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Pesticide Use. Members: Audrey, Austin, Eric Leader: Christopher. Statement of the Problem. How does the use of pesticides destroy the ecosystem?. The Extent of Pesticide Use. Approximately 1.8 billion people use pesticides worldwide. Over 1 billion pounds are used in the United States.
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Pesticide Use Members: Audrey, Austin, Eric Leader: Christopher
Statement of the Problem How does the use of pesticides destroy the ecosystem?
The Extent of Pesticide Use • Approximately 1.8 billion people use pesticides worldwide. • Over 1 billion pounds are used in the United States. • Approximately 5.6 billion pounds used worldwide • Estimation of 25 million agricultural workers worldwide poisoned each year
Causes of the Problem - People do not enjoy having bugs in their plants, wish to exterminate them - Can't learn to get along - By using pesticides we destroy ecosystems Audrey Lee
Impact of Using Pesticides Pesticides can: - cause air pollution by spreading through wind - cause water pollution; contaminate water; harm aquatic animals - decrease biodiversity of soil -poison animals Austin Chiu
Impact of Using Pesticides - intoxicate humans - reduce food production; create higher production costs - toxins can kill humans, cause disease - affect adults, children - enter human body through digestion, inhalation Austin Chiu
Impact of Pesticide Use: Data Agricultural Use of Pesticides in the U.S.
Impact of Pesticide Use: Data Increase in the Use of Pesticides from 1965-1990
How can we address this problem? - Use pesticides only when necessary. - Spray pesticides directly onto the problem. - Contain the pesticides within a closed area. Audrey Lee
Bibliography PDF American Institute of Biological Sciences (http://savepanjab.org/images/pdf/Environmental%20and%20Economic%20Costs%20of%20Pesticide%20Use.pdf) JSTOR Journal (http://www.jstor.org/pss/25008847) Global Healing Center (http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/effects-of-pesticides.html) Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_effects_of_pesticides)
Questions (HW) Audrey: 1) Why do we continue to use pesticides? 2) What will happen if we stop using pesticides? Christopher: 1) What alternative to pesticide use is there that does not harm the environment? 2) What are the long term affects of pesticides? Eric: 1) How many pounds of pesticide are being used in the US? 2) Approximately how many pounds of pesticide was used worldwide? Austin: 1) How many people in the world are using pesticides? 2) Other than killing pests, are there any other benefits to using pesticides?