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The Effects of Herbicides & Pesticides

Pesticides and herbicides are substances used to control pests, weeds, and other organisms that are considered unwanted within various settings, including agricultural crops as well as within people's homes. They perform their action by disrupting various biological processes of the pest or unwanted plant species, thus poisoning them and resulting in their death. Pesticides and herbicides may have both positive and negative effects on the environment and its inhabitants, especially to human beings.

  1. Health Effects

    • Pesticides and herbicides seep into the soil, and residues can eventually accumulate in drinking water and food. When ingested and upon reaching a certain level in the body, pesticides and herbicides may cause toxicity symptoms, mostly manifesting as neurotoxicity, producing reduced coordination in thinking and performing activities, and at extreme levels may be fatal. Other health effects include cancer, asthma, endocrine system disruption, and harmful effects on fetuses.

    Environmental Effects

    • Large doses of herbicides can cause severe damage to crops, especially if more than the proper amount is used or if the herbicide is sprayed at the wrong time for a certain species. Animal habitats may also be affected, because a change in habitat may follow after a change in vegetation brought about by herbicides.

      Forested areas are most sensitive to this phenomenon because of their diverse ecology. Herbicide use may affect the food availability for certain species, for example, in decreasing the grains and weed seeds that are food for many birds, insects, and other animals. Pesticides also have adverse effects on certain animal species, with pesticide residues causing death or biological dysfunction to many animal species that ingest it and to many insects necessary in pollination, such as bees.

    Economic Contributions

    • Though pesticides and herbicides are often viewed as adversely affecting organism health, their contribution to improving human beings’ quality of life cannot go unremarked. Without them, producing tons of raw ingredients for many food products would prove extremely difficult. Mass production of goods will not be possible without the availability of raw materials from crops and plant products. Agricultural labor has also been significantly reduced, with less time needed for weeding and preparing the soil for growing crops. This has made farming more efficient and economical, and has reduced the unnecessary exploitation of forests and natural resources.

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