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Effects of agricultural on the environment
The effects of agriculture on the environment
Agricultural pollution introduction in simple words
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It is known that amphibian populations are declining at alarming rates worldwide. Their population decline has been linked to various factors such as UV radiation, emerging diseases and pesticide exposure. Pesticide exposure however, is of particular importance due to their high potential for toxicity and widespread environmental contamination. They are commonly introduced into local water systems through runoff from agricultural fields. According to the National Water Quality Inventory, agricultural runoff is the leading cause of water pollution in rivers and lakes in the United States. Because many species of amphibians have habitats that coincide with agricultural areas, there is a heightened probability for contamination of their habitat through runoff. While pesticides increase agricultural profits, they also lead to high amphibian mortality and should have improved regulations.
All amphibians have high skin permeability, which is a key factor in connecting pesticides to their decline. This physiological feature can be linked to the ways in which gas exchanges occur within their circulatory system. Oxygen molecules first diffuse onto the moist surface of the integument. The oxygen molecules are then picked up by red blood cells within capillaries, which run close to the skins surface. The oxygen-saturated blood is then circulated throughout the body before being expelled similarly to how it was absorbed. Because of this high skin permeability, it is also much easier for toxins, such as pesticides, to enter and accumulate within the amphibian’s body (Association of Zoos and Aquariums).
Once pesticides have been integrated into the amphibian, they may lead to malformation, decreased fitness even death depending on the kind...
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...sticides, it is not, to require better regulations and enforcement. It however does not go without saying that pesticides do generate better agricultural products for our consumption and power the economy. But, populations of amphibians continue to dwindle and nothing has changed in the EPAs regulation of pesticides, including those mentioned. The world is quickly loosing vast amounts of biodiversity in the name of secular bureaucratic processes. The perspective of ecologists and biologists continue to be ignored even in the wake of possible extinctions. If new rules are not put into effect and done so soon, there will undoubtedly be great consequences not seen since the days of the passenger pigeon. Once the world looses a species, no form of legislation can bring them back, which is why passing new regulations now is imperative for the present and future.
My initial observation was that simple conservation actions such as reducing the use of pesticides can achieve measurable improvements in habitat quality and environmental health. Herbicides are toxic to most mammals as well as to the beneficial insects that you want to encourage in your garden. Sometimes herbicides seep into the ground water; causing contamination of which the long term effects are not known. Herbicide application can also result in drift or movement in the soil, this endangers wanted vegetation nearby. Herbicides are used far too rampantly. Excessive use of toxic herbicides is used when not necessary and because most are not aware of the many other natural alternatives. We must find more ways to cut back on the use of chemical herbicides and change to biological weed control methods.
Amalin, D.M., Peña, J.E., Duncan, R., Leavengood, J., Koptur, S. (2009): Effects of Pesticides on the Arthropod Community in the Agricultural Areas near the Everglades
There are many issues regarding the raising and producing of various livestock animals, and the use of pesticides on various types of crops. The movie Food.Inc does a good job explaining these issues, but in a very biased way. It makes agriculturists look like terrible people, when this is not the case.
The pesticide DDT banned in 1987 was a detrimental to the environment leading to it to be banned in 1987. DDT remains in the soils for a long period of time. The chemicals affect the ecology of the soil and water run off causing contamination of livestock and native animals and aquatic species. Studies indicated a range of human health impacts from DDT including cancers, infertility, miscarriage and nervous system impairment. The social and economic impact of DDT use in viticulture was significant.
Two essays read by the class, “Fables for Tomorrow” and “The Clan of One-Breasted Women”, target the idea that chemical compounds have an impact on nature. They make it a priority to get their points across that limiting pesticides and chemical compounds will help make America, and other places around the world a better place. They provide very educational messages in getting their points across about the dangerous roles the pesticides play in the world today. Humans and the government cause this through authorization of plenty of the events going on in the environment. Both of the authors, who are female activists for the environment, focus on chemical compounds causing diseases and harm to the environment.
Pesticides that behave like the female hormone estrogens can have serious effects on reproductive success and function on animal exposed to them. Reproductive success or fitness is defined by having live reproductively capable off...
...ortation of plants, fruits, vegetables, and animals. Indiscriminate pesticide use kills the good with the bad. Long term and wide spread pesticide use poisons underground water sources, which, in turn, poison plants, animals, and humans. And, finally, by our uninformed actions, new super races of pests continue to evolve and create even greater dangers than the original.
The cutting down on the uses of pesticides and fertilizers is one on the next great step we have to make as a society. It will take a long time to implement these changes and there will be Problems along this journey. The sooner we start this long journey. The longer we have to work out the Kinks in sustainable farming. We at least should think about the future generations that will live on earth. This is the one place we all have to call home and it’s our job to take care of it for the next generations. We can’t give them a problem that take a long time to fix because it could be too late to fix the problems in a generations or two. This is why we need to push the world to a sustainable farm
Today people are using pesticides and hormones in many of the items that we use each day and it’s affecting our society in various ways. Pesticides are used in many different ways including: keeping insects away from plants, controlling weeds, and controlling the spread of diseases to plants. Hormones make animals grow faster and/or produce leaner meat for food. Although some people believe that pesticides and hormones should be used to help crops and livestock, they can be very harmful to others as well as the environment.
“(Silent Spring) spells out in memorable detail through out the book the effects of synthetic insecticides and herbicides on water, soil, plants, wildlife, fish and human beings. But in the book’s final chapter she suggests alternative courses of action for mankind —- a way out of this march toward death.” (Holmes, Pg. 123)
Pesticides are frequently used in this community. Almost all farmers use pesticides every day to help keep malicious, hungry animals away from their crops, most of which have been linked to illnesses further down the road by consumers, or even pregnant mothers in some cases, involving those responsible for applying the chemicals. All in all, it is no secret that these chemicals are nothing to toy with. As a matter of fact, they themselves have the potential to severely affect the health or kill unsuspecting, or perhaps impair workers.
Since the 1980’s scientists have noted the decline of many frog species. People do not know for certain what has caused these declines. A possible factor is pollution, disease, habitat destruction, and acid rain. Another factor may be the thinning of the earth’s protective ozone layer, which allows more harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun to reach the earth. Because frogs have thin, moist skin and an aquatic tadpole stage, they are easily affected by pollution and changes in the environment.
"1 Matthiessen goes on to write that "one shudders to imagine how much more impoverished our habitat would be had Silent Spring not sounded the alarm. " 2 This is indeed a worthy claim by Mr. Matthiessen, but he correctly uncovers a bigger and more alarming truth when he says, "the damage being done by poison chemicals today is far worse than it was when she wrote the book. 3 In fact, since 1962, pesticide use in the US has doubled. As an environmentalist (or a "radical" environmentalist, as I am often labeled by members of the mainstream environmental movement), I feel it is my duty as a protector of the Earth's well-being to write this editorial as a means of bringing into the American consciousness a variety of frightening environmental issues.
Pesticides are contaminating the Earth’s water supplies. There are seventeen pesticides found in twenty-three state’s water supplies right now. Scientists at Cornell University conclude that 99% of pesticides miss the intended source and find their way into the water, air and soil. Most of the pollution isn’t strong enough to create an immediate impact on humans so the wildlife is the primary target to these contaminates. Animals such as the European Starling birds are constantly being tested and found that they are greatly affected both behaviorally and psychologically.
Efforts to improve the standard of living for humans--through the control of nature and the development of new products--have also resulted in the pollution, or contamination, of the environment. Much of the world's air, water, and land is now partially poisoned by chemical wastes. Some places have become uninhabitable. This pollution exposes people all around the globe to new risks from disease. Many species of plants and animals have become endangered or are now extinct. As a result of these developments, governments have passed laws to limit or reverse the threat of environmental pollution.