icide residues found in each; 63% of strawberries, 55% of peaches, 53% of celery, and 52% of cherries (Mott & Snyder 21). So what can we do as consumers? We must demand food without pesticide residue. As the consumer we also need to wash all produce. Another way to guarantee that there will be no pesticides on the food you eat is to grow your own fruits and vegetablesSo what happens when you eat these pesticides? Some pesticides are harmless but so many more are deadly. There are nine types of pesticides that have been identified by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to cause cancer. These nine are; captan, chlorothalonil, permethrin, acephate, DDT, parathion, dienldrin, methomyl, and folpet. Three of these have been banned from major uses yet they are still commonly found in humans. Cancer is the big problem when it comes to unsafe pesticides, but they still have a greater affect on humans and wildlife. Pesticides also cause mutations in newborns. They take at least one generation to form (Regerstein 254). These can be passed from generation to generation by breast milk and semen. It is now proven that pesticides can make men and women sterile. With all the problems that pesticides have brought on our generation, it should make us wonder what will develop in the ones to come. Pesticides have a greater affect on animals. In animals pesticides commonly break down the their nervous system. When pesticides are found in the sources of food and water, animals of a smaller size tend to die instantly.Now that you have a greater knowledge of pesticides and the damages they cause, you may ask yourself, what are the alternatives? The alternatives to this major problem are very limited. There are two alternatives to the usage of pesticides. The first and most common is to use environmentally safe pesticides. These are pesticides that do not harm the environment in any way. Natural pesticides are another way. These are p...
