m45.    Why are there proponents of pesticides?

Pesticides save lives:  DDT prevented death for 7 million people from insect transmitted diseases such as malaria, typhus, bubonic plague, and sleeping sickness. They increase food supplies and lower food costs. They increase profits for farmers. They work faster and better than the alternatives. The health risks are insignificant compared with their benefits. Some are safer than new materials being developed. Perfect pesticides kill only the target pest, harm no other species, breakdown into something harmless, do not produce genetic resistance, and are cheaper than nothing.

e01.    What is biodiversity?

e03.    How do pathogens and insects affect trees?

e14.    What are the basic components of life?

e19.    What materials can cause water pollution?

e20.    What are environmental hazards and risks?

e22.    What do we eat?

g19.    Where do you find air pollution?