Last year we all saw what happened when a man sued Monsanto. The jury ruled that his cancer was, in fact, caused by their weed killer- Roundup. And of course, upon seeing that, most people start to wonder. But they wonder about more than just weed killer. What about chemical pesticides? Surely something made to kill huge swaths of insects can’t be dangerous for us, right? Well, that’s why today we’re going to talk about exactly that. Is Pesticide Dangerous?
Is Pesticide Dangerous: Is It Worth It?
There’s really no reason to beat around the bush with this one. Chemical pesticides are poisons. And that means that they can harm more than just the pests that they are used against. They’ve been linked to a range of serious illnesses. Everything from diseases, do respiratory problems, all the way to cancer can come from exposure.
Chemical pesticide exposure can happen in many ways. Farmers and farmworkers are constantly exposed through the treatment of crops. But it can also happen at home with use in your garden if you buy chemicals off the shelf.
Chemical pesticides can be acutely toxic as well, which means skin contact or inhalation is a real danger.
The symptoms are evident shortly after exposure or can arise within 48 hours. They can present as:
- respiratory tract irritation, sore throat and/or cough
- allergic sensation
- eye and skin irritation
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- headache, loss of consciousness
- extreme weakness, seizures and/or death
So the short answer of- is pesticide dangerous? Well, when it comes to chemical pesticides, yes.
Alternatives
That doesn’t mean that you can’t use forms of natural pest control. These methods, such as spearmint oil, orange oil, and quartz sands are good alternatives. They have a low toxicological concern to both consumers or the environment. So if you do need pesticides, make sure to contact a pest control specialist that uses non-chemical methods.
