 17) thus explaining why we should care.
It is proven that the EPA is disorganized by the NRDC (Natural Resource
Defense Council) whom stated that the EPA relies heavily on conditional
registration. Conditional registration is when markets allow pesticides to be
sold after they have been created but only by going through speedy studies
that do not require health or environmental investigations.
In spite of this pesticides are used to help the economy and increase
the amount of food. It is possible to go natural but herbicides and
insecticides are faster. They have proved to withstand any bug or weed that
could be a potential threat thus making crops more stable and allowing
farmers to grow more. Another effect of surplus is also a decrease in price

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making crops more affordable to people. Many farmers are now able to make
a better living without having to worry so much. As it can be a living style to
most in other countries it is not allowed.

In conclusion pesticides are all around us due to its connection to the

agricultural world but they are also very bad for our planet and ourselves.
Together we can prevent and end the many illnesses associated with these
chemicals by pushing and creating laws. We should also call on such
governmental agencies to change their ways so that we can not only make a
better day for us tomorrow but also for future generations. We can look up to
the EU as a great example who has banned 5 popular pesticides due to its
effects that the US still uses. With the belief of global warming and increase
heath defects the US would step into the new millennium if the banned these
harsh chemicals.

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Work cited:
1. Carson, Rachel, Lois Darling, and Louis Darling. Silent Spring. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 1962. Print.
2. Cavendor, Anthony B. "Environmental Case Law Update (as of Feb. 26,
2015) | Lexology." Environmental Case Law Update (as of Feb. 26,
2015). N.p., 26 Feb. 2015. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
3. Main, Emily. "4 Disturbing Facts about Pesticides." Rodale News. N.p.,
04 Apr. 2013. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
4. "National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences." Pesticides. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
5. "Pesticides on Food." : Residues on Food Are How Most People Come to
the Problem of Pesticides. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
6. "The Problem with Pesticides." The Problem with Pesticides. N.p., n.d.
Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
7. Unsworth, John. "History of Pesticide Use." | IUPAC. N.p., 10 May 2010.
Web. 08 Mar. 2015.

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