Pesticides and Pollution- the link is clearWhat are the effects of pesticides? How do they cause pollution? How big a problem is pollution from pesticides? Who does it affect and how? And what can we personally do about it? Here are a few pointers.
Pesticides and pollution:
How widespread is the problem? Pesticides are a cause of pollution, affecting land and water in particular. The problem is huge and growing.
In the US pesticides pollution has been found in nearly every lake, river and stream, according to a US Geological Survey in the 1990s. Other nations are affected badly, too. Pesticides cause pollution by running off agricultural fields and from horticultural land and domestic gardens, too. Rain water washes the chemicals into nearby water sources. Here are some of the bad effects of pesticides.
Pesticides and pollution of the soilFirst, pesticides affect soil quality. Pesticides decrease biodiversity in the soil because they do not just kill the intended pest; they often kill many of the other small organisms present. When life in the soil is killed off, the soil quality deteriorates and this has a knock-on effect upon the retention of water. This is a problem for farmers particularly in times of drought. At such times, organic farms have been found to have yields 20-40% higher than conventional farms. Soil fertility is affected in other ways, too. When pesticides kill off most of the active soil organisms, the complex interactions which result in good fertility break down. Plants depend on millions of bacteria and fungi to bring nutrients to their rootlets. When these cycles are disrupted plants become more dependent upon exact doses of chemical fertilisers at regular intervals. Even so, the fantastically rich interactions in healthy soil cannot be fully replicated by the farmer with chemicals. See here for more on the benefits of growing food organically So the soil - and our nutrition - is compromised. We get large but watery vegetables and fruits, which often lack taste and nutrients and may even contain pesticide residues. Pesticides and pollution
Harmful pesticides and wildlifePesticides have other bad effects on the eco-system. The misuse of pesticides can cause valuable pollinators such as bees and hover-flies to be killed and this in turn can badly affect food crops. Bees have been suffering a serious decline in recent years for reasons which are not yet clear (but pesticides are thought to be implicated). We interfere with our allies in the natural world at our peril. Without bees, many food crops would simply fail to grow; they pollinate the plants so that they can produce fruits and grains. See missing bees for more about the crisis affecting bees worldwide. There are fears (and some evidence) that through natural selection, some pests may eventually become quite resistant to pesticides. Farmers may then try increasing amounts used of pesticides, making the problem worse. Many pesticides contain chemicals which are persistent soil contaminants. Their effects may last for years. Amphibians such as frogs are particularly vulnerable to concentrations of pesticides in their habitat.
Pesticides and human healthPesticides can also endanger workers during production, transportation, or during and after use.Bystanders may also be affected at times, for example walkers using public rights of way on adjacent land or families whose homes are close by crop spraying activities. One of the main hazards of pesticide use is to farm workers and gardeners. A recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, discovered a 70% increase in the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease for people exposed to even low levels of pesticides.
The effect upon childrenPesticides and pollution Children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of pesticides. Studies have found higher rates of brain cancer, leukaemia and birth defects in children who suffered early exposure to pesticides. (National Resources Defence Council study) See below for an example of OPs affecting school children.
Diet as a source of exposurePesticides and pollution The main source of exposure to pesticides for most people is through diet. A study in 2006 measured organophosphorus levels in 23 school children before and after changing their diet to organic food. The levels of organophosphorus exposure dropped immediately and dramatically when the children began the organic diet. Residues, set by governments, are limited to tolerance levels that are considered safe, based on average daily consumption of these foods by adults and children. But, as we all know, some people do not behave as average! For example, when I used to work in a college, there were students who regularly consumed 6 or 7 packs of crisps in a day. And toddlers are notorious for becoming obsessed with one or two foods only. At best, tolerance levels are only an educated guess as to what residue levels we might be able to get away with! As the evidence about the toxicity of some pesticides becomes clearer, tolerance levels are being reduced by many governments.
What can we do about pesticides and pollution?Pesticides and pollution Most modern pesticides are carefully regulated by law in most countries. In the US the EPA conducts studies and licenses pesticides for use. However, they cannot actually control what happens when a particular farmer opens a particular product. We depend upon the farmer to read the label and follow the guidelines to the letter. Accidents will and do happen. Some pesticides are so toxic that their use is restricted to licensed, trained applicators. In the US it is a violation to apply any pesticide in any way that is not in accordance with the label for that pesticide. Further, it is a crime to do so intentionally. In most counties pesticides are classified according to their toxicity. Most acute pesticide poisonings result from disregarding the label directions. If you must use toxic pesticides at all (and there are usually safer alternatives) - then the most important advice is: Read the label! - and then follow the instructions to the letter. Apart from political action, anyone who is concerned about the toxic effects of pesticides should try to eat organic food whenever possible. Organic foods are grown without toxic pesticides for the most part. If you are growing food or flowers and other plants at home, consider doing everything by organic methods. There are many strategies available to organic gardeners to avoid attacks by pests. See here for more on organic gardening The toxic effects of pesticides on our foods and our land and the effects on our health and the health of our children make it an issue which is sure to become more and more crucial. Return from Pesticides and Pollution back to Green Earth
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