Insecticides Essay Example For Students

Insecticides Essay An insecticide is used to kill insects. There are many kinds of insecticides,but organic insecticides are the most commonly used (World Book, 1999). Organicinsecticides are split into three different categories: Chlorinated hydrocarboninsecticides, organophosphate insecticides, and carbamate insecticides (WorldBook, 1999). In this paper, Ill explore how toxic each of these insecticidesare, how they affect wildlife, humans, and the environment, and what we can doto help. WHY USE INSECTICIDES? Some insects, like white flies and mosquitoes,can carry deadly diseases that affect crops, animals and humans. Insects cancause about 5.5 billion dollars in crop and live stock losses every year. Someof the diseases they cause are Cattle Fever and Sheep Scab. The insecticides areused to kill insects and protect livestock (World Book, 1999). Insecticides canalso be used on flea treatments for cats, dogs, and other animals (Ackerman,1996). WHAT ARE ORGANIC INSECTICIDES? Organic Insecticides are the most commonlyand widely used insecticides. They are synthetic substances made from carbon,hydrocarbon insecticies, organophosphate insecticides (World Book 1999). Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, also know as organicchlorines, contain chlorine atoms (World Book 1999). Common members ofthis group are Acaralate, Acarol, Aldrin, BHC, Chlordance, Chlorobenzilate, DDT,dicofol, dieldrin, endosulfan, endrin, heptachlor, kepone, lindane, methoxychlor,mirex, perthen, TDE, and toxaphene (Hamm 1982). Theyre persistant because afterbeing used once, they can still affect living things for several years. This isbecause they dont break down chemically so theyre found in soil, animal andfish tissue, plants, and water (Hamm, 1982). These, and all persistantinsecticides, are trying to be replaced and restricted because they kill bird,fish, and other animals (World Book, 1999). Organophospahte Insecticides containphosphorus atom (World Book, 1999). Common members of this group are Abate,azinphosethyl, azinphosmethyl, Bidrin, bromophos, bromophosethyl,carbophenothion, and chlorfenvinphos (Hamm, 1982). They are used on food becausethey dont leave harmful depo sits behind (World Book, 1999). This is because thebreakdown rapidly into harmless components. They also break down in the presenceof water. They have less environmental danger than chlorinateed hydrocarbonswhich is why theyve almost replaced them for side scale usage (Hamm 1982). However, they are poisoness to people. One type of organophosphate, paratheion,is used to kill mites and aphids on fruit trees and vegetables. Another kind,malathion, are less dangerous to apply, so theyre widely used by farmers (World Book, 1999). Carbonates are the last kind of organic insecticide. They aremade from carbamic acid which is CO2NH3 (Hamm, 1982). They also contain one ormore amino groups that are of one nitrogen atom and two hydogen atoms. Theydont leave harmful deposits in food but some are harmful to warm bloodedanimals (World Book, 1999). Common members of this group are aldicarb, BUX,carbaryl, carbofuran, dimetilan, formetanate, methiocarb, methiocarb, methomyl,propoxur, and zectran. These are relatively new and might eventually replaceorganophosphates (Hamm, 1982). HOW TOXIC ARE THEY? Carbamates contain theinsecticide Sevin. Sevin has a low toxicity. It is effective against manyinsects that are resistant to other pesticides. Caramates also include theinsectide Bay gon, or Propoxar. Propoxar is highly toxic and has a long residuallife. Its effective against cockroaches, ticks, and other difficult insect andarachnid species (Hamm, 1982). Carbamates dont leave harmful deposits in food (World Book, 1999). The Chlorinated Hydrocarbon contain the insecticide DDT. DDTis moderately toxic and was once one of the most widely used insecticides butare now greatly restricted because it stays in soil and in water food chans(Hamm, 1982). They also endanger animals like birds and fish and theycontaminate the food that people eat. Since 1972, the U.S. Government phased outall use of DDT, but its still used in other countries (World Book, 1999). .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 , .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .postImageUrl , .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 , .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729:hover , .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729:visited , .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729:active { border:0!important; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729:active , .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729 .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc3f89301e42c538cb15a06ffe2b17729:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Great Gatsby's American Dream EssayOrganophosphates and carbamates carry some of the same risks. They are bothcommonly used and both have a high incidence of acute toxicity in animals andhumans. Both insecticides are used in flea treatments for pets. Theyre moredangerous than the other commonly used insecticides like pynethrins andpyrethoids. Symptoms of insecticide poisoning include: pinpoint pupils, blurredvision, tightness in chest, sweating, excessive tear production, salivation,nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Cardio vascular andneurological problems can also occur. Problems with the nervous system aredecreased alertness, sleep disorders, memory loss, and paranoia. Long termeffects can occur in the immune system, nervous system, and reproductive system. HOW CAN WE HELP? Some people are trying to change by using more naturalinsecticides. Once insecticide is cow urine. Its used on cotton and protects itfrom whiteflies. It also works as a fertilizer. The iron, potassium, andmagnesium in it makes the grow better (Hecht, 1998). Another natural insecticideis chilli powder. The only problem with this is it can affect peoples eyes andskin (Hecht, 1998). Other insecticides are red pepper, Bacilluss Thuringienisis(B+), and garlic juice. B+ comes from a naturally occuring bacteria. You canmake your own insecticide if you mix 2 tablespoons of red pepper and six dropsof dish detergentent into a gallon of water, let it sit overnight, and then stirit throughly. That can protect cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, andcollards (Long, 1998). There are many different kinds of insecticides. One groupof these are organic insecticides. There are three different types of organicinsecticides. Each type has different insecticides, but they are all dangero us. Some of them are replacing each other and some are so dangerous theyre tryingto be phased out. Some people are trying to help by using natural things thatdont have so many risks. CONCLUSION I found that this topic was kind of hard toresearch. At first, I thougght it would be easy, but it wasnt. I found most ofmy information in books and encyclopedias because the internet and periodicalsbarely had anything I could use. Bibliography1. Ackerman, Lowell: http://www.pet- zone.com/petzone/health/dog/10043.htm. Pet Healthe Initiative, Inc. 1996 2. HAMM, James G.: The Handbook of PestControl. Toronto: Fitzhenry ; Whiteside Limited, 1982. 3. Hecht, David;Georges Badiane. Benign Urine New Internationalist, Junew 1998,12-16 4. Long, Cheryl. Defeat Pests with Hot Pepper OrganicGardining, March 98:10 5. DDT The World Book Encyclopedia. 1999 6. Insecticides The World Book Encyclopedia. 1999 7. Pesticides Websters New World Encyclopedia, 1992