Pesticides: The Silent Killers 

Although there is much evidence to support the claim that pesticides are dangerous and harmful to society and the environment, some people argue against this viewpoint.  According to the FPA, pesticides are the only way to ensure control over disease organisms (Hsaio).  They claim that pesticides lower costs, thus providing more selection for food and clothing worldwide (Hsaio).  Lower costs help conserve food supply and fight world hunger (Hsaio).  Pesticides can help citizens, especially those in third world countries, by disinfecting drinking water and medical instruments (Hsaio).  Pesticides protect homes and other facilities that would most likely be infected with mosquitoes and other disease bearing pests (Hsaio).  Proponents declare that the harmful effects of at-home pesticides can be avoided by following proper safety measures, stated on the bottles.  Most other pesticides one may encounter can be found on the EPA website where they are registered (NPIC).  Some pesticides have no EPA registration number because they contain “minimum risk” ingredients (NPIC).  The registration number can be found on the product label (NPIC).   There are currently over 1000 active ingredients registered.   The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) website states, “[Pesticide] risk depends on both toxicity and exposure.”  The risk of damage is higher with frequent contact with highly toxic pesticides, than with rare contact with low toxicity pesticides.  Some supporters of pesticides want to bring back DDT.  They claim that the banning of DDT made society responsible for a genocide 10 times larger than that of the Holocaust (PAN).   They claim that DDT saves lives, rather than killing (PAN).  Over 60 million people died of malaria since the ban of DDT (PAN).  Today, society is facing an increase of mosquito borne diseases, such as Zika Virus (PAN). These viruses can be controlled by spraying DDT on houses 2 times a year (PAN).  Supporters claim DDT is cheaper and more effective than other pesticides, stating that the cost is only $1.44 per year to spray one house (PAN).  Those in favor of DDT and other pesticides point out the positive effects, ignoring the negative effects of pesticides.