8 Myths About Pesticides

Most of the older and cheaper pesticides, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and lindane, remain for years in soil and water, polluting various areas, making soil and water toxic for plants and human beings. For this reason, these pesticides have been banned by countries who signed the 2001 Stockholm Convention. This is an international treaty that aims to eliminate if not restrict the production and use of these pollutants.

The Real Problem About Pesticides

Did you know that pesticides are among the leading causes of death by self-poisoning, especially in low-income and middle-income countries?

These chemicals are intrinsically toxic. And they deliberately spread all over the environment. Which is why the production, distribution, and use of pesticides require strict regulation and control. Furthermore, regular monitoring of residues in food and the environment is also required to prevent poisoning and other mishaps from pesticides.

The general population is at risk! Nobody is safe from pesticides unless it has been completely eliminated or revised into something non-toxic to the environment. 

Myths About Pesticides

There is a sad truth that most people are unaware of. Huge pesticide companies usually distort information to make pesticide production seem safe and essential to human beings, especially farmers and agriculturists. But no matter what they say, pesticides will always be harmful to humans, plants, and animals.

There are eight plausible myths we hear from these corporations every day:

Myth #1: "Pesticides Are Important To Feed The Population Of The World"

In reality, there are farms that do not encourage the use of pesticides. They prefer comprehensive agriculture which includes safe greenhouses, consistent care, and essential oils for pest prevention. What feeds the world now is not the high-end agricultural firms that promote pesticides to “feed” the human race. The food that feeds most of Earth now is small-scale agriculture.

Nowadays, people promote gardens and farms in backyards. This is a very important method for self-sustenance.  People do not rely much on high-scale pesticides anymore. With the growing need to reduce its use, experts have concocted better ways for pest prevention.

Myth #2: "Pesticides Are Not Dangerous"

Pesticides are created to kill pests. They are not created for repelling. These chemicals are already dangerous in nature. So, do not believe people no matter how much they tell you that their pesticides are harmless to nature. There will always be a consequence of using pesticides. You may not feel it for as long as you live. But who is to say your children and grandchildren will not feel it?

Did you know that the use of pesticides is linked to a higher rate of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? Pesticides contain atrazine which is a herbicide that settles down in water supplies causing higher rates of birth defects, infertility, and cancer. Furthermore, women who are exposed to the pesticide Endosulfan during their pregnancy are most likely to give birth to children with autism. To this date, the chemical is found in 94% of the Earth’s water supply. All the more reason to avoid using it.

Myth #3: "The Dose Of Pesticide Exposure Makes The Poison"

According to big pesticide producers, the dose of the chemical makes the poison. Meaning, if people are not exposed to the material, they are unlikely to get sick. Actually, we are all exposed to the chemicals from pesticides. We inhale it, we drink it, we eat it. This is mainly one of the reasons why our ozone layer was destroyed and that there are a lot of greenhouse gasses in the air.

If people are exposed to even to an extremely small amount of one ingredient from a single pesticide, it can already cause danger to humans. Remember, everybody has their own sets of vulnerability. Some people could get in contact with the chemical and acquire diseases. Some would be exposed to just a little bit and could face poisoning.

The effects of the pesticides could be life-threatening and permanent. So, do not take the exposure of pesticides for granted, especially for your children.

Pesticides cause different effects on human beings. It is not the dose that makes the poison. It is the pesticide itself that causes dangers to human beings. Almost everything in the market nowadays is full of pesticides. Who is to say that everyone is safe from having cancer or other deadly diseases?

Myth #4: "The Government Is Protecting Us From Pesticide Companies"

Unfortunately, according to experts, our regulatory system is not doing a fine job in reducing or better yet eliminating the use of pesticides in our country. Did you know that there are over 1 billion pounds of pesticides that are applied every year on U.S. farms, golf courses, forests, and lawns? For this reason, millions of farmworkers in rural communities suffer illness throughout the spray season. The illnesses spread to people in the community who eat and benefit from the reaped products infused with pesticides.

According to the President’s Cancer Channel in 2010: The current regulatory approach of the government is reactionary rather than precautionary. They should be requiring industries to prove their safety to its consumers. The government should promulgate rules that will help small-scale farmers assess if certain pesticides are harmful or not. Without any precautionary measures, the general public will continually bear the consequences of eating the products they buy in the market.

Myth #5: "GMOs Reduce  Farmers' Dependence On Pesticides"

Many people promote the use of Genetically modified organisms which are helpful to small-scale farmers to increase their revenue in agriculture. Pesticide corporations claim that the breakthrough of GMO’s cause people to be less reliant to pesticides. In reality, GMO’s are the number one reason why people need to use pesticides. Did you know that the biggest GMO sellers in the whole world are the pesticide corporations themselves?

The goal of GMO is not really to increase the scale of agriculturists all over the world but to increase corporate control in agriculture. According to recent statistics, more than 80% of the world GMO’s are designed to resist the use of herbicides, not pesticides. Hence, farmers who prefer GMO’s are more likely to use pesticides to help their crops flourish. The manufacturers will have you believe that GMO’s will help reduce environmental impact by managing climate change. But if the GMO’s are created by the pesticide corporations themselves, it is unlikely that these crops will survive without the use of pesticides.

Myth #6: "We're Slowly Reducing The Use Of Pesticides"

Many propaganda convinces people that we are finally entering a world where pesticides do not exist. Sadly, this is not true. Although there are people who stopped if not reduce the use of pesticides, many still promote its use. Because of their belief that the use of pesticides will increase their profits in agriculture, millions of farmers still use pesticides infrequent doses. Did you know that the largest growth of the pesticide industry started in 2004? Since then, people have been using pesticides for their plantations.

The reason why people continue to use pesticides is the false belief system that it is safe for the environment. Despite the efforts of the World Health Organization to educate and advocate against the use of pesticides, continuous advertisements from famous pesticide producers convince these farmers about the benefits of pesticide use.

The global pesticide market was worth over $46 billion in 2012. Sadly, this number continues to grow up to this day. The United States is responsible for using approximately 53% of the world’s market for pesticides. For this reason, we need to start changing our ways to prevent the next generation to experience an inexplicable fate.

Myth #7: "Pesticides Can Be The Answer To Global Climate Change"

Another platform that pesticide companies use to convince people is climate change. They think that they can reduce the prevalence of vector-borne diseases by creating pesticides for people. Aside from that pesticide companies have created GMO’s which they beloved to withstand heat and drought. In reality, these “climate-related genes” will only survive provided that people will administer pesticides to prevent any pests from damaging it.

No, pesticides are not effective for climate change. In fact, it is one of the main reasons for climate change. It is one of the reasons the atmosphere has massive amounts of greenhouse gas. DEET is one of our enemies.

Instead of relying on pesticides for climate change, it is always best to use responsible farming to produce high-quality crops. To this day, there are Agriculture departments that are more than willing to help you grow your farming business without the use of pesticides.

Myth #8: "We Need Pesticides To End Malaria, Combat Bedbugs, And Other Vector-Borne Diseases"

The risks of pest-borne diseases are one of the many platforms used by pesticide corporations to promote their products. According to them, their products are essential to rid the environment of mosquitoes, bed bugs, and other pests that can pose danger and nuisance to the family.

Actually, insects are resistant to pesticides, especially cockroaches. The chemicals from pesticides are found literally everywhere in the environment. These insects have a small intake of pesticides every day. For this reason, their bodies start to adjust and be immune to the chemicals found in pesticides.

There is current research which states that cockroaches have strengthened there core which made it resistant to pesticides. So, if you are planning to use such chemicals for extermination, you better think twice. It will not rid your home of insects. It will only cause your family more trouble. It mixes with the air and settles on our water supply. Who’s to say that our whole family won’t be susceptible to acquire several diseases caused by these pesticides?

If you are looking for a pest control company who uses state-of-the-art methods of pest control, contact Lake Norman Pest Control. This competent pest management company near Denver concocts their own methods of pest-control without using harmful chemicals for pest control. All of their ingredients are safe for the environment. So, if you are looking for somebody to take care of your pest problems without worrying about the dangers of pesticides, Lake Norman Pest Control is the company to call.