The Human Cost of Pesticides

The Human Cost of Pesticides

One of my favorite fruits in the world has turned to be freshly picked apple. Whether I am eating a juicy red or green apple, my taste buds explode with the goodness of each bite. Not only are apples delicious, but they are packed with the essential vitamins and minerals that are very essential for our body to stay healthy. But nowadays, I have been pondering over this issue: Many fruits and vegetables such as apples, mango, and lady’s fingers are sprayed with pesticides.  Even waxing is done to keep their outer layer fresh. The great question arises here - If pesticides can kill insects, what are the potential dangers they have on our body and the environment? This prompted me to dedicate a post about the dangers of pesticides, and my research surprised me.

Human civilization has taken a great stride starting from a hunter gathering lifestyle and open- field system of cultivation until the development of new methodologies, latest technological innovation in the field of agriculture. Extensive farming, use of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, genetically modified foods or crops and invention of hormones and antibiotics have drastically changed everything. Today, Pesticides are used almost everywhere -- from the can of bug spray under the kitchen sink to the acres of farmland; our world is filled with pesticides. Pesticides are the only toxic substances released intentionally into our environment to kill living things. This includes substances that kill weeds (herbicides), insects (insecticides), fungus (fungicides), rodents (rodenticides), and others. The use of toxic pesticides has become a common practice around the world. It is very difficult to find the place where pesticides aren't used. Shocking cases of pesticide is that it is abundant in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.

Pesticides and human health:

Farmers serve as the main unit of agricultural production. Farmers cannot afford to lose their crops due to pesky little insects so, some farmers spray chemicals, pesticides, on them which kill the insects. Pesticides even prevent diseases from spreading thus; using pesticides lessens the risks of losing one's crop of the season. Not only are pesticides dangerous to the environment, but they are also death-defying to a person's health. After countless studies, pesticides have been linked to a wide range of human health hazards, ranging from short-term impacts such as headaches and nausea to chronic impacts like cancer, reproductive harm, cancer, Alzheimer’s Diseases and even birth defects. Pesticides also have the potential to harm the nervous system, the reproductive system, and the endocrine system.  There is also mounting evidence that exposure to pesticides disrupt the glands, wreaking havoc with the complex regulation of hormones, and embryonic development. Similarly, scientists are discovering that excessive use of pesticide can throw the whole ecosystem off balance. Pesticides can damage land fertility by harming beneficial insect species, soil microorganisms, and worms which naturally limit pest populations and maintain soil health.The most laughable thing is that even if we know that a pesticide causes severe health and environmental impacts, including cancer and genetic damage, it is still being allowed for use. Some people even argue drolly that how eating one piece of fruit with pesticides affects us. I feel quite pity on them. Reality is although one piece of fruit with pesticides won't kill you, if they build up in your body, they can be potentially detrimental to your health and should be avoided as much as possible.

Thus, we need to make our food, air, water, and soil free from toxic chemicals. The utmost solution to our pesticides problems lies in non-toxic and cultural methods of agriculture, not in pulling the pesticide trigger. Organically grown foods and sustainable methods of pest control are keys to our families’ health and the health of the environment.

Let all be happy and prosperous

There should be no more misery to anyone