Environmental Impact of Pesticides?

     

The Environmental Impact Of Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals that deter and eliminate specific pest populations such as insects, rodents, fungi, weeds, and other animals considered pests. However, pesticides impact our environment because they do not reach the targeted pest. This is due to the fact that pesticides are applied over large tracts of land and carried away by wind and water runoff.  Once these chemicals travel to other areas, they impact a number of plant and animal species.  When pesticides are applied to crops, they cause biodiversity loss in soil.  This means that the earth has a lower quality and is less fertile, and it removes organic matter.  Once organic matter is removed, pesticides continue to build up in the soil, which leads to a decrease in plant growth because soil needs fertilizer and organic matter to grow plants.  Pesticides pollute water because they are washed into nearby streams and rivers, contaminating rain and groundwater sources.  

     Pesticides pollute the air through pesticide drift.  Pesticide drift occurs when pesticides are sprayed on crops and carried off by the wind before reaching the plants or when it goes through volatilization.  Herbicide and pesticide volatilization occurs when the chemical reaches its destination and evaporates at a faster rate into the air and preventing the pesticides from being absorbed into the ground.  It is introduced to human and animal respiratory systems.   They also emit volatile organic compounds that react with other chemicals in the atmosphere and create tropospheric ozone, which affects how long methane and other hydrocarbons remain in the atmosphere.

     Pesticide use impacts plants and animals because they reduce nitrogen fixation required for proper plant growth.  Reduction in nitrogen fixation leads to a decrease in crop yields such as legume-type plants.   Wildlife is also affected by pesticides because animals ingest pesticides after eating food that has come into contact with the chemicals.  They also reduce food sources from other parts of the ecosystem, leading animals to leave their territory in search of food or die because they have no food source.  

     In general, pesticide use has a negative effect on mammals, plants, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians because it reduces food supplies, and plant growth, and pollutes the air. 

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-the-environmental-impact-of-pesticides.html