Benjamin Allred

English 1010
Stephanie Maenhardt
Pesticides
Long before our food ends up in our mouths, on our plate, or even in the store it is
produced on a massive scale in some sort of industry or farm. The process of producing this food
has changed over the years to ensure that the quantity of product is at its maximum. One aspect
of this process, used by nearly all food growing companies, is the use of pesticides. Pesticides
are toxic chemicals used on plants or other food sources with the intent of preserving the
maximum amount of product possible. This is accomplished by means of the pesticides toxicity
and ability to kill other living things that could potentially danger the life of the food intended to
be preserved. While the use of pesticides can result in some negative side effects, it is a
necessary practice that needs to be continued if we want to keep up the way food is bought and
consumed. To better examine the reason behind the necessity of pesticides it is important not
only to examine the benefits, but also the negatives so that the entire argument can be seen as a
whole.
To begin this assessment of the pros and cons of pesticides it is important to first take an
objective look at pesticides. What they are, what theyre intended purpose is, and what side
effects are caused as a result of using them? The first step in doing this is to define what a
pesticide is. The US Environmental Protection Agency defines a pesticide as,
any agent used to kill or control undesired insects, weeds, rodents, fungi, bacteria,
or other organisms. Pesticides are classified according to their function:

insecticides control insects; rodenticides control rodents; herbicides control

weeds; and fungicides control fungi, mold and mildew.
An even simpler definition of pesticide is a chemical that kills a specific form of life. As
described in the EPAs definition of pesticide, the life form intended to be eradicated by use of
the pesticide is indicated in the classification of the pesticide. The EPA then goes on to give an
objective overview of pesticides,
Herbicides are the most widely used type of pesticide in agriculture, although pest
problems and their management vary widely throughout the country, depending
on climate, soil types and other factors. Chemical pest control plays a major role
in modern agriculture, and has contributed to dramatic increases in crop yields
over the past four decades for most field, fruit and vegetable crops. Pesticides
have enabled growers to produce some crops profitably in otherwise unsuitable
locations, extend growing seasons, maintain product quality and extend shelf life.
Nevertheless, these chemicals also pose some risks if used improperly or too
frequently.
This overview on pesticides was written with the intent of supplying the reader objective
information about pesticides. It can be hard to find objective information about pesticides
because of the wide controversy that surrounds the topic. This overview of pesticides is good
because it outlines the intent of pesticides, and the fact they are of use and have aided in crop
production. It also does not shy away from the fact that pesticide use is not without its risk.
The argument of whether pesticides should or should not be used is abroad one, so it is
important to look at both sides in order to get a better understanding of the topic. The objective

information as already been presented, so now it is time to examine some biased information.
There are two sides to the pesticide argument, one supporting its use, and one deeming it unsafe
and supporting the discontinuation of its use. The first side that will be examined is the side that
is in favor of its use.
The main goal of pesticide use is to increase the total amount of harvest. Farming is by no
means an easy task, and can sometimes be very unrewarding. The likelihood of crops dying
before reaching the peak of their development is surprisingly high. CropLife America, an
organization that represents companies that manufacture and distribute pesticides state that
according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Some 20 to 40
percent of the world's potential crop production is already lost annually because of the effects of
weeds, pests and diseases, and that These crop losses would be doubled if existing pesticide
uses were abandoned, significantly raising food prices. (CropLife America). This information
presents us with a take it or leave it scenario in which we must weigh whether or not the harmful
effects of pesticide are worth maintaining the current economical state of the food industry.
CropLife America goes on to state that, A reliable food supply on a large scale and at
reasonable cost can only be guaranteed with the help of crop protection products. Although often
taken for granted, without these important products, food production would decline, many fruits
and vegetables would be in short supply and prices would rise. (CropLife America). With nearly
everyone being dependent upon the mainstream sources of food, discontinued use of pesticide
would result in a huge economic decline of fruits and vegetables. If everyone was self-sufficient
and grew their own food this would hardly be an issue, however, that is not the case. Because of
how food is obtained for the majority of people, pesticides can be measured as highly significant
in the role of food production.

Now that the benefits of pesticides have been established, it is important to view the other
side of the argument, and see what the negative side effects of pesticides are. One issue with
using pesticides is how they affect the environment. Pesticides exhibit a certain toxicity which
give them their ability to kill off or control unwanted organisms. While the intent of pesticide use
is to eradicate only specific organisms that serve as a threat to crop production, it often times
ends up harming much more than what was intended. Pesticide use can damage agricultural
land by harming beneficial insect species, soil microorganisms, and worms which naturally limit
pest populations and maintain soil health; Weakening plant root systems and immune systems;
Reducing concentrations of essential plant nutrients in the soil such nitrogen and phosphorous.
("The Problem with Pesticides"). Because of the method in which most pesticides are used,
which is via airplane, a large portion of pesticide is can be picked up by wind and transported to
areas that should not be affected by pesticide. Then the damaging effects listed above can be
observed.
Another problem with the use of pesticides is the effect they have on human health.
When a pesticide is used on crops it often times leaves a chemical residue on the food that
consumers purchase and eat. An article entitled The Problem with Pesticides states that,
Chronic health effects may occur years after even minimal exposure to pesticides in the
environment, or result from the pesticide residues which we ingest through our food and water.
("The Problem with Pesticides"). These effects of pesticide are definitely a cause for alarm. The
article then goes on to state specific illnesses that pesticides contribute to such as many different
forms of cancer, hormone imbalances, impaired sexual function, mental disabilities, and Multiple
Chemical Sensitivity, which causes the body to be unable to tolerate toxins. All of these side
effects can develop with even minimal exposure to pesticides.

The debate over pesticide use is highly controversial, and there is no clear answer to the
question of whether or not pesticides should be used. It is apparent that the use of pesticides
should be avoided if at all possible, so that would be a more reasonable question to ask. Despite
the many negative side effects associated with pesticides they do play a very valuable role in
food production, and without them food costs and availability would change significantly for the
worse. Because of how dependent people are on industrial sources of food, pesticides should
remain a part of the production process. If things were different, for example, if the majority of
people produced their own food, or looked to alternative source of food such as small local
farms, then the use of pesticide would be unnecessary and could be discontinued without any
significant downfall. Unfortunately this is not the case.

Works Cited
"Benefits of Pesticides and Crop Protection Chemicals." Benefits of Pesticides, Insecticides &
Crop Protection Chemicals. Web. 9 July 2015.

"Consumer Concerns About Pesticides in Food." Cornell University. Web. 25 June 2015.
<http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/FactSheet/Pesticide/fs24.consumer.cfm>.

"Pesticides." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 25 June 2015.

<http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/>.

"The Problem with Pesticides." The Problem with Pesticides. Web. 25 June 2015.
<http://www.toxicsaction.org/problems-and-solutions/pesticides>.