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Laura Behunin
English 1010-034
July 26, 2010
Pesticide Control
Around the world farmers wage a war on pests and weeds that threaten to destroy their
crops. Pesticides are often used to protect these crops. Pesticides are chemicals that are
specifically designed to kill an offending insect. They are being used by the full time farmer
with acres of land as well as the part time farmer with a couple of tomato plants in his back yard.
Pesticides can be used to target large varieties of insects that may threaten a crop.
There are many type of pesticides. One of the most common pesticides is DDT or
chlorinated hydrocarbons to be more specific. Some of the other pesticides are organic
phosphorus compounds (nerve gas), atrazine, endosulfan, alachlor, diazinon, malathion,
strychrine, and chlorpyrifos.
Because DDT was the most common for so many years more
testing, and more visible side effects are available than any of the other pesticides.
DDT was developed in Germany about the time of World War II. It was not only used
for keeping the bugs off of the plants but keeping them off of the soldiers as well. It was a very
common practice to dust the soldiers as well as prisoners with DDT to keep the lice and other
pests away. It was quick efficient. At the time, no visible side effects were present. This
practice was carried on for many years. Many who have seen the movie Rambo may recall the
time that Rambo was arrested by the police. He was hosed down and then covered by a fine
white powder (a pesticide) to kill any possible bugs that are on his person.
Unfortunately for the entire human race it often takes many years for us to truly realize
how harmful a substance can be. It took scientists many years to fully realize that DDT and
other harmful chemicals can have very harmful side effects. Rhonda R. Janke, director of
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research into alternative farming at the Rodale Institute Research Center in Kutztown, PA. put it
this way, “DDT was used for twenty years before they figured out what was going on. So I don’t
think human beings are clear enough to know what all the drawbacks are until it’s too late.”
DDT was banned in the United States in 1972. This same pesticide is still often used in many
other countries. It is especially prominent in areas that do not have the scientific research
available to understand the dangers of these chemicals (73).”
It is nearly impossible to only attack a specific type of insect. A chemical that will kill
one type of bug will not stop at killing another type of bug. There are many types of insects that
pose no threat to a crop. These bugs are actually natural predators to the harmful parasites. For
example lady bugs and also wasps live off of harmful pests. They require no upkeep and work
for free.
Constant use of pesticides will, over time, kill off these helpful creatures. The term is
called faunal imbalance. Basically it means that the death of the predators will cause an increase
in the pests, causing a greater infestation. In the 1940’s the Australian ladybug was used as the
primary means of keeping many citrus farms in California safe. In 1946 DDT was introduced to
the crops. The ladybug suffered. The harmful parasites began building up a tolerance. They
continued to greatly increase in number. Larger and stronger doses of DDT are now needed to
be applied in an effort to keep these numbers at bay. Once the pesticide was removed it took a
full two years to restore the balance of predator and pray in the insect population.
Along with this problem is that chemicals put in one particular area will not stay in this
area. Wind will carry the toxins into neighboring areas. Rainfall will take it to streams, through
gutters, and into every body of water it hits along the way. Which means, even the most health
conscious farmer will still receive pesticide treatments from his neighbor up the street.
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Determining the effects of the pesticide proves to be more difficult because of the cross
contamination. It is harder to find areas that are not being affected by the chemicals. Once a
chemical is moving its final destination can be almost limitless. One estimate suggested that 2.4
million pounds of DDT and other pesticides can be found in the Antarctic snow and ice. This is
an area that has no pressing need for insect control. No one traveled to this continent to spray
these chemicals. The pesticide traveled through ocean currents and on the wind. These
pesticides were also found in the native penguins, fish, and seals.
This problem of contamination causes these poisons to reach many other forms of wild
life that may be susceptible to its ill effects. One of the species being affected by this is the frog.
In many areas of the world the frog is becoming endangered. Many of these species are drawing
close to extinction. Frogs are very susceptible to these chemicals because of the way there skin
works. They will absorb moisture through their skin. In so doing they are absorbing large
quantities of the pesticides that reside in the water.
A study of the effects of endosulfan on the development of the anuran Bombina
Orientalis (Oriental Fire Bellied Toad) was conducted. The study was performed on the embryos
and up to the tail fin circulation stage. Survival rate of the embryos was significantly lower.
Surviving tadpoles had many developmental abnormalities. One of the abnormalities included
tail dysplasia, or an unusual growth to the tail. The test concluded that this chemical contributed
to the decline in the population of this frog near farmlands and watery environments.
Another study was done on the Xenopus laevis (African Clawed Frog) tadpoles. This
study was done by Anna Jelaso Langerveld. They were studied on a level that examined the
specific genes of both the male and female frog. They were studied under the influence of the
pesticide Atrazine with 400ppb (parts per billion). Both genders had significant reduced body
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weight. It was enough to effect the survival and growth of the frogs. The studies showed that 44
genes were affected in the males. In females it was up to 77 different genes being affected.
(Triplett 661) Many of these genes affect the following: growth and metabolism, proteolysis,
fibrinogen complex formation, immune regulation, immune system function, and defense
molecules present in the skin.
California has been making changes to their policies concerning pesticide use. The
California tree frog was once a common frog found throughout the state. Recent results show
that the habitat is still available. But the frog itself has vanished from seventy percent of its
habitat. In an effort to further study what is happening to this amphibian sixty six pesticides are
being restricted and/or banned until further research can be conducted on them. They wish to
find out which of these pesticides are contributing to this loss.
Other species have also suffered. Many birds, especially birds of prey have been affected
as the pesticides make their way up the food chain. The peregrine falcon began losing numbers
the same time that DDT was introduced. The chemicals would cause problems with the behavior
of the adults and health of the eggs. The females will often smash their own eggs. The eggs that
do not get smashed are often too small and too thin to produce a healthy baby bird. The theory is
that it destroys the estrogen in the females which causes the lack of calcium in the eggs shell.
This has affected humans as well. The pesticides tend to be stored inside the fatty tissues
of people. The amount of toxins will vary by each individual person’s lifestyle. For example
those who eat more meat tend to have more of the pesticides. These pesticides have also been
found in breast milk. And it has been hinted at that it might be a contributing factor to liver
cancers. Further study is still needed in order to fully understand the effects that pesticides have
on humans. Al Meyerhoff, a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council stated, “We
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still do not know whether humans are more or less sensitive than laboratory animals to
carcinogens and whether one carcinogen may increase the cancer-causing effects of
another(73).”
The progress made with protecting the public and wildlife is often confusing and
contradictory. The Delaney Clause offers a way of determining when pesticides can be used.
According to the clause pesticides cannot be used on any crop, used for human consumption, if it
has been linked to cause cancer. Unfortunately there is another rule stating that if the economic
benefits outweigh the bad, then the pesticides can continue to be used. With many scientists
encouraging more study before determining all of the affects, how can it be determined that the
economic benefits outweigh all the loss of life that has occurred and can continue to occur.
My proposal now is to find a way to farm without the use of harmful pesticides. The
safest way is to stop using them all together. Organic farming is becoming an increasingly
popular way of growing crops. Demands for organic crops continues to be steady.
Many would argue that forgoing the use of pesticides would be more costly to both the
consumer and farmer. Organic foods are usually more expensive. John Graham, a professor at
Harvard School of Public Health, claimed that buying organic crops would be about 40% more
expensive than regular crops. He stated that for a family of four, they would be spending about
$1000 more for food. It will cost more. Health problems are continuing to be attributed to
pesticide use. These health concerns are going to increase the medical bills. Conservation
efforts to save animals harmed by the pesticides will also continue to drain the tax payers.
Farmers will most likely have to hire more help. Instead of relying on the pesticide to kill
everything, it might be necessary, at times, to remove the bugs by hand. As stated earlier, as the
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pesticide use goes down the amount of natural predators will increase. The crops through a little
extra care will be safe and crops will still be able to be collected.
It will take time but helpful bugs will come back to the area. They will feed off of the
harmful bugs. Crop rotation also discourages the buildup of harmful pests.
Removal of pesticides can be beneficial to the outcome of the crop. India, for example,
supplies much of the world’s cotton crops. Increasing demand was being put in for organic
cotton. An eleven year study was conducted on the results. Samples were taken every three
years. The organic farms did significantly better than the traditional forms of cultivation. On
average 94 kg of additional seed cotton was produced. The yield of cotton was much higher.
The plants had about 37-71% more bolls or nodes per plant. The fiber length and strength was
also was much greater. One harvest was reported to be disappointing. This was contributed to
an early end to the rain season. They also noticed the benefits to the soil composition after
keeping the area as pesticide free as possible. Good things happened because the plants were
able to grow in a safe environment free from the poisonous pesticides.
Farmers have been using pesticides for a long time. Changing something this big is
going to be hard and it is going to take time. Because of the all of the variables of farming,
weather, rainfall etc., there will always be concerns of how effective changing something might
be. “Going personally green is a bet, nothing more or less, though it’s one we probably all
should make, even if the odds of it paying off aren’t great. Sometimes you have to act as if
acting will make a difference, even when you can’t prove that it will (Pollan, 2008).”
Pesticides are a type of poison. It’s one and only purpose is to kill everything it comes in
contact with. It does not play favorites, it does not distinguish between good and bad, nor will it
even stay in one area. Pesticides will continue to hurt every living thing that it comes in contact
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with. Because of the nature of the substance it will continue to cause harm many years after it is
discontinued. The best solution is to stop now. Only in stopping now can we make any
guarantee that future generations will one day be free of its harmful influence.
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Works Cited
Cooper, Mary H. "Regulating Pesticides." CQ Researcher 4.4 (1994): 73-96. CQ Researcher.
Web. 19 July 2010. <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1994012800>.
Blaise, D. "Yield, Boll Distribution and Fibre Quality of Hybrid Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
as influenced by Organic and Modern Methods of Cultivation [electronic resource]."
Journal of agronomy and crop science Zeitschrift für Acker- und Pflanzenbau 192.4
(2006): 248-256. Agricola. EBSCO. Web. 21 July 2010.
Han Seung, Kang, Gye Myung Chan, and Kim Moon Kyoo. "Effects of Endosulfan on Survival
and Development of Bombina orientalis (Boulenger) Embryos." Bulletin of
Environmental Contamination & Toxicology 81.3 (2008): 262-265. GreenFILE. EBSCO.
Web. 14 July 2010.
Langerveld, Anna Jelaso, et al. "Chronic exposure to high levels of atrazine alters expression of
genes that regulate immune and growth-related functions in developing Xenopus laevis
tadpoles." Environmental Research 109.4 (2009): 379-389. GreenFILE. EBSCO. Web.
14 July 2010.
Pollan, M. (2008, April). Why Bother? New York Times .
Stallone, S. (Director). (1982). Rambo [Motion Picture].
Rudd, Robert L. "Pesticide." Encyclopedia Americana. 2010. Grolier Online. 22 July. 2010
<http://ea.grolier.com.dbprox.slcc.edu/article?id=0309310-00>.
Squatriglia, Chuch; San Francisco Chronicle (Oct 20, 2006): pB5
Triplett, William. "Science and Politics." CQ Researcher 14.28 (2004): 661-684. CQ
Researcher. Web. 19 July 2010.
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2004082000>.