Pesticides and Modern Agriculture
From Science Online
What is the issue over Pesticides and Modern Agriculture?
Pesticides and Modern Agriculture are having numerous side effects on our environment. But as agricultural modernization progressed, the ecology-farming linkage was often broken as ecological principles were ignored and/or overridden. In fact, several agricultural scientists have arrived at a general consensus that modern agriculture confronts an environmental crisis. A growing number of people have become concerned about the long-term sustainability of existing food production systems. Evidence has accumulated showing that whereas the present capital- and technology-intensive farming systems have been extremely productive and competitive, they also bring a variety of economic, environmental and social problems (Mayell 2001).
Because human manufacturers of pesticides have to comply with federal laws, almost all man-made pesticides have been tested for carcinogenity. In studies of laboratory rodents exposed to extremely high doses, about half of all man-made pesticides are found to be carcinogenic (Kopel 1992).
Common types of Pesticides
Diazinon "Diazinon was first described in 1953. Since then, it has become one of the most commonly used pesticides in the U.S. Diazinon has been linked to serious human health effects and is the sixth most common pesticide involved in accidental deaths. Diazinon is highly toxic to birds. U.S. EPA tests show that birds grazing on treated lawns for 15-80 minutes can receive a lethal dose. More than 200 acute avian mortality incidents are recorded in EPA databases, some of them involving hundreds of birds. Another major route of exposure is the ingestion of insects and other invertebrates that contain diazinon residues. Birds of the family Icteridae, blackbirds, grackles, orioles, and meadowlarks, and Turdidae, robins and bluebirds, commonly feed on or near suburban parks and lawns. These birds are susceptible to secondary exposure and possible poisoning by diazinon and may also expose their young to diazinon when they bring contaminated insects back to the nest. Reproduction studies have shown that diazinon reduces both the clutch-size and number of surviving hatchlings when it is fed to birds at sub-acute doses. The potential for negative reproductive effects in the environment is substantial, given current usage rates, especially among urban and suburban bird populations" (Woodworth 2001).
On a list of most common POISONS, pesticides was found to be number 2. Pesticides: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60 per cent of herbicides, 90 per cent of fungicides and 30 per cent of insecticides are known to be carcinogenic. Pesticide residues have been detected in 50 per cent to 95 per cent of U.S. foods.
Risks: Cancer, Parkinson's disease, miscarriage, nerve damage, birth defects, blocking the absorption of food nutrients.
Major Sources: Food (fruits, vegetables and commercially raised meats), bug sprays (EPA).
What role do humans have in creating this problem?
Humans brought agriculture and pesticides into the world. It is now the responsibilities of all humans to take responsibility for the harm done. The pesticides and agricultural problems need to be improved and also cleaned. Though it may seem like humans have caused all the problems in regards to pesticides, it is not true. Their are numerous amounts of natural pesticides that have been discovered by scientists. Plants use these natural pesticides in order to defend themselves from predators. 'Dr. Ames identified 52 natural pesticides, and tested them the same way artificial pesticides are tested: high-dose rodent studies. Of the 52 natural pesticides, 27 caused cancer. The 52 pesticides Ames studied are only a fraction of all natural pesticides, and most plants contain a variety of pesticides. Thus, concludes Ames, "it is probable that almost every fruit and vegetable in the supermarket contains natural plant pesticides that are rodent carcinogens"(Kopel 1992)'. This explains that humans have a role in this problem but it is not entirely humans fault for health concerns involving pesticides.
Where is this problem?
This problem is everywhere, however the high concentrations of it are located in areas of high or heavy agriculture. The loss of yields due to pests in many crops (reaching about 20-30% in most crops), despite the substantial increase in the use of pesticides (about 500 million kg of active ingredient worldwide) is a symptom of the environmental crisis affecting agriculture. It is well known that cultivated plants grown in genetically homogenous monocultures do not possess the necessary ecological defense mechanisms to tolerate the impact of outbreaking pest populations (Mayell 2001).
How long has this issue been in existence?
"The use of pesticides also began in the mid 1800s, when it was discovered that dusting of grape plants with sulfur provided a cure for powdery mildew" (NRCCE). But actually, they have been around forever. This is refering to natural pesticides. Plants have been producing their own pesticides for hundreds of millions of years (Kopel 1992).
What are the names of species positively and negatively impacted by this issue/practice?
All insects and rodents that live or have a habitat around crops or anytime of agriculture using pesticides are affected negatively. The pesticides poison intended targets of creatures but they also breach other nearby animals systems. Those creatures aren't targeted however they still suffer the consequences of either a sickness, abnormality or even death from the pesticides. Humans are both positively and negatively impacted by pesticides and modern agriculture. We achieve greater success in farming using these methods, however, pesticides are also a cancer agent.
What are the economic "costs & benefits"?
"During the 1950s and 1960s American farmers depended on cheap energy, plentiful water supplies, and extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to produce high yields with decreasing labor on reduced amounts of land. In recent years the costs for fuel and chemicals have increased sharply" (NRCCE).
Costs: Pesticides and Modern agriculture fertilizers are efficient in their production, but they do cost a lot of cash up front. pesticides. Prices for different services and chemicals vary in prices. The graph below shows the prices of different services offered to the normal consumer.
Benefits: In the long run, pesticides and other variables used for better farming production are practically worth their weight in gold. Though they do cost a pretty penny upfront, pesticides do pay off in the sense that the farmer has the security that rodents and insects will not destroy their crops. This allows for better and more efficient crop producing. After being sold the price for insecticides, pesticides and other modern agriculture technique costs are only a small fraction of the profit.
What is the environmental "costs & benefits"?
Costs: Chemical fertilizers can also become air pollutants, and have recently been implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer and in global warming. Their excessive use has also been linked to the acidification/salinization of soils and to a higher incidence of insect pests and diseases through mediation of negative nutritional changes in crop plants (Woodworth 2001). "After being applied to the land, they move through groundwater and into lakes and streams. As they pass through the plant and animal food chain, they can sometimes cause devastating effects on animal species, especially birds. Some vicious farmers spray pesticides while migrant workers are in the fields below, thereby dosing the workers which huge quantities of chemicals that are, after all, designed to kill (Kopel 1992)".
Benefits: Pesticides and Modern Agriculture techniques have allowed for more efficient crops and plants. Pesticides have kept rodents and insects from destroying agriculture while the new farming styles and techniques allow for quicker and better farming production. There are more subtle examples. The use of agricultural pesticides, for instance, greatly reduces the cost of food by reducing pest losses and conserving agricultural resources. Banning pesticides will increase food costs substantially and make the growing of some crops completely unfeasible. Even many organic farmers use pesticides (Soule 1998).
laws/treaties/protocols to deal with the problem?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the organization that oversees and regulates each law.
The Federal Insecticide,Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
The regulation of pesticides by the federal government began in 1910 with the passage of the Federal Insecticide Act by Congress. This act was passed in response to concerns from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and farm groups about the sale of fraudulent or substandard pesticide products, which was common at the time.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act
Mandates that employers, including farmers and ranchers, protect their employees from hazards in the work place. With respect to pesticides, the law covers workers in pesticide manufacturing plants and also farmworkers applying pesticides to crops.
The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) of 2003
Establishes pesticide registration service fees for registration actions in three pesticide program divisions: Antimicrobials, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention, and the Registration Divisions.
(Environmental Protection Agency)
Is this a local, state, regional, federal, or international problem?
This problem is a problem for all parts of the world. It is a local, state, regional, federal, and international problem. It will also take a jointed effort from each to cure the issue. However, in the U.S. and other larger countries, the problem exists greatly in one area or state and not nearly as much somewhere else. An example of this is the midwest of the United States. That is the area of highest agriculture which means lots of pesticides. In places like Florida, there is much less agriculture. This makes the issue of pesticides and modern agriculture more of a state and regional issue for places like these because the national government sees that it is only concentrated in a certain area. That leaves the responsibility up to the states lots of the time.
(Medline Plus National Library of Medicine)
(Natural Resources Cornell Cooperative Extension)
(Environmental Protection Agency)
References
Environmental Protection Agency. Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets.
Frazer, A C (1997). "Pesticides" Annual Review of Pharmacology. pp.319-342. (7)
Kopel, Dave (1992). "Common Sense About Pesticides" Independence Institute. pp.undefined-undefined.
Medline Plus National Library of Medicine. Pesticides.
Natural Resources Cornell Cooperative Extension. Modern Agriculture: Its Effects on the Environment.
Soule, Judy, Danielle Carre, Wes Jackson (1998). Ecological Impact of Modern Agriculture.
Journal References
Frazer, A C (1997). "Pesticides" Annual Review of Pharmacology. pp.319-342. (7)
Kopel, Dave (1992). "Common Sense About Pesticides" Independence Institute. pp.undefined-undefined.
Other ReferencesSoule, Judy, Danielle Carre, Wes Jackson (1998). Ecological Impact of Modern Agriculture.
Web ReferencesEnvironmental Protection Agency. Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets.
Medline Plus National Library of Medicine. Pesticides.
Natural Resources Cornell Cooperative Extension. Modern Agriculture: Its Effects on the Environment.
