Pesticides

People have been abusing the environment for too long. Americans should not use chemicals without researching and considering serious consequences. Rachel Carson, an aquatic biologist who helped shape the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, wrote an article about the damage chemicals are having on the earth. She presented a great point that most damage Americans are causing to the earth cannot be reversed. These chemicals are left in the air or in the ground for generations (Carson 50). Americans should use environmentally friendly pesticides to reduce pollution and improve human and animal health.

One of the main reasons to use environmentally friendly pesticides is to reduce pollution. In an article from National Wildlife, it was found that surface and groundwater pollution is the biggest “uncontrolled” threat to American water today. This is caused when rain washes the chemicals from pesticides in into streams, lakes, and other bodies of water (Miller, par. 5). It can be very hard to monitor this issue because it is difficult to decide which farmer is using too much or even misusing pesticides (Miller, par.5). One way to reduce pollution from pesticides is to cut back on the amount of pesticides used. Farmers in Iowa were encouraged to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers on their crops to help stop polluting the groundwater and runoffs. The farmers were over-using fertilizers and pesticides because they were not taking into consideration the fertilizers that were already in the ground from past years. Since the project began, there has been a decline in nitrate levels in groundwater (Miller, par. 16). If all farmers would adopt this new way of thinking, the water contamination problem would deteriora...

... middle of paper ...

...pesticides that will harm the earth nor eating any pesticides.

Like Rachel Carson, all Americans should be very concerned about the impact pesticides are having on the environment and all living creatures. In her conclusion to The Obligation to Endure she says, “I contend that we have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or no advance investigation of their effect on soil, water, wildlife and man himself. Further generations are unlikely to condone our lack of prudent concern for the integrity of the natural world that supports all life” (Carson 54). She, as well as many others, recognizes a major issue in current actions with pesticides but is hopeful for the future. A little change in each person can achieve great results. To reduce pollution and improve the health of humans and animals, Americans should only use environmental friendly pesticides.