Why Reducing Pesticide Exposure is Smart
Why Reducing Pesticide Exposure is Smart
Modern agriculture is intrinsically destructive to the environment. Chemicals used in pesticides and herbicides destroy the quality of soil and reduce arable land, and continue to pollute air and water long after the crops
have been harvested. And they’re often unnecessary. In the last 50 years,
with the intense use of pesticides, the US has doubled the number of crops lost
to pests. Worse than that, pesticides are harmful to humans. These chemicals are toxic by design. They kill bugs, weeds, fungi, rodents and other "pests."
Although pesticides are regulated, actions are taken far too slowly… the
government said that highly toxic pesticides like DDT, chlordane, dursban and
others were safe right up to the day the EPA banned them.
See the Environmental Working Group's chemical index at www.ewg.org/chemindex for a detailed “chemical report card.”
Pesticides in cotton:
Cotton farming is particularly hard on the environment.
Popular demand for cotton textiles, and competition among
producers, has seen a big change in the last two generations - the increased
use of pesticides. Cotton is the most pesticide-dependent crop in the world,
accounting for 25% of all pesticide use.
These chemicals are taking a toll on our environment and human health as a
whole. Every T-shirt made of conventional cotton requires 1/4 pound of harmful
chemicals.
According to the USDA, in one year alone over 50
million pounds of pesticides were used on U.S. cotton fields. These pesticides
deplete the soil and pollute watersheds. Natural fiber alternatives to
conventional cotton include organic cotton, hemp and bamboo among others.
Visit www.nubiusorganics.com for a
great selection of pesticide free clothing, toys and accessories.
Pesticides in food: Conventional farming relies
heavily on pesticides, which are poisons designed to kill living organisms. As
far back as 1987, a National Academy of Sciences report estimated that
pesticides are responsible for up to 1.4 million cases of cancer. Organic
produce presents a safer alternative to conventionally farmed fruits and
vegetables. Visit www.localharvest.org.
to find a farmer’s market near you.
Pesticides in water: When pesticides are sprayed on
food, they don’t just contaminate the food we eat, but seep into the soil and
get into our groundwater. According to EPA estimates, pesticides contaminate
the groundwater in 38 states, polluting the primary source of drinking water
for more than half the country's population. Best bet, buy organic!
For more information about the dangers of pesticides and
what you can do to take action, visit: http://www.panna.org