Effects of pesticides to the environment (Thematic)by Cassie Kenny | 19-04-2020 20:16 |
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The term pesticides cover a wide range of compounds including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, plant growth regulators among others. The pesticides are used for better reasons in controlling pests and diseases; however they have side effects that create a hazardous ecosystem Pesticides come with a specific set of environmental concerns; both good and bad. Most undesirable effects have led to the ban of these pesticides. The negative impacts of these pesticides consist of the effects of pesticides on non-target species. A good percentage of pesticides that are used are applied through spraying which for better results to reach a destination which also gets to aquatic environments, grazing fields among other places that are not meant for pesticides thus posing the harm to the ecosystem.. There is a direct impact on human health and his immediate environment. The high risk group exposed to pesticides includes production workers, sprayer mixers, loaders and agricultural farm workers. Pesticides also affect the soil making it toxic and endangering the microorganisms living in the soil and make the soil toxic. When there is loss of bacteria and fungi then soil degrades. Pesticides that are sprayed directly hit non target vegetation which contaminates the air and this happens every time when pesticides are sprayed and this spreads over a wider distance and can lead to death of birds and insects that were not the target of the pesticides. As environmentalists, our efforts should be seen in wanting to save the ecosystem from being polluted with pesticides that are harmful. Valuable information can be collected by monitoring the end product of human exposure and animals, birds and insect exposure of these pesticides. Sources;
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