Pesticides are used to protect crops from harmful pests which eat away the produce diminishing the productivity of the yield. Pesticides were formulated to help the agricultural sector, however, due to extreme population pressure and diminishing availability of land and the ever-increasing need for food and other important agricultural produce. Pesticides were initially made for the greater good of markets and economies worldwide, however, it is the mindless and indiscriminate use of these chemical pest repellants that has caused a lot of damage to the environment as well as the health of those who happen to consume agricultural produce laced heavily with different chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

What are the various effects of pesticides?

These poisonous chemical compounds are known to harm not only humans who consume them directly but also the environment and ecology throughout. Despite the fact that the effects of these pesticides were supposed to be short lived, but the excessive and continuous use of these has left an ever lasting impression upon the already fragile ecosystem and environment in general. These synthetic compounds are often non-biodegradable, hence remain in the ecological cycle for a very, very long time and tend to travel far away from places of their intended use. These chemicals are even more dangerous to human health. So, given in the portions below are a few ideas and tips to protect against pesticides.

Pesticides are linked to a vast range of diseases of various longevity and intensity. While some adverse effects on health last only for a short period till the chemical is flushed out of the human body, other diseases which are caused due to continued exposure or consumption of these harmful pesticides tend to remain for a longer period and become very dangerous and chronic in nature. It is often reported that continuous consumption or even indirect exposure of the human body to these chemical pesticides adversely affects the human nervous system, the human reproductive system and can also be carcinogenic in nature. Also, too much exposure to these harmful chemicals can increase the chances of having Parkinson’s disease, nervous system disorder, etc.  Even children are at a higher risk of having dangerous diseases like asthma, lymphoma, etc. These diseases in small children are generally passed on by a mother who has been exposed to pesticides for a long time while pregnant. Therefore it becomes imperative, for the wellbeing of the child that the mothers avoid pesticides during breastfeeding. Some other well-known tips to be safe from this menace is making sure to wash all consumable agricultural produce very well before consumption, especially those products which are mass produced. Another preventive method is switching to the consumption of totally or even partially organic food products which decreases pesticide intake chances. Also people living close to agricultural land must make sure to drink purified water as there are chances of the water being contaminated with pesticides.

By just following certain very basic yet important tips one can keep him or her and his family safe from the possibility of consumption of this harmful agricultural compound.