Evidence shows the first usage of pesticides around 4,500 years ago.

Originating from the

East in countries such as China and modern-day Sri Lanka, several primitive methods were
used. For example, early pesticide users would burn Smokey materials up-wind to deter any
unwanted pests. As events such as trade and the Industrial Revolution took place, people
moved away from primitive methods and the focus of pesticides dramatically changed to
the boom countries such as the US, the UK and France. Unlike other factors in the
agricultural sector, Pesticides can be found abundantly in both developed and developing
countries. As scientists moved away from the primitive methods and as science evolved,
intolerant materials were added in the production of pesticides. As of now, many prevalent
diseases are linked to the use of pesticides – for example, Parkinson’s Disease and Non-
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Pesticides aren’t localised and so there are many disadvantages of Pesticides – the
chemicals present in pesticides can affect anyone. Pesticides can be found across the world
in farms, neighbourhoods, parks and any habitats. Due to this fact, there are bound to be
environmental-related side-effects of the use of Pesticides. In contrast, there are also many
advantages. For example, the cycle of Pesticides is benefitable to all organisms – the
pesticides are used to benefit the crops and in turn, these crops are used to feed people.
Pesticides are also crucial to plant growth and agriculture; without pesticides, crop-life
would be significantly worse, and pesticides are crucial in maintaining the vast amounts
food and products used on a daily basis. However, the situation is getting out of hand. The
situation of pesticide harm has become uncontrollable and 6 scientific study conducted in
2015 concluded that government intervention is necessary to help provide resources and
restrictions to help eliminate the issue entirely.

As mentioned before, Pesticides are prevalent in both the developing and developed
countries, but studies conducted by American agencies have shown that Pesticide-related
problems are more common in the developing areas of the world. For example, in Southern
India, between 1997 and 2002, 8000 patients were admitted to rural hospitals with 22% of
them dying due to pesticide poisoning. Another study conducted by the Indian Government
concluded that the number of patients admitted to the hospital, the fatality rate and the
underlying cause of their admittance was due to pesticide poisoning. The severity of
pesticide poisoning has now evolved into a global problem – many governments across the
world need high-tech equipment to handle with the pressure of poisoning…

As discussed earlier, pesticide poisoning has proven to be a radical illness. As a result, it is

the preferred method of suicide and so it is used nowadays for the wrong reasons. What
may seem like mid symptoms can evolve and a simple pesticide poisoning could become a
possible long-term disease.

Acute Pesticide Poisoning is the milder version of pesticide poisoning. It can develop due to
the accidental ingestion of pesticides at home, consumption of pesticide contaminated food
or exposure to pesticides. Acute pesticide poisoning occurs in discreet and in-direct ways. In
other ways, a person with acute pesticide poisoning is usually asymptomatic. Even though it
is asymptomatic, acute pesticide poisoning does not usually have major side-effects. If left
untreated, acute pesticide poisoning can progress to damage to the CNS and thus acute
pesticide poisoning has transitioned into symptoms of chronic-pesticide poisoning. Several
reports made by the David Suzuki Foundation have indicated that genetics could be a
variant factor in pesticide-poisoning. For example, 2.4% of Canadians have multiple
chemical sensitivities. Pesticide poisoning is still developing and so as the matter progresses,
several other discoveries will be made.

Chronic Pesticide Poisoning can have devastating effects: for example, risk of cancer,
creation of developmental effects in offspring, birth defects, organ system and interference
with the human endocrine system. Chronic pesticide poisoning is also linked to major world
diseases. For example, people who had experienced pesticide poisoning would suffer from
Parkinson’s Disease by 70% more by those who had not. Even after recovering from chronic
pesticide poisoning, there are many severe side-effects. Chronic pesticide poisoning is
known to have damaging effects on the liver, kidneys and the nervous system. Law
enforcement is taking action to prevent risk of pesticide poisoning are taking place; in North
America, selling and using pesticides requires permits, training and protection.

The majority of people who do not have any protection against pesticides reside and work in
rural areas. Studies have shown that pesticide poisoning cases are worse in the developing
countries – in the rural areas. Also, the regular treatment used for pesticide poisoning is not
very effective – oximes have little effectiveness for preventing a death due to pesticide
poisoning.

Pesticide poisoning attacks all organs of the body; it irritates the abdominal regions first,
then the respiratory system of the body. Also, insufficient healthcare can cause an untimely
death as where pesticide poisoning infection rates, there is a high rate of poverty.

Pesticide poisoning is not localized to those effected. Studies conducted by the WHO and
the Ministry of Agriculture in India have shown that pesticide poisoning can become a
water-borne disease thus pesticide poisoning has the potential to wipe out several
villages/communities. Another study shows that pesticide poisoning evolves through the
food chain, so the illness is not just specified for humans. Other animals can be transmitters
of pesticides.

In 1985, 2.8 million cases of suicide by pesticide poisoning. As of today, pesticide poisoning
still results to the most suicide deaths. Pesticide suicide is more common in the developing
countries and pesticide suicide has dropped in developing countries – this is because of
several factors. Pesticides are more commonly available in the developing countries where
there is more agriculture. Also, in the developed countries, law enforcement is taking place
to combat pesticide-related deaths…

In conclusion, pesticide poisoning can prove to be fatal. However, law enforcement is

increasing – for example, by labelling the safety risks on the packaging as ‘Smoking kills’ is
advertised on cigarette packets. From the several studies mentioned in this essay, it is
evident that previously, there was not much control over pesticide poisoning. Following
several studies conducted by the WHO, it has been proven that different pesticides have
different strengths. The question remains, does that effect the level of pesticide poisoning?