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Activity Discussion Environment Environment Reply To: Environment

  • Chantel Philip

    Member
    July 3, 2024 at 4:00 pm

    Environmental Effects:

    • Contamination of soil, water, and air – Pesticides can leach into groundwater, pollute rivers and lakes, and drift through the air.
    • Harm to wildlife – Pesticides can be toxic to birds, fish, beneficial insects like bees, and other animals, disrupting ecosystems.
    • Bioaccumulation – Pesticides can accumulate in the fatty tissues of organisms and become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.
    • Disruption of natural processes – Pesticides can interfere with nutrient cycling, pollination, and other vital ecological functions. Health Effects:
    • Acute toxicity – High exposure can cause immediate symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and respiratory distress.
    • Chronic toxicity – Long-term, low-level exposure has been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, neurological effects, and reproductive harm.
    • Exposure through food/water – Pesticide residues on foods and contamination of water supplies can lead to inadvertent ingestion.
    • Occupational exposure – Farm workers and pesticide applicators face the highest risks of exposure.

    Overall, the excessive or careless use of pesticides can have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for the environment and human health. Integrated pest management approaches that minimize pesticide use are generally considered safer and more sustainable.

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