The Use of Dangerous and Illegal Pesticides in America

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The Use of Dangerous and Illegal Pesticides in America

Pesticides are used all over the world to grow healthier and larger quantities of food. These pesticides have made it possible for countries to produce excess foods that they can export. The growers in America have been able to send aid to countries who face natural disasters and many other countries who face hunger for other reasons. Though the United States is highly capable of feeding itself it imports much of its food from all over the earth (U.S. Department of agriculture, 2001, p. 36).

Pesticides do a lot of good; however, they can also do a lot of harm. Researchers have found that pesticides can cause diseases, such as cancer. There are many issues with the intake of pesticide residues.

The EPA and the FDA have banned some pesticides. Yet, the pesticides that are banned in the United States are legal in some other countries and some of this food is then imported into the United States. To prevent intake of these dangerous chemicals there should be a ban placed on the import of food from countries that use pesticides that are illegal or not registered in the United States because many of these are extremely unhealthy, not all imported food is tested, and most food importation is not necessary.

Registration

Pesticides are used to "reduce pests of any sort" (Setting Tolerances for Residues in Foods, 2003). Pesticides in the United States must be registered with the EPA and FDA so that the government can regulate them. The EPA tests pesticides many ways to be sure they are safe before they are registered to go on foods. They are also going over the pesticides that are registered before 1984, when the new regulations came out ("EPA and Food Security," 2...

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...95). EPA06: stop the export of banned pesticides. University of North Texas. Retrieved March 31, 2003, from http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/library/reports/EPA6.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2003, February 3rd). UN PIC & U.S. PIC-nominated pesticides list. Retrieved March 31, 2003, from http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/international/piclist.htm

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2000). Food and Drug Administration Pesticide Program. Retrieved March 31, 2003, from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~acrobat/pes00rep.pdf

What the Pesticide Residue Limits are on Food. US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved March 26, 2003, from http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/viewtols.htm

Why Children May be Especially Sensitive to Pesticides. US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved March 26, 2003, from http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/pest.htm

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