Pesticides J.W. C.V. Biology SB1-01

Pesticide – The Breakdown Pest 1. An annoying person or thing; a nuisance. 2. An injurious plant or animal, especially one harmful to humans. 3. A deadly epidemic disease; a pestilence. Cide 1. Killer: bactericide. 2. Act of killing: ecocide. Cide : A suffix that means "a killer of." It is used to form the names of chemicals that kill a specified organism, such as pesticide, a chemical that kills pests

The Problem Pesticides are a toxic chemical that has more harmful affects then positive affects on human heath and environmental vitality

What Are Pesticides? It’s a poison designed to kill a variety of plants and animals such as insects, weeds, and mold or fungus It’s Function is to target specific organisms Includes active ingredients and inactive ingredients that are toxic

How do Pesticides reach us? Through the skin Swallowed or inhaled When applied, they float around in the air and rest on ponds, laundry, toys, pools and furniture Quick Fact: Only 5 percent of pesticides reach targeted weeds, the rest runs off into water or into the air where it can drift from 12 feet to 14.5 miles away

Use of Pesticides

Movement of Pesticides 1.Retention The pesticide is absorbed by the soil 2.Transformation The pesticides chemical structure changes There are three main transformation processes Photochemical processes Chemical processes Microbial processes 3.Transport Pesticide is transported most commonly by mass flow and diffusion 4.Plant Uptake The process of pesticide being taken into the plant, where it now resides inside the plants internal structure

Who is most likely to be effected? Children, infants and fetuses - children have more rapid breathing - metabolic rates - greater surface to body mass ratios - thinner skins - spend more time in contact with the ground - more frequently place their fingers in their mouths Quick Fact: Children whose homes and gardens are treated with pesticides have 6.5 times greater risk of leukemia than children living in untreated environments.

Who Else Is Affected? Adults - especially those with asthma, lupus erythematosus, vacuities, dermatitis and chemical sensitivities Animals - pets, wildlife of all kinds and their habitat

Besides sensitivity and toxicity, what other health risks are there? Main risks for adults increased risk of leukemia cancers (lung, brain, testicular, lymphoma) increase in spontaneous abortions greater genetic damage decreased fertility liver damage disturbances to immune systems (asthma/ allergies) increases in stillbirths decreased sperm counts Main risks for children cancer: leukemia and brain cancer asthma and allergies polyneuritis with numbness and pain in lower limbs. birth defects gangrene (tissue death) of the extremities

How are animals and wildlife affected? Known affects developmental and behavioral effects in various animal species reproductive disruptions. cancer in dogs increased number of abnormal sperm in exposed farmers. decreased fertility in male rats birds die after eating granular pesticides Animals may develop cancer abnormal thyroid function decreased fertility decreased hatching success demasculinization and feminization of males alteration of immune function

Solutions Non-toxic chemical-free lawn care Indoor and outdoor Bio-Tool kits Crop rotation Companion planting

References Rea, William J., 1996, Pesticides. Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine 6, Lowengart, et al., 1987, Journal of National Cancer Institute, 79: Eagles Eye, World Wildlife Fund Publication. Summer Irwin, J. Pesticides, Are They Silent Killers? Family Practise July 20,1991 Journal of the American Medical Association 1989;30:1306. Mayo Clinic;Medical Toxicology 1988;3: National Poisons Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, England.

References Continued Goodman and Gillman, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 1985, Macmillian Publishing Company, New York. Seilier J.P. 1979, Phenoxyacids as inhibitors of testicular DNA syntheses in male mice. Bull. Environ. Cont. Toxic vol. 21: Lerda, D. & R.Rizzi, 1991, Study of reproductive function in persons occupationally exposed to 2,4-dichloraphenoyactetic acid (2,4-D) Mut. Res. 262: Hammond, M., 1995, Pesticide Bylaws: Why We Need Them and How to Get Them. Consultancy for Alternative Education, Quebec. Spears T., 1995, Toronto Star April 29.