Stop Pesticides

By Connor Cahill

My Opinion
When you think of pesticides you think of no pulling weeds, less work but your really just
creating more work. When you put pesticides in the ground, all you are doing is
poisoning the environment. When you put pesticides in the ground you are poisoning the
birds, worms, Sandhill cranes, and even fish and ducklings. If we continue this need to
just get to lawn done are planet will be non-livable. Is it really worth it? I believe that the
pesticide use should be minimized and stopped.

What Are Pesticides Made

Of
The most popular non-agricultural brand herbicide, Trimec, has a dangerous chemical
component called 2, 4-D. This chemical is used to eliminate broadleaf weeds. 2, 4-D
increases the chance of developing multiple cancers, damages the liver, disrupts the
endocrine system and causes reproductive destruction. The most popular pesticide,
Roundup, has glyphosate. Glyphosate kills weeds by blocking proteins essential to plant
growth. Roundup is the second most widely used herbicide in the United States. It is a
pesticide used on a wide variety of weeds. It is, by far, the biggest contributor to this
problem. Glyphosate can cause: eye, upper respiratory tract, and skin irritations.
Glyphosate can also cause: vomiting and low blood pressure, antibiotic resistance,
hormone disruption, chromosomal damage in cells, increased risks of non-Hodgkin
lymphoma, and tumor formation.

Pesticide Effects On Bees

Across the world, bee populations are dwindling. Bees are being poisoned by pesticides.
The flowers that the bees are pollenating are filled with pesticides. Those pesticides kill
the bees. When these bees dont pollenate the flowers, our food wont grow. A world
without bees is a world without fruits, vegetables and plants. In an extreme situation of
bee extermination, our world might need to have lab-grown meat and lab-grown fruits
and vegetables.

How You Can Be Exposed To

Pesticides
You can be exposed so easily. When walking in your own yard you can be exposed
directly ingesting toxic water or food contaminated by pesticides. Pesticides can also be
directly absorbed through the skin. Pesticide residue can remain deadly for months.

What Pesticides Do To The Earth

It is important to note, when pesticides are applied on the ground it doesnt truly remain
just on the application site. Pesticides can be moved by rain and wind. It also travels
through our Earths surface and poisons our planet.

What Pesticides Do To Animals

Pesticides are made to kill: insects, mice, spider, mosquitos, and any other animal or
insect who comes near a lawn or farm. Research shows that pesticides damages a
animals nervous system. There are many other side effects from pesticides to animals
discussed on Page 4. Pesticides also cause many diseases discussed Page 5.

Side Effects From Pesticides

The side effects include:

neurodevelopmental deficiencies

Headaches

Nausea

Dizziness

Disorientation

aching joints

inability to concentrate

vomiting,

mental distortion

convulsions

skin irritations

Diseases Caused By
Pesticides
Diseases caused by pesticides:

Asthma

birth defects

Alzheimers disease

breast cancer

brain cancer

prostate cancer

Leukemia

Lymphoma

ADHD

Autism

Parkinsons disease

Diabetes

reproductive system problems

2000-2005 Pesticide
Poisoning
This graph is from health state
Year

Number

Rate per 100,000 Employed Persons Age 16 or

Older

2000

72

2.7

2001

40

1.5

2002

44

1.6

2003

49

1.8

2004

37

1.3

2005

37

1.3

Alternatives To Pesticides
This was sighted from Southern States
Alternatives to pesticides include:

Crop rotation.

Polyculture.

Trap crops, which attract pests away from the valuable crops.

Reduced use of chemical pesticides.

Organic farming.

Biological pest control, such as:

Pheromones.
Entomopathogenic fungi.
Bacteria and viruses.
The release of other organisms, such as natural pest predators and parasites.

Genetic engineering practices, such as insect breeding interference.