Is it good to use pesticide?

Question

I need an answer for my science H/W!!!
I need to know if it is good to use Pesticides on plants/crops etc. which people are going to eat.
Thanks!!!

Answer 1

No; pesticides are chemicals and most people I know don't like to consume them.

Answer 2

"Pesticides" is a pretty broad term, referring to any substance that kills something you don't want (weeds, bugs, bacteria, enemies (not really)).

Problem you are talking about is addressing human health, not environmental? Problem is, the way that agriculture is set up now, they almost have to use pesticides, although they can choose to use them in a more effective manner (using a less poisonous pesticide at the right time instead of spraying all the time or at a time that the pesticide won't do any good, for example). On the other hand, pesticides are poisons. We have the same chemicals in our bodies that insects have (for example) and so they work on us too. We're just bigger, so it takes more to kill us or cause obvious problems (I believe that many pesticides are cancer-causing too...).

Anywho, organic farming still uses an approved list of pesticides that are fairly safe (oils and I can't think of any others right now), and we still eat organics and think they are better.

I guess my babbling answer is, I think it is okay to use least toxic pesticides in some circumstances, like if the farmer HAS to to ensure a food supply (and that happens sometimes). They also need to use it safely and in ways in which they don't harm the environment or themselves (wear protective gear, let the pesticide sit long enough to degrade on the food).

Answer 3

If you didnt use pesticides then chances are we wouldnt have much fruit and vegetables at the grocery store. Bugs are hungry too and can damage a lot of crops. Just be sure to wash fruits and vegetables before you eat them. There have been experiments with genetically engineered plants that are resistant to insects. This is a bad idea due to the fact you have to have some bugs like lady bugs and honey bees to pollenate the plants. There have been reports in the NW US that honey bees are disappearing. I bet and I have read reports that this is due to insect resistant plants

Answer 4

It's true that pesticides are important to protect the crops we grow, but many of the chemicals used are suspected or known carcinogens - they cause cancer. So you decide.