Herbicides and PesticidesBy Jena, Akanksha and Haniya

Facts• Around 90% of all households in the U.S. use

pesticides.

• In the United States approximately 23,000 people visit the emergency room from pesticide poisoning.

More than 2.1billion kg of poisonous pesticides and herbicides are sprayed on our food crops every year globally.

What are Herbicides and pesticides?• Pesticides:Chemicals used to stop pests such as

insects, mollusks, birds from eating/destroying crops.

• Herbicides:Chemicals to prevent weeds or fungi from

growing.

What’s the Problem?• Too many Pesticides and Herbicides being

over used and this is Effecting peoples and animals health.

• Pollution • Water- underground water flow

Health Affects:•Reproductive health Impact•Cancer

Herbicides

Pesticides

Why is it a problem?• Studies show that children who live in homes that use

pesticides have 6.5 times larger risk of getting leukemia than children living in a normal, untreated environment.

• The JTNCI(journal of the national cancer institute) have discovered that dogs who's owner use weed killers are dying due to cancer twice more than the normal rates.

•Herbicides and pesticides are found in municipal water supplies•Effects humans and fish

• Exposure to H + P is harmful for pregnant woman • Can kill human cells -embryonic cells, umbilical cord cells and placental cells.• Can cause miscarriage, abnormal fetal development and low birth rates.

• It has become a very rich industry, but is it worth the risk?

What is causing the problem• This is being over used due to several

reasons that kind of leads to another.• The main point is that the companies make

more profit since there is high demand for the products and the customers are able to get it because farmers are able to produce the products quicker since they don’t have to get rid of the organism's manually.

• They have also found beneficial reasons for it to be used.

For example:(primary)

1.“Controlling pests and plant disease vectors”

-Improves the amount of crops/livestock's produced.-Improves the quality of crops and livestock.-Invasive pests are controlled.

2.“Controlling human/livestock disease vectors and nuisance organisms”

-Human lives are saved and suffer less.

3. Prevent of control organisms that harm other human activities and structures

-Drivers view unobstructed.-Tree/brush/leaf hazards prevented.-Wooden structures protected.

Secondary

1.”Community benefits”-Farm and agribusiness revenues-Nutrition and health improved-Food safety and security

2. “National benefits”-Employment increased-Increased export revenues-”National agriculture economy”

Solutions • The best solution to stay healthy is to not eat

imported farm grown food that is not organic.• Try to eat local produce more than any imported

foods • Don’t drink water from the big bottles that are

meant for coolers

How can we as a class educate the local community?• As a class we can educate our community to

beware of food with pesticides and Herbicides by…

• Telling friends and family about how most imported foods have pesticides and Herbicides

• Telling friends and family about why we shouldn’t drink from the big cooler bottles.

• And by reminding people of the possible consequences of doing these things before they do them.

Class activity !

• Debate• Topic: Pesticides and Herbicides

are bad!• You are going to be split into a

group of 2.• One group is going to explain the

benefits of pesticide use and another to explain the drawbacks .

• You have 3 minutes to discuss within your groups about what you have learnt.

• When the debate starts you then only have

• 1 MINUTE to prove your point.

References • http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-home-living/healt

hy-pregnancy-pesticides-herbicides-bpa-zb0z1205zglo.aspx• http://

www.danmedbul.dk/DMB_2007/0107/0107-artikler/DMB3886.htm

• http://ezinearticles.com/?Chlorine,-Fluoride,-Herbicides,-Pesticides---Are-These-the-Chemicals-in-the-Tap-Water-That-You-Drink&id=1528929

• http://www.susunweed.com/A_Campaign_for_Organic_Lawns2.htm

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McfARs9PnbM&feature=bf_next&list=PLD9FBF6D26CC5B970

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBm-I3Tvi04&feature=related

• http://www.bukisa.com/articles/16796_pesticides-and-herbicides-benefits-and-risks

• http://www.ehow.com/about_6083177_herbicide-pollution.html

Thank you