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 that can be toxic to humans and wildlife that it comes in contact with. Studies have shown that the fallout from pesticide use can make its way into drinking water, whether it be treated water, ground water, or bottled water, as well as chemical residues on the fruits and vegetables an average American buys at the grocery store.However, there have been a few complications with the environmental effects. Most pesticides used industrially are water soluble. Water takes approximately 50 years to percolate into the soil and into aquifers that supply populations with drinking water (Perlman). Half of the United States’ population uses groundwater for consumption, and in agricultural areas (generally rural areas), 95% of the local population consumes groundwater. Contrary to popular belief, the layer of soil between the surface and groundwater aquifers does not filter out the poisonous material. Given that pesticide use on an industrial scale is relatively revolutionary, scientist haven’t been able to see potential effects just yet. If pesticides turn out to be hazardous to the health of plants, animals, and humans alike, it will take decades before that water is used up and the replacing water is drinkable. Tests were administered to pregnant women who were exposed to pesticides during their pregnancies, Given that most pesticides the public is exposed to regularly is are around the house, there is an even higher concern for mothers. Three out of every four mothers are exposed to household garden Insecticides in particular are formulated to attack the nervous systems of insects in order to kill them. This is a concern because the nervous system, and neural tube is developing in a fetus during their first trimester, specifically between three to eight weeks after conception. Animals also are affected, even more so than humans. Tests were administered to various streams in rural, urban, undeveloped, and mixed use areas, and 97% of streams in rural, and various use areas tested positive for at least one pesticide, and 94% of streams in urban areas tested positive (Gillian/Hamilton).

Solution
I propose a possible solution to be having a highly diverse farming operation, so if one crop fails due to disease or other external problems, there would still be alternative crops that can help aid in feeding populations. In addition, to not have large farming operations in different chunks of the continent, but instead have plants grown in every community according to it’s geological location so as to reduce weather conditions to have a negative affect. This could be successful country wide if a huge farmer’s market of sorts took place and foods could come from various parts of the world but the effects of over growing would not occur because it would not all occur in one location time after time without giving the ground time to restore it’s nutrient base. This solution would also reduce soil erosion due to the same reason.
Remember
Pesticides affect everyone, especially pregnant women in their first trimester as their neural tubes are developing, which can lead to a plethora of disorders in newborn infants.

Sources
✦American Pregnancy Association (2007). Pesticides Exposure During Pregnancy [Article]. Retrieved from http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/pesticides.html
✦Perlman, H. (2013). Pesticides in Groundwater. United States Geological Survey’s (USGS). Retrieved from http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pesticidesgw.html
✦Gilliom, R. J., & Hamilton, P. A. (2006). Pesticides in the Nation's Streams and Ground Water, 1992–2001—A Summary. United States Geological Survey’s (USGS). Retrieved from http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3028/
✦Pesticide Action Network's PesticideInfo Database (2013). Pesticides: A Public Problem. What’s On My Food.Retrieved from http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/
✦Random House Dictionary (2013). Define Pesticide[Link]. Dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pesticide
✦Environmental Protection Agency (2013). Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our Mission and What We Do. Retrieved from http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/our-mission-and-what-we-do.