...Problem A pesticide is defined as “a chemical preparation for destroying plant, fungal, or animal pests” (Random House Dictionary). Pesticides have been used for thousands of years, but only recently has it been used in vast amounts to ‘protect’ plants in order to feed the ever-growing population of the world. in order to identify the effects of industrial amounts of pesticides on surrounding inhabitants including but not limited to humans, cattle, domestic pets, etc,. The EPA is responsible for the safety of humans and the environment by creating laws and regulations. Discussion Pesticide use is regulated by the EPA, whose sole purpose is to “...ensure that all Americans are protected from significant risks to human health and the environment where they live, learn and work...” (Environmental Protection Agency). Pesticide use has plenty of benefits such as less crop loss due to pests and/or disease, and because less crops are lost, more money is saved, even though pesticides are purchased, they are relatively cheap and do not negate the total savings. On the other hand, there is a plethora of reasons that pesticide use is heinous, and harmful to all those involved from the person whose job it is is to administer the chemicals to the cat that ate the poisoned mouse. Many different problems have been associated with pesticide use. Scientists have executed tests on various food goods, water, and environments throughout the United States and have identified multiple chemicals...
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...or in traditional cross breeding (“Non GMO Project”). Obesity, chronic disease, and food allergies have skyrocketed in the United States over the past two decades. Many people think it is due to poor eating and exercise habits. While a portion of this may be true, the more logical explanation is the fact that corporations have altered the food supply in a way that is harmful to the human body. GMO crops adversely affect human health. Numerous studies have been done recently and even more are currently being conducted around the globe. These studies illustrate the correlation between the introduction of GMOs into the food supply and the increase in health issues. This is such an important issue to literally every human being on the planet. Not all countries are addressing the issue in the same manner. It is crucial to know what the United States is doing as compared to other industrialized nations around the world. There were several reasons that corporations began altering the DNA of seeds. One of those reasons was that GMOs were supposed to reduce the amount of pesticides necessary to keep weeds under control. The GMO seeds were produced to be Roundup Ready (RR). A Roundup Ready seed means that plants are resistant to the pesticide and the undesirable weeds are supposed to die instead. However, the result has not been as intended. Usage of pesticides has now increased because the weeds that were supposed to die have now become Super Weeds that are glyphosate-resistant. Glyphosate...
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...The environmental impact of pesticides consists of the effects of pesticides on non-target species. Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, because they are sprayed or spread across entire agricultural fields. Runoff can carry pesticides into aquatic environments while wind can carry them to other fields, grazing areas, human settlements and undeveloped areas, potentially affecting other species. Other problems emerge from poor production, transport and storage practices. Over time, repeated application increases pest resistance, while its effects on other species can facilitate the pest's resurgence. Each pesticide or pesticide class comes with a specific set of environmental concerns. Such undesirable effects have led many pesticides to be banned, while regulations have limited and/or reduced the use of others. Over time, pesticides have generally become less persistent and more species-specific, reducing their environmental footprint. In addition the amounts of pesticides applied per hectare have declined, in some cases by 99%. However, the global spread of pesticide use, including the use of older/obsolete pesticides that have been banned in some jurisdictions, has increased overall. Agriculture and the environment The arrival of humans in an area, to live or to conduct agriculture, necessarily has environmental impacts. These range from simple crowding out of wild plants in favor of more desirable cultivars...
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...The Effects of Pesticides on Environment The Effects of Pesticides on Environment Samuel Jones-A | Chemistry | February 10, 2014 Samuel Jones-A | Chemistry | February 10, 2014 Pesticides Pesticides are the only toxic substances released intentionally into our environment to kill living things. This includes substances that kill weeds (herbicides), insects (insecticides), fungus (fungicides), rodents (rodenticides), and others. The use of toxic pesticides to manage pest problems has become a common practice around the world. However most pesticides can accumulate in water systems, pollute the air, and in some cases have other dramatic environmental effects. Effects on soil Pesticide use can damage agricultural land by harming beneficial insect species, soil microorganisms, and worms which naturally limit pest populations and maintain soil health. Many of the chemicals used in pesticides are persistent soil contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, solvents, lead, and other heavy metals. The use of pesticides decreases the general biodiversity in the soil due its toxicity. Pesticides do not distinguish between “pests” and other living things as pesticides kill beneficial soil bacteria, earthworms, snails, frogs, birds, fish, honeybees and other valuable species including the targeted pests themselves. The chemicals from pesticides leach into the soil resulting in lower soil quality due to less organic matter in the soil, which normally...
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...A variety of chemicals have been shown to disrupt female reproductive function throughout the lifespan in laboratory animals and humans (e.g., diethylstilbestrol). These effects include the disruption of normal sexual differentiation, ovarian function (i.e., follicular growth, ovulation, corpus luteum formation and maintenance), fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy. Only a few agents are associated with direct interference with the endocrine reproductive axis. Examples are those with estrogenic activity or the potential to interact with the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. Exposure to toxicants during development is of particular concern because many feedback mechanisms functioning in the adult are absent and adverse effects may be noted at doses lower than those observed in the adult. Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunologic disease of women characterized by aberrant location of uterine endometrial cells. It affects approximately 5 million women in the United States from 15 to 45 years of age and often causes infertility. The etiology of this disease is unknown. In a single study with a small number of animals, research has suggested a link between dioxin exposure and the development of endometriosis in rhesus monkeys. The severity of this lesion was dependent on the dose administered. Recently, a small pilot study to test the hypothesis that serum dioxin concentrations have an association with human endometriosis has been reported. No statistically significant...
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...Migrant farmworkers in the United States are exposed to various occupational and environmental hazards, placing them at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality compared to the general population. Despite living in the richest country in the world, the health status and health needs of migrant farmworkers have not been fully studied. Objective- Conduct a literature review addressing the occupational health hazards, quality and barriers to healthcare access in migrant farmworkers in the United States. Method- An electronic search of PUBMED and other bibliographic databases and hand search of published literature was conducted. Results- Conclusions Introduction: The production of vegetables and fruits in the U.S. relies on hand labor delivered by migrant and seasonal farmworkers. During the past twenty years the U.S. has experienced one of the largest waves of immigration in history. More than three million migrant and seasonal farmworkers are estimated to be present in the U.S. Agriculture is one of the most hazardous fields as farmworkers are...
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...1.Before a rule promulgated by a federal agency becomes law, it must be a. published in final form in the Federal Register. b. approved by a Senate Oversight Committee. c. both a and b. d. none of the above. 2.All rules made by administrative agencies must be a. published as proposed rules in the Federal Register. b. published as final rules in the Federal Register at least 30 days before they are to go into effect. c. both a and b. d. neither a nor b. 3.The courts may declare an agency rule void if a. the rule violates the U. S. Constitution. b. the rule was outside the scope of authority given to the agency in the enabling act that created the agency. c. all of the above. d. none of the above. 4.One does not look in the Federal Register to find a. statutes b. final rules. c. proposed rules. d. any of the above. 5.Agencies have the authority to a. promulgate rules that have the force of law. b. provide information to the public about matters regulated by the agency. c. investigate complaints of violations of agency-promulgated rules. d. all of the above. 6.The goals of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 will be furthered by an office within the EPA that will be responsible for a. developing and improving methods of coordinating and making available to the public, data collected under federal statutes. b. identifying barriers to source reduction and recommending to Congress ways to eliminate these barriers...
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...Walk into virtually any home in the United States and it is practically guaranteed that there will be a container of some form of pesticide (Raid) or herbicide (Roundup, Spectracide, Ortho) on hand. These are considered “everyday” products used by most homeowners to kill bugs and weeds. They have all been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as safe for use by the general public. They are sold by large retailers as well as smaller local vendors. Based on those two factors, it is a common – but dangerous - assumption that these chemicals must be safe for use. But – “Buyer Beware!” Household pesticides and herbicides contain hidden ingredients that are not provided on the product labels. Under the current laws, manufacturers do not have to divulge all of the ingredients that are used in the production of a pesticide or herbicide. Many of these unidentified ingredients are poisons that could be potentially hazardous to adults and children alike. It is crucial that the labels on these products contain a complete list of the ingredients, as well as any potential hazards. Consumers have a right to this information in order to be able to make informed decisions. There are two categories of ingredients listed on the labels of these products – active and inert. The active ingredients in these products are regulated by the EPA. Active ingredients are those that directly affect the target pest. They must be listed on each container. Problem solved – Right...
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...the 1940s and 1950s, after World War 2 pesticide and herbicide products were used to improve crop fields by killing off unwanted plants and pests. They were applied over fruits and vegetables and workers were in constant contact with these chemicals. However, the same chemicals used in crops fields, were the same or had similar chemicals compounds found in chemical weapons during WW2. What was not known was how applying these chemicals in our environment would impact ecosystems, living things and food resources. This practice is still used today, especially in California’s crop fields such as the central valley. Although there are some similarities on how herbicides and pesticides are used in the past and now, there are differences in terms of how it’s regulated and used. "Whenever I pick oranges, I feel so bad; my mouth feels...
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...Case Study of the Love Canal Environmental Disaster ENV/410 March 23, 2014 Case Study of the Love Canal Environmental Disaster In May of 1892 a man named William T. Love arrived in Niagara Falls with a long-held dream of building a carefully planned industrial city with convenient access to inexpensive water power and major markets. The plan included the construction of a navigable power canal between the upper and lower Niagara Rivers which would service a massive industrial complex. The transportation of water would be supplied by the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario. However, due to the country suddenly finding itself in the middle of a full-scale economic depression and the fact that Louis Tesla had just discovered a way to transmit electrical power economically over great distances by means of an alternating current, Love's project was dealt a death blow. His backers deserted him and the whole project fell apart, with the land being sold at public auction in 1910 (Whalen, 1978). In the 1920's the excavation became a chemical and municipal disposal site for several chemical companies and the City of Niagara Falls. Chemicals of unknown kind and quantity were buried at the site up until 1953, after which, the site was covered with earth. Soon, about 100 homes were built, along with an elementary school, on top of this toxic waste dump. The effects of the pit's contents soon began to be felt. Strange odors and substances were reported by residents, especially those...
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...Case Study of the Love Canal Environmental Disaster Phillip Voliva ENV/410 March 23, 2014 Alicia Holloway Case Study of the Love Canal Environmental Disaster In May of 1892 a man named William T. Love arrived in Niagara Falls with a long-held dream of building a carefully planned industrial city with convenient access to inexpensive water power and major markets. The plan included the construction of a navigable power canal between the upper and lower Niagara Rivers which would service a massive industrial complex. The transportation of water would be supplied by the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario. However, due to the country suddenly finding itself in the middle of a full-scale economic depression and the fact that Louis Tesla had just discovered a way to transmit electrical power economically over great distances by means of an alternating current, Love's project was dealt a death blow. His backers deserted him and the whole project fell apart, with the land being sold at public auction in 1910 (Whalen, 1978). In the 1920's the excavation became a chemical and municipal disposal site for several chemical companies and the City of Niagara Falls. Chemicals of unknown kind and quantity were buried at the site up until 1953, after which, the site was covered with earth. Soon, about 100 homes were built, along with an elementary school, on top of this toxic waste dump. The effects of the pit's contents soon began to be felt. Strange odors and substances were reported...
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...Case Study of the Love Canal Environmental Disaster In May of 1892 a man named William T. Love arrived in Niagara Falls with a long-held dream of building a carefully planned industrial city with convenient access to inexpensive water power and major markets. The plan included the construction of a navigable power canal between the upper and lower Niagara Rivers which would service a massive industrial complex. The transportation of water would be supplied by the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario. However, due to the country suddenly finding itself in the middle of a full-scale economic depression and the fact that Louis Tesla had just discovered a way to transmit electrical power economically over great distances by means of an alternating current, Love's project was dealt a death blow. His backers deserted him and the whole project fell apart, with the land being sold at public auction in 1910 (Whalen, 1978). In the 1920's the excavation became a chemical and municipal disposal site for several chemical companies and the City of Niagara Falls. Chemicals of unknown kind and quantity were buried at the site up until 1953, after which, the site was covered with earth. Soon, about 100 homes were built, along with an elementary school, on top of this toxic waste dump. The effects of the pit's contents soon began to be felt. Strange odors and substances were reported by residents, especially those with basements. Pieces of phosphorus made their way to the surface and children...
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...Environmental Legislation For each of the terms and pieces of Legislation, that contain an *, you are to write an index card. The term or Law is on the front of the index card, and the definition or description on the reverse side. Legislation Quizzes will begin on Monday October 1, 2012 *Conservation – “Controlled Use”, “Scientific Management” of natural resources. “Greatest good for the greatest number of people. *Preservation – Remaining wilderness areas on public lands should be left untouched. *Restoration – To bring back to former condition (former natural state/condition), active restoration seeks to reestablish a diverse, dynamic community at sites that have been degraded. *Remediation – Most often used with cleanup of chemical contaminants in a polluted area. *Mitigation – Repairing/Rehabilitating a damaged ecosystem or compensation for damage. Most often by providing a substitute or replacement area; frequently involves wetland ecosystems. *Reclamation – Typically used to describe chemical or physical manipulations carried out in severely degraded sites, such as open-pit mines or large-scale construction. Environmental Legislation/Agreements NAME | Abbr. | Description | Atomic Energy Act | | The act establishes a general regulatory structure for construction and use of nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons facilities. Unlike most environmental statutes, it does not permit citizen suits and affords only limited opportunities for suits by public interest...
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...Systemic Pesticides and the Honeybee Population Beekeepers have been experiencing a large decline in their honeybee populations for the past decade at a startling rate. The disappearance of the honeybees has a much larger impact on daily life in the United States as well as around the world than many would believe, as they are cornerstones in a healthy and prosperous ecosystem. The extremely complex yet small honeybee is responsible for a large majority of the food we consume everyday. While there are multiple theories surrounding the disappearance of the bees, the use of systemic pesticides is leading the way as the culprit. The use of systemic pesticides needs to be banned in the United States due to the negative impact they are having on the honeybee population. As the population of the United States continues to grow exponentially annually, so does the need for an increased food supply. Monocultures have been the answer to this need due to the fact that they allow farmers to mass-produce a single item much cheaper and easier than traditional farming in which multiple crops are grown on a single plot of land. There are many possibilities for the types of plants that can be found in a monoculture but typically wheat, corn, and soy are the main monocultures crops in the United States due to the wide use of these plants in countless products on the grocery store shelves. These monocultures have caused the use of pesticides to reach levels never seen before by the agricultural...
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...benefits of organic produce vs. conventionally grown produce, maybe they will want to make an impact on the environment sooner than later; for later could be too late. Though the health benefits are minimal (Baker, Benbrook, Groth, & Benbrook, 2002), the environmental effects can be limitless, and there is nothing better than getting the full flavor of one’s produce while knowing where it came from, how it was processed, and they are getting nutrients from their produce, not chemical residue or wax (“whfoods.org”, 2013.). Just one of these benefits is enough to make one eat organic, so considering them all, the price should be worth it; like the saying you get what you pay for. Would it not be nice eating food that will not only have health benefits, but also taste better while knowing that with each bite taken, it is playing a part in preserving the environment for future generations? Maybe people do not try organic produce for fear of change, lack of availability, it is too “pricey”, or they are just unaware. Even though organic produce is so similar some cannot tell them apart by eye, they really are very different. The main differences between organic and non-organic produce lie in the use of chemical treatment, environmental methods used, and the final taste of each product. Organic produce has gradually risen in popularity since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began to regulate organically produced goods in 1990, determining if they are USDA criteria approved...
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