Title: Environmental Impact Of Pesticides | SEPA - Safe and Effective Pesticide Applications - NCRR SEPA
Headings: Environmental Impact Of Pesticides
Environment
Environmental Impact Of Pesticides
Toxic Food Chains
Environmental Disaster
Minimizing the Risk of Pesticides to the Environment

Content: The high concentration of chlordecone in those territories forced local authorities to close down banana plantations due to high levels of soil toxicity. Sources of drinking water were contaminated as well and estimates say that they are likely to stay that way for decades. Toxic levels in the area’s fish were the highest ever recorded. Humans suffered as well. Those islands now have prostate cancer rates that are among the highest in the world. Minimizing the Risk of Pesticides to the Environment
How deadly a pesticide is to its environment is based on how toxic the pesticide is and the level of exposure. Minimizing the exposure risk to the environment is the best way to keep it safe from toxic levels that cause damage to the ecosystem. Good ways for minimizing the risk are: Implementing Integrated Pest Management
Choosing pesticides that are less toxic
Using the correct dosage as stated on the label
Ensuring that the pesticide is spread only over the target area
Using equipment that is well-serviced and maintained properly
The parts of the environment that are most affected by toxic levels of pesticides are: The soil which tends to hold onto pesticides such a nematicides which change the chemical properties of the soil and make it inhospitable to future crops
Water sources which is where water-soluble pesticides are washed into by rains
Non-target species such as bees which we rely on for the pollination.