Effects of pesticides on humans

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Tons of pesticides used

Worldwide, this year

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2,220,051.40

Tons of pesticides used

Worldwide, this year

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The effects of pesticides on humans...
are pretty disturbing! Pesticides have been linked to birth defects, and changes in our hormone systems. Nonetheless we spray it on our food! Check out pesticides in food effect here.

Top 6 facts about pesticides

1

Pesticides mess up your hormone system

Pesticides are used to protect crops from pests and insects, but their is a downside: they have been linked to a number of health effects including birth defects, cancer, and neurological damage. Some pesticides are also known to mess up our hormone systems.

2

Pesticides suspected of causing infertility

Men who experience infertility have been found to work in agricultural/pesticide related jobs 10 times more often than men who do not experience infertility. Nonetheless, every year we use over half a kilo of pesticides for everyone on the planet; spraying it on stuff we eat.

3

Pesticides are everywhere

Some pesticides are worse than others. The so-called “Persistent Organic Pollutants” or POPs are really bad stuff. Today, POPs can be found all over the world: from the bark on tropical trees to the blubber on whales. Tests on trees in more than 90 locations worldwide found POPs everywhere.

4

42-fold increase in pesticide use

In 1935, 30 percent of harvests were destroyed by pests (crop diseases, insects, weeds, etc.). In 2000, this number grew to 37 percent - despite a massive 42-fold increase in the use of pesticides since 1945. Besides, the pesticides used today are many times more powerful.

5

Pest-resistance is a growing problem

Over time, some pest species develop resistance to pesticides. Stronger or new pesticides are therefore needed. Resistance to the toxic DDT pesticide, for example, appeared as early as in 1946, and pesticide resistance has today been detected in about 1,000 major pest species.

6

Better solutions exist

There are natural solutions to the pesticide problem. Rice farmers in China have shown that growing multiple varieties of rice in the same fields can double yields without the use of synthetic chemicals. The increase is due mainly to reductions in pest losses but also to more efficient nutrient uptake.

Pesticides

A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. A pesticide may be a chemical substance, biological agent (such as a virus or bacterium), antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest. Pests include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, molluscs, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms), and microbes that destroy property, spread disease or are a vector for disease or cause a nuisance. 3.5 million tons are used wordwide every year - and the number is growing.

Pesticides mess up your hormone system

Pesticides suspected of causing infertility

Pesticides are everywhere

42-fold increase in pesticide use

Pest-resistance is a growing problem

Better solutions exist

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