For every acre of land planted in the United States, six pounds of harmful pesticides are sprayed in order to control, destroy, and repel pests and other organisms from harming crops. This brings the final number to 1.3 million tons of pesticides being used each year in several types of farming to “protect” human health my stopping the contamination of harmful microbes. The belief that pesticides could be used to control pest’s dates back to 2500 B.C, but it wasn’t until the past fifty years that their use has widely spread. Much of the produce bought by consumers in the U.S each day is doused in some form of pesticide while being grown on US soil. Many believe it is the imported produce from other countries that cause health problems for consumers. However, eleven out of twelve of the highest contaminated foods are US grown including sweet bell peppers, celery, kales, lettuce, carrots, peaches, apples, strawberries and cherries have been linked to causing infertility, cancer, learning disorders, neurological problems, and poisoning in many consumers who ingested the pesticides used with these products. Fetus’s and young children are most at risk for the harmful side effects caused from consumption of pesticides. However, consumption is not the only problem. Pesticides have also been linked to contaminated water in many rural areas after they have dissolved into those areas ground water. Since 50% of all Americans obtain drinking water from ground water sources, and 95% of the population living in farming communities use ground water for drinking water, this poses a serious issue. As important as keeping harmful microbes under control may seem, there are alternatives that can be used, as well as special types of farming that are already being utilized that pose no risk to human health. Organic eating is one of those alternatives and can be said to be better for your health. “Safe Soil” and no modifications made to the produce while being grown can vastly help save those who consume them to reek the benefits of a pesticide free lifestyle. Many consumers do not realize why pesticides are in use, how they are used, what exactly they are, and what types of food are being contaminated on a daily basis. The side effects and health concerns these pesticides and the contaminated ground water have been seen to go unnoticed, but have recently been linked more and more too serious health issues. In the paper, many of these issues will be disused in further detail as well as provide safe alternatives and listing of commonly contaminated foods in order to allow consumers to see where pesticides may be coming into their live and how they can protect themselves from developing health problems in the future. Also, Laws that have been passed in order to try and protect consumer’s health will also be recognized and discussed in greater detail. Pesticides are a commonly used substance that affects almost every individual, but is not a commonly recognized health concern, due to lack of information about them being presented to the public, but it needs to be addressed.
Bibliography
"PESTICIDES ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES." Consumer Health. CHOC, 2009.
Peterson, T.I. "Pesticide Residues in Drinking Water." Pesticide Residuesin Drinking Water. T.I
"Shoppers guide to pesticides." Shoppers guide to pesticides. Environmental Working Group, 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2010.
http://www.foodnews.org/."The use of Pesticides in Farming." Health & Safety Executive. Health & Safety Executive, 2009. Web. 24 Jan. 2010. .
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