Understanding Environmental Pollution

Pesticides include a multitude of agents. “A pesticide is something that prevents, destroys, or controls a harmful organism (a pest or disease), or that protects plants or plant products during production, storage and transport.”1 Pesticide use is both controversial and prevalent. Many or most individuals believe pesticides are necessary to destroy the enemies of human agriculture and of human health. Others believe we can use organic farming to accomplish these ends without synthetic pesticides. Another group follows the principles of integrated pest management, believing that pesticides are sometimes needed, but recognizing their limitations and risks, and minimizing their use. There is no simple answer, but we do need answers. Twenty years ago two “green” chemists, Dennis Hjeresen and Rangel Gonzales, issued a challenge: “Can green chemistry promote sustainable agriculture?”: “Human population is increasing. Demand for food is rising … Environmental impacts are worsening. Taken together, few issues reflect the difficulties of sustainable development more than the problem of controlling pests and increasing food production while protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.”2