Use of Hazardous Pesticides Needs Rethinking

It is now a well-known fact that most pesticides used in agricultural practice have long-term concerns regarding health hazards resulting from their use. Pesticides are used in large quantities and in different forms to increase agricultural yield. All these pesticides enter air, water and soil and because they are non-biodegradable, they accumulate in large proportions within these sources. Ultimately,they enter our body through the food we eat, water we drink and air we breathe. Since they do not have any immediate effect on functioning of our body, we do not realize the hazards induced by them until major organs like kidneys and liver show disfunctioning or their some carcinogenic effect on body organs.

During the later part of the first half of the twentieth century some people realized the harmful effects  and shifted to 'Organic Food'. In simple terms 'Organic Food' is the food obtained from agricultural crops grown without using pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Gradually, the number of people supporting organic food is increasing, particularly in western world. During 1940's, a group of people in Britain started a movement in favour of organic farming targetting mainly the pesticides under the banner of 'SOIL ASSOCIATION'. Since then organisation has been working towards the promotion of organic food habits.

During their campaign against pesticides the Association published a ten-point plan for cleaning up our food:

(1) A number of the most hazardous pesticides should be withdrawn immediately.

(2) Maximum residue limits (MRLs) should be set for all pesticides used, and not just those the government thinks will not consistently show up as over the maximum.

(3) Staff and resources for testing for pesticide residues in food should be increased, especially for imported food, if the MRL system is to be effective.

(4) Fruit and vegetables sold in shops should be labelled with the pesticides used both during growth and after harvest.

(5) Penalties for causing spray drift must be increased, to reduce accidental contamination of crops, and the process of claiming damages should be accelerated.

(6) All pesticide exports should be subject to prior informed consent, whereby buyers are told about possible health risks and restrictions in the country of origin. This will help reduce the re-import of hazardous pesticides in food.

(7) A full scale epidemiological study (i.e. a health study on a large human population, taking all factors into careful account) is required into the possible impact of low levels of pesticide residues on our health.

(8) A large education campaign is required to teach consumers and farmers about how to minimize the hazards of pesticide residues.

(9) Far more research funding is needed to investigate the potential for non-chemical methods of pest and weed control.

(10) Proper government support is required for organic agriculture, particularly with respect to support over the period of conversion from chemical to organic methods, if public demand for organic food is to be met.

After initial resistance by some groups against this plan, some of the suggestions were accepted by the authorities. It is high time that people world wide press for the implementation of this type of plan for the maintenance and restoration of public health in general.

I stand against all types and forms of pesticides and insecticides and not only those used in farm practice. Pesticides used domestically to get rid of vector pests like mosquitos and cockroaches should also be completely banned.