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Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

E238

Pesticides Reach Far Beyond the Farm

One of the first things you learn when going through a medical based education and something that forms the very foundation of medical ethics is the concept “Above all do no harm.” But you kind of have to wonder why this does not seem to apply to the rest of the world. 

For example, eventually you have to ask who established so-called “safe levels” of known toxic substances in our food. The list of potential diseases linked to these chemicals is quite long and yet these substances are still widely used. Not to mention the far reaching affects of having these chemicals in our environment.

If you want to learn a little bit more then stick around for E 338 The Reach of Pesticides is Far Beyond the Field.

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E238 The Reach of Pesticides is Far Beyond the Field

There are numerous examples that I could point out of how humanity has accomplished something or developed a product or a chemical of some sort that at first appeared to be a great idea. But after the short term benefits wore off we then realized the true dangers of what we had just done. But for this episode I only want to focus on one thing and that is pesticides.

But before we get to that, let’s talk about the good new story of the week.

This week’s story is about the miraculous survival of a cat. Now this story is both unfortunate and inspiring at the same time.

The unfortunate part of this story is the fact that the two adult owners is this cat both fell 380 feet into Bryce Canyon in Utah after going over the railing. They were later found by tourists who alerted the authorities.

When rescuers arrived, the pilot that was on duty that day, Chelsea Tugaw, noticed what looked like a dusty backpack. But it turned out to be a soft sided pet carrier which contained a cat that was miraculously still live.

The 12 year old cat, Mirage, was taken to the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah where she was diagnosed with a couple of broken ribs and some damaged teeth.

The shelter reached out to family members who were unable to adopted her. So, she was adopted by the pilot of initially found her and said she was going to give her a good life of retirement.

It is hard to believe that anything could survive a fall of 380 feet but it goes to show how resilient animals can be.

Now lets move on to this weeks episode about the far reach of pesticides.

🌾 Historical Reasons for Pesticide Development

But just like so many other things, there was a good reason for why we developed pesticides. With rapid global population growth, especially in the 20th century, there was an increased demand for food.

Pesticides were seen as a technological advancement to boost agricultural productivity.  With insects, weeds, and fungal diseases posing a threat for major causes of crop failure farmers needed a reliable way to prevent infestations and diseases that could devastate food supplies.

But the application of pesticides was also seen as a way to improve agricultural efficiency. Manual or organic methods of pest control were labor-intensive and often inconsistent. Thus chemical pesticides allowed for quicker, large-scale pest control with considerably less labor.

Pesticides were also seen as a means of increasing profitability. Protecting crops from pests meant higher yields and more predictable harvests.This led to greater financial stability for farmers and more stable food prices.

🧪 Types Developed for Specific Problems

But there were also different avenues of development of these substances depending on the purpose. For example, Insecticides were developed to kill insects that eat crops. Herbicides were used to control weeds that competed with crops. Fungicides are to prevent or stop the spread of mold, mildew, and plant diseases, and then rodenticides were developed to kill rodents that damage stored grain.

🧠 Underlying Philosophy at the Time

The goal was to maximum crop yields while minimizing loss. Pesticides became part of the “Green Revolution” that revolutionized food production. But also at the time, the environmental and long-term health concerns were poorly understood or these deleterious effects were underemphasized.

🕰️ Timeline: The Development of Pesticides

But if we step back in time for a moment, we quickly realize that the development and use of pesticides is truly nothing new.

Ancient Times

•  2,500 BCE – Sumerians use sulfur compounds to kill insects.
•  500 BCE – Chinese use arsenic and plant-based oils for pest control.

1600s–1800s

•  Nicotine from tobacco, pyrethrum from chrysanthemums, and rotenone from tropical plants are used as natural insecticides.
•  Early synthetic compounds (e.g., copper sulfate) are used to combat mildew and fungi.

1930s–1940s: The Birth of Modern Pesticides

•  DDT developed in 1939 by Paul Müller; used widely in WWII to control lice and malaria.
•  DDT is hailed as a miracle chemical and becomes widely used in agriculture after the war.

1950s–1960s: Chemical Boom

•  Organophosphates and carbamates developed—stronger, more targeted pesticides.
•  Use of pesticides becomes industrialized with the rise of large-scale commercial agriculture.

1962: Turning Point

•  Rachel Carson publishes Silent Spring, raising awareness about the ecological damage of DDT and other chemicals.
•  Start of the environmental movement and pesticide regulation.

1970s–1990s: Regulation and Alternatives

•  Many harmful pesticides (like DDT) are banned or restricted.
•  Rise of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and organic farming movements.

2000s–Today

•  Focus on reducing environmental impact with biopesticides and precision agriculture.
•  Growing concern over pesticide resistance, pollinator decline, and human health risks.

🏛️ Who Establishes Safe Pesticide Levels?

And this or course bring us back to who decides the safe level of chemicals in our food. In the US it is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Internationally is the Codex Alimentarius Commission (established by FAO and WHO) In Europe it is the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In Canada it is the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

And of course there are certain standards for determining so-called safe levels. But, as they say, here in lies the rub.

Over 10,000 chemicals are allowed in our food in the U.S., some of which are potentially toxic. But it is estimated that only around 1000 chemical have been certified as safe. Additionally, it has been revealed that most of the 80,000 chemicals currently in circulation in consumer products in the United States have not been adequately tested for safety or for their effects on human health, with only about 1% having been studied. Now I use the US as a prime example but I think it is safe to say that most other countries are similar.

Now despite the initial perceived benefits of pesticide development, let’s look at some of the affects of pesticides that reach far beyond the field.

🧪 The Far-Reaching Effects of Pesticides

🌿 1. Impact on Soil Health

•  Pesticides disrupt microbial communities in the soil.
•  Reduce populations of beneficial organisms like earthworms and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
•  Long-term use depletes soil fertility, making crops more dependent on chemical inputs.

💧 2. Contamination of Water Sources

•  Runoff carries pesticides into rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
•  Drinking water contamination linked to endocrine disruption and cancer risks.
•  Aquatic ecosystems suffer from toxicity, harming fish, amphibians, and plant life.

🐝 3. Decline in Pollinators

•  Pesticides are a major factor in bee population collapse.
•  Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds are exposed through nectar, pollen, and spray drift.
•  Without pollinators, over 75% of our food crops are at risk.

🐦 4. Harm to Wildlife

•  Pesticides poison birds, small mammals, and aquatic organisms through ingestion or indirect exposure.
•  Bioaccumulation and biomagnification lead to reproductive issues, immune dysfunction, and mortality.
•  Endangered species in agricultural areas are particularly vulnerable.

🐦 4. Bird Population Declines

•  Birds exposed through:
•  Eating pesticide-coated seeds.
•  Consuming contaminated insects and water.
•  Consequences:
•  Reproductive failure (thin eggshells, poor nesting success).
•  Neurological and behavioral abnormalities.
•  Example: Organophosphates have been linked to mass bird die-offs.

🐿️ 5. Toxic Effects on Mammals and Amphibians

•  Pesticides accumulate in small mammals like voles, mice, and moles—disrupting local food webs.
•  Amphibians (frogs, salamanders) are especially vulnerable due to:
•  Absorbing chemicals through their skin.
•  Hormonal disruption, leading to deformities and reduced populations.
•  Linked to worldwide amphibian population crashes.

🐍 6. Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

•  Predators (e.g., hawks, foxes, owls) suffer from accumulated pesticide levels in their prey.
•  Can lead to:
•  Liver and kidney damage.
•  Impaired reproduction.
•  Weakened immune systems.

🌱 7. Disruption of Ecosystem Balance

•  Pesticides eliminate not just pests, but also:
•  Natural predators (e.g., ladybugs, spiders, parasitic wasps).
•  Decomposers and beneficial insects.
•  Result: Resurgence of pests or rise of secondary pests that were previously controlled by natural predators.
•  Ecosystem services like pollination, pest control, and decomposition are compromised.

⚠️ Real-World Examples

•  DDT & Eagles: Widespread use led to eggshell thinning and near extinction of bald eagles.
•  Bee Die-Offs: Linked to widespread neonicotinoid use in Europe and North America.
•  Frog Deformities: Associated with exposure to atrazine in Midwestern U.S. wetlands.

🍎  Human Health Hazards

•  Linked to cancers, hormonal disruptions, neurological disorders, and developmental delays.
•  Farmworkers and rural communities face the highest exposure.
•  Children are especially at risk due to their active growth and development and of course because of their constant hand-to-mouth activity.

🔁  Resistance and the Pesticide Treadmill

•  Pests evolve resistance over time, leading to stronger chemicals and more frequent applications.
•  This cycle increases environmental loading and health risks.
•  Integrated pest management (IPM) offers a sustainable alternative.

🌍  Contribution to Climate and Ecosystem Imbalance

•  Pesticide production, transport, and application contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
•  Disruption of food chains and loss of biodiversity undermines ecological resilience.
•  Ecosystem services like pest control, water purification, and carbon storage are weakened.

Pesticide Drift

And then there is the issue of pesticide drift. You would think that since crops are not grown in the Arctic, there are only caribou, polar bears and very resilient humans, that there would not be pesticides. However, a multi-country study published in 2024, found 19 different pesticides in the Arctic atmosphere, 15 of which scientists had never recorded before. And this pattern is consistent worldwide.

This pesticide drift results in as much as a 50% decline in local plant diversity which in turn causes fewer resource for beneficial insects and other local wildlife. 

💡 Conclusion

•  Pesticides offer short-term agricultural gains but at long-term environmental costs.
•  Their impact stretches from soil to water, from insects to humans, and across entire ecosystems.
•  Reducing pesticide use, adopting organic and regenerative farming, and enforcing stricter regulations are critical for environmental health.
•  However, despite the well documented affects of pesticides, effective regulations are still difficult to implement. Most regulations follow a “presumed safe until proven hazardous” model.

How Can We Protect Ourselves?

Fortunately, despite the widespread use of pesticides, there are ways we can protect ourselves. To protect yourself from pesticides in our food, there are several things we can do.  First, wash all produce thoroughly under running water, even if it is labeled organic or if you plan to peel it. Peeling and trimming vegetables can also help reduce pesticide residues.  

Additionally, eating a variety of foods from different sources can minimize exposure to a single pesticide. If possible, consider growing your own food or purchasing from local farmers who use fewer pesticides. Finally, trimming fat and skin from meat, poultry, and fish can further reduce potential pesticide residues.

Additionally as a society we can rely on organic farming. This agriculture method promotes healthy soil, depends on crop rotation  and natural predators for pest and disease control and prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides.

Additionally of course we should support sustainable and organic farming initiatives and choose pesticide-free produce when possible. But as you likely well know, transitioning to more sustainable systems takes time. But as you have no doubt heard me say before, our choices do make changes and that includes the food we choose to eat. Every small step we take will eventually lead to a greater cultural shift to a more sustainable food system.

Now I want to close this episode with a quote from a man named Robert Swan who reminds us that “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”

And that is why I like to say that we all need to adhere to the principle of leave only footprints. If we do that, then by default we respect the environment, we recycle, reuse, reduce our use of resources, eliminate single use plastics, respect other cultures and work together to build a sustainable future.

Well folks, that’s about it for this week. I truly hope you have enjoyed this episode and will join me again next week. Until then, this is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainable because this is how we build a better future.