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For untold centuries, mankind and insects coexisted. During eons of time, harvested produce contained no polluting
pesticide residues.
After World War II hostilities ceased, insect-controlling methods changed dramatically; growers declared war on
Earth’s most numerous inhabitants.
The ensuing conflict not only endangered human health and the planet’s ecosystem, but the synthetic pesticides
destroyed insects indiscriminately — beneficials and pollinators as well as target bugs.
Insects felt a force they had never known before. From then on, fresh fruits and vegetables contained pesticide-polluting
poisonous residues.
How Synthetic Pesticides Originated
A relatively-recent innovation, synthetic pesticides were first used during 1942 while World War II was still
in progress.
United States armed forces, engaged in the worldwide conflict, recognized a potential epidemic. To protect troops
and civilian populations from typhus-causing body lice, officials sought a method to control the pests.
Swiss scientists, engaged in developing an insect control, made available a chemical formula with an almost unpronounceable
name. Dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane became commonly called DDT for each first letter of the formula derivative.
DDT, used extensively, adequately controlled body lice as well as malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The synthetic soon
became hailed as a “wonder” insecticide.
DDT, a Bane or Blessing?
After worldwide hostilities ceased, a DDT surplus required disposal. United States officials decided to try
the synthetic on America’s cropland. Many former natural growers accepted DDT enthusiastically. Far-sighted natural
farmers demurred.
DDT users, as well as government supervisors, failed to recognize the synthetic’s potential effects on human health
and Planet Earth’s environment.
Under a chemical umbrella, crops and farm operators prospered. Making profits seemed to be the primary order of
the day. Insects subjected to DDT continued to succumb.
For almost two decades, DDT affected not only insects and human beings but wild and aquatic life. Birds of prey,
including eagles, faced virtual extinction. Eggs crushed before hatching, due to effects of the poisonous sprays.
Scientist and environmentalist outcry prevailed upon Congress to ban DDT use in the United States, as of January
1, 1973.
After the DDT Ban
Banning DDT opened a door for additional synthetics, including chloradane, heptachlor, endrin, malathion, and
numerous other derivatives. More than a thousand synthetics were tested on America’s farmland.
Pesticide-Resistant Insects
Chemical pesticides do not always kill or maim intended victims. Pesticide-resistant species are able to escape
complete destruction.
An insect’s multi-layered outer structure represents a formidable barrier to chemical pesticides.
Widespread pesticide applications, season after season, often speed up genetic selection until the tiny creatures
become resistant to still more toxic formulas.
At the present, entomologists have announced that more than 400 species have become poison-tolerant, indicating
more problems for future generations if synthetic pesticides continue to be used, instead of the natural method
to which insects never become tolerant or resistant.
Pesticide Residues
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has established “acceptable levels” of poisons allowed when spraying
foods. In other words, it has determined that these levels of poisons won’t make a person sick if he or she eats
the food. Unfortunately, people eat a variety of sprayed foods at a time, thus creating a cumulative effect when
many sprayed foods are ingested at once.
The soil is being saturated with poison sprays, which means that many fruits and vegetables absorb the pesticides
systemically, through their roots. While you can wash some of the poison off the outside of these fruits and vegetables,
the poison has become part of the produce and cannot be completely removed.
When the soil is saturated with poison sprays, and synthetic fertilizers are being used, often the bacteria is
destroyed which is necessary to decompose organic wastes (necessary for nutrient-rich soil), as well as earthworms
(which play an essential role in aerating the soil).
In addition, the poisonous sprays sink deeply into the soil and then into the groundwater, polluting our streams
and lakes and the sea-life which lives there.
When birds eat poisoned insects, they frequently die. Synthetic pesticides do not discriminate. They kill beneficial
insects as well as other living things.
Organic Food Availability
Organic farms are increasing in number and size. An organic farm is one which uses natural methods to grow poison-free
produce in nutrient-rich soil, the way that produce was grown before World War II.
Hundreds of thousands of individuals are learning how to grow produce, organically, in their own backyards. According
to a recent survey, more than six million backyard gardeners are growing pesticide-free produce. Apartment-dwellers
are growing organic produce on their porches.
Those who don’t want to grow pesticide-free food can find it in an ever-expanding variety at the grocery stores,
in addition to health food stores and co-ops. It's also available via mail-order and on the Internet.
The tide is turning. The public is becoming better informed and taking control of its health and its food. “New
pesticide-free” farming and gardening methods are being announced. These “new” methods are what your grandparents
and great-grandparents used. While the pesticide companies might have a powerful lobby in Washington, D.C., public
education about this subject will ultimately
prevail.
For More Information . . .
If you have questions or comments about this Web page or site, e-mail: mary@vanmeer.com
© 2002 Leo VanMeer
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