SECTION 10.2: PESTICIDE BENEFITSRobin H, Aditya G, Daniel M

OVERVIEW

Humans compete with other species Pesticides are important for our survival

INSECT-BORNE DISEASES

INSECT BORNE DISEASE

Insects transmit many diseases and pathogens Malaria

Caused by Plasmodium protozoa Spread by Anopheles

DDT was used to stop

the spread of the

disease

INSECT BORNE DISEASES

Encephalitis Vector: mosquitoes

Trypanosomiasis Vector: tsetse fly

Onchocerciasis and filariasis (elephentiasis) Vector: tiny worms

ENCEPHALITIS

Acute inflammation of the brain

headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue

TRYPANOSOMIASIS

“sleeping sickness” Causes 21,000 deaths

per year

ELEPHENTIASIS

thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and male genitals

Worst affected area is Ethiopia

A CHOICE FOR YOU

Would you rather… Go blind at 30 years of age from tiny worms accumulating in your

eyeballs Die because of a small chance of cancer due to pesticide exposure

at age 50 or 60?

PESTICIDES PROTECT CROPS

Pesticides protect 1/3 of our world crops Postharvest losses would destroy a further 20 to 30

percent. Food production would not match world demand if

pesticide usage stopped

Pesticide Usage

Conventional Pes-ticideOther Pesticide Chem-icalsWood preservativesSpecialty BiocidesChlorine/hypochlorites

ECONOMIC EFFECTS

Farmers save $3-5 for every $1 spent on pesticides Bugs can also reduce the economic value of crops Herbicides increase crop yields, reduce soil erosion, and

reduce the need for labor