The Growing Dangers of Pesticides

A Looming Health and Environmental Crisis

Pesticides, once hailed as a miracle cure for improving farm yields, have become a serious threat to human and ecological health. Overuse and misuse of these toxic chemicals have set off alarm bells for scientists, regulators and activists alike. Tackling the mushrooming pesticide crisis will require changing how we grow our food.

What Are Pesticides and Why Are They Used?

Pesticides are substances meant to control or kill unwanted pests like insects, weeds, fungi, rodents etc. The most common pesticides are insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides. They have been widely used in agriculture since the 1940s to protect crops from damage and improve food output. Farmers also rely on pesticides to meet the rising demand for cosmetically perfect produce. In homes and gardens, pesticides help get rid of annoying pests.

The pesticide industry has grown into a $65 billion market globally today. But this seeming chemical miracle cure has proved too good to be true, unleashing a Pando…