organophosphates. These pesticides are often highly toxic to humans, but generally
do not remain in the environment for long. Diazinon, malathion, dimethoate, and
chlorpyrifos are pesticides of this classification. The last group is the carbamates.
They are generally less toxic to humans, but concerns persist about the potential
effects of some carbamates on immune and central nervous systems. Carbaryl, carbo-
furan, and methomyl are examples of carbamates.^30Pesticide Safety MythsThere is no such thing as a ‘‘safe’’ pesticide. In fact, pesticide labels describe their
products as possessing varying degrees of toxicity. For that matter, it is illegal for pes-
ticide manufacturers to allege safety as a pesticide characteristic in their promotional
efforts. Different pesticides affect people in different ways. Some cause cancer and are
listed as ‘‘known’’ or ‘‘possible’’ carcinogens as identified by the EPA or state environ-
mental agencies. Some are nerve toxins, which affect the enzyme responsible for the
basic operation of the brain and nervous system. Many originate from World War II
research on chemical weapons. These include organophosphate and carbamate insecti-
cides such as chlorpyrifos and diazinon. Acute (immediate) poisoning symptoms
are flu-like, featuring nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dizziness. These pesticides may
also impair memory, learning ability, ability to focus, and even normal behavior.
Reproductive and developmental toxins are those that impact the development of
children.^31 Exposure to these chemicals may jeopardize a child’s mental or physical
development. Pregnant women exposed to these chemicals may face increased risk of
birth defects in their unborn children. Hormone-mimicking toxins also known as en-
docrine disruptors can disrupt delicate hormonal processes in wildlife and humans.
Hormones act as chemicals in the human body, triggering a wide array of biological
processes. They can impact height and weight, gender differentiation, the development
of reproductive organs, and energy levels. Because hormones function at very low levels,
these pesticides can have dramatic effects even at modest levels of exposure.^32Pesticide ResistanceIn addition to directly poisoning our environment and our food, pesticides pose a
serious threat to our food production system itself. From one viewpoint, pesticides
are wonder chemicals that have increased food production by 20 percent since 1940
by reducing pest damage. Yet over the same period, they have also created at least
261 strains of insect species, sixty-seven strains of plant pathogens, two strains of
nematodes (parasitic worms), and four (or by some counts, nineteen) strains of weeds
that they cannot kill. While insecticide use has increased tenfold since the 1940s,
crop losses to insects doubled.^33
The key to this paradox is the selection for resistance that pesticides exert on their
target pests. Pesticides never kill 100 percent of a pest population, and the survivors
tend to have a lower susceptibility to that particular chemical. With every repeated
application of the same pesticide, these naturally resistant individuals make up a6 | Pesticides