Pesticides (Are they really worth it?)
- Keerthi Nalabotu
- Jun 22, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 26, 2020
Slugs, aphids, fungi, lice, weeds. What do all of these organisms have in common? They’re all pests that ruin our precious gardens. You may ask, “How do we get rid of these garden-ruining creatures?”
My answer to you is to think before you use chemicals. The usual course of action when one has pests in their garden is to buy some form of pesticide, but before doing so, one should pause to understand the types, how they truly work, and their potential advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we’ll go over how pesticides truly work, the different types, alternatives, and of course, the good and the bad.
What are Pesticides?
Essentially, pesticides are chemicals used in order to control the growth of weeds, infesting insects, bacteria, fungi, and so on, by repelling or killing them.
There are a multitude of types of , including, but not limited to:
Insecticides - kill certain insects
Herbicides - weed control
Fungicides - fight against mold and mildew
Disinfectants/bactericides - control bacteria
Larvicides - kill larvae
Growth regulators - keep insect populations in check
Mothballs - prevent insects from infesting clothes
How do pesticides truly work?
There are different procedures through which pesticides kill insects and other pests. Here are the basics:
Dermal entry: When the pesticide (contact poison) enters the skin of the insect through cuticles (holes on the skin). Ex: Aerosol sprays
Oral entry: pesticide is consumed (sort of like poison).
Respiratory entry: pesticide is breathed in through spiracles (insects don’t have a nose).
What are the different types of chemicals used in pesticides?
In this article, w’ll only go over insecticide types, so that you aren’t overwhelmed.
Different types of insecticides:
1) Organic pyrethrins
Pyrethrin - obtained from the chrysanthemum flower
low toxicity
kills quickly
kills a variety of insects
biodegradable
2) Synthetic pyrethrins
chemically manufactured The picture above is a Chrysanthemum.
low toxicity to humans
Different types of synthetic pyrethrins:
Bifenthrin (usually against ant infestation, but it also kills a variety of other insects)
Permethrin (can be used to kill mites including scabies and lice)
Bioresmethrin (mosquitos)
Tetramethrin (affects the insect’s nervous system)
3) Inorganic insecticides
- include arsenic trioxide (termite treatment), boric acid (cockroach treatment)
- non-biodegradable
- better alternatives have been found
- acts as stomach poisoning when an insect eats it
4) Organochlorine insecticides
contain chlorine, synthetic
not environmentally friendly
most are banned
ex: DDT, chlordane, heptachlor, endosulfan
5) Organophosphorus insecticides
made of carbon chemicals and phosphorus, synthetic The image above depicts the
very toxic to mammals (including humans) spraying of DDT.
ex: chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, malathion, diazinon, and temephos
Let’s weigh the benefits and risks of pesticides::
GOOD:
Helps reduce pests
Helps increase crop potential
Helps increase harvests
Helps reduce hunger
Affordable prices
BAD:
Made of toxic chemicals that may cause side effects (loss of smell, autism, cognitive decline, etc.)
Consider your health versus affordable prices
Many pesticides have been linked to being carcinogens
May cause problems in children, including neural disorders
Is there a better and safer way?
YES! There are many natural alternatives to using chemical pesticides. The good thing about these alternatives is that they don’t cause too much harm, rather, they work in harmony with your garden.
Use naturally existing chemicals or plants (rhubarb, soap, stinging nettles)
Use predators (ladybird beetles, and birds)
Companion planting (planting different types of crops together - this varies on the problem you may be facing. For example, if you need aphid control, you can try planting chive, or coriander. The plants you need vary with which pest you are trying to control).
Frogs/toads
Ants to help reduce aphids
Use cheesecloth stuffed with dried catnip to remove cockroaches
Send flies away with eucalyptus oil on a cloth
Here is a superb guide to natural alternatives by the NIEHS: Good guide
In conclusion:
Though pesticides may be used on farms due to the vast amount of land, using natural alternatives may be the way to go when protecting plants in your backyard. The disadvantages of pesticides seem to outweigh (or another synonym) the benefits as scientists conduct further studies. Backyards, due to their small size, greatly increase the chances of one coming into contact with the pesticides/chemicals. The most logical conclusion would be to use natural alternatives whenever you can.
Sources:
“7 Types of Pesticides and How They Enter Animals and Plants.” Department of Health | 7
Types of Pesticides and How They Enter Animals and Plants,
manual-atsi-cnt-l~ohp-enhealth-manual-atsi-cnt-l-ch5~ohp-enhealth-manual-atsi-cnt-l-
ch5.7.
Connected, Science. “Gardening Alternatives to Pesticides.” Science Connected Magazine,
pesticides/.
“Importance & Benefits of Pesticides.” Pesticide Facts,
pesticidefacts.org/topics/necessity-of-pesticides/.
“Pesticides.” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides/index.cfm.
“Pesticides.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 3 Oct. 2018,
www.who.int/topics/pesticides/en/.
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