OVER USE OF INSECITICDES ON COTTON

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A Brief Survey of the Literature: Highly dangerous Insecticides used on cotton plants
and potential Human Health Effects.












Tour Clark
University of San Francisco
Public Health























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I. Introduction


Words with the suffix cide in the English language means that it is suppose to
kill something. Pesticides are meant to kill insects, bacteria, and fungus that feed on
crops. Insecticide is a type of pesticide used to kill insects. Modern agriculture in
America has drastically progressed in the last two decades, it has become a huge business
whose complete objective is to make money at any cost; even at the cost of human health
and lives. Yet, because of these advances, productivity and living standards of
developing countries have sky rocketed. This new over production of foods and crops
owes its dues to insectides and pesticides. Pesticides are used to ensure that the crops
will produce what the farmers demand, and the health of the environment or consumers
are of no concern.
There are two types of pesticides, chemical and biological. Using bacteria, fungi,
and other organically present substances to produce an agent to kill unwanted pests
creates the biological pesticides. There are some biological pesticides, such as
microorganisms, that can prove natural efficiency in certain pest of crops. The problem
with pesticides is they cause illness in the workers; the run-offs into water kill fish, infect
livestock, and ultimately affect the top carnivores and herberviors of the planet, humans.
It only can take a small amount to kill both humans and lower animals alike. More
alarming, some toxins are slower acting, which can take a much longer time to cause
damage to the human body. Take for example cotton, which is considered the worlds
dirtiest crop because of its tremendous use of insectides. Many of the insectides that are
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used on cotton can have slow acting effects on living creatures that are exposed to them,
humans included. Insectides are the most hazardous pesticide to animal and human
health. There need to be a policy put into place that discontinues the use of pesticides and
insecticides on cotton to protect the health of the environment, as well as the health of
humans or we will suffer dire consequences in the future.

Since the 1980s, the global consumption of cotton has escalated, practically
doubling in the last 30 years (EJF, 2007). 2.5% of the worlds cultivated land is cotton
plant, yet farmers used 16% of the worlds insecticides, which is more than any other
single major crop grown (EJF, 2007). There are 19 different pesticides and insecticides
used on cotton plants, among them 4 of the top 9 pesticides used in the U.S (Malathion,
Aldicarb, Parathion, and Acephate) are known carcinogenic (cancer causing agents).
In this paper I will examine several articles that discussed the effects of certain pesticides
on human health and shed light on some legislation suggestions. I will discuss the
literature review of the 4 top insecticides that I mentioned.

II. Toxic effects of Aldicarb

Risher and Choudhury (1991) discussed the effects of Aldicarb using data from World
Health Organizations International Labor Organization and through literature review.
Aldicarb is a synthetic insecticide with no natural sources. It is an oxime carbamate
insecticide that was introduced in 1965 by the Union Carbide Corporation. Risher and
Choudhury mentioned that when lab rat fetuses were exposed to aldicarb, it had
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distributed to all the tissues of the fetuses and was metabolically transformed to the
sulfoxide and sulfone (both are toxic). Aldicarb is effectively absorbed from the
gastrointestinal tract and the skin; it has a high acute toxicity. There can be recovery from
its cholinergic effects spontaneously and completely within 6 hours, but death can occur
as well.

III. Toxic effects of Malathion

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) stated that malathion is
the most widely used Insecticide on cotton plants. In a class of its own, 12,600 metric
tons (mass) of malathion is used on U.S cotton crops, a totaling over 164 million dollars
spent each year on this insecticide. Malathion is used not only to kill insects, but golf
courses, in home gardens, outdoor sites, mosquitos and Mediterranean fruit flies
(medflies) in large outdoor areas. Malathion affects the normal function of the nervous
system, in addition, it interferes with many organs the nervous system controls. Exposure
to large amounts of malathion in the air, water, or food may cause chest tightness, short
of breath, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, blurred vision, headaches, loss of consciousness,
and death. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that there is
suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity for malathion in animals but it is not sufficient to
assess potential carcinogenicity in humans.

III. Toxic effects of Parathion

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The Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry classify Methyl parathion as a
dangerous manufactured chemical to humans. This chemical interferes with the normal
processes of brain function and nerves. Being exposed to high levels of Parathion for a
short period can lead to death, loss of consciousness, dizziness, blurred vision, and the list
of aliments goes on. The research found that kidney lesions were reported in humans
dying of methyl parathion intoxication. Yet, more alarming is children being exposed to
this pesticide through the same ways adults are; eating foods, drinking milk and or water,
that contain the residue of the pesticide from the crops used for consumption. The
literature stated that there is no evidence in humans that methyl parathion causes birth
defects. Only birth defects were noticed when the pesticide was injected into pregnant
animals. Although the EPA restricted the amount and use of methyl parathion, children,
because of their smaller weight, can intake methyl parathion per kilogram of body weight
greater than that of adults. This is a huge public health concern, especially since there has
been a tremendous amount of pesticide run-offs into the water systems, then affecting the
food sources that humans consume.

IV. Protecting Human and insect lives alike

Matthews et al examined how if vector-control pesticides and other public health
pesticides can undercut the effectiveness of interventions or give rise to risks to the
environment and human health. Matthews et al suggested in the literature for legislation
for pesticides, stating there should be a comprehensive approach to pesticides. The scope
of the legislation should cover aspects of labeling, storage, labeling, and the disposal of
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pesticides to ensure proper use and cut risks to the environment and ultimately, human
health. Matthews et al did not just focus their attention on America, but all the countries
of the world. For in order to safe guard the borders of America, there must be legislation
from the United Nations that enforces pesticide regulations, especially on cotton crops
across regions. Although certain continents are separate of each other, the health of the
environment will soon affect all living creatures habiting the earth.

VII. Conclusion

The toxicology research has specified the implications of the use of pesticides,
despite the inadequate discussion of the literature, the pesticides used on cotton harms the
environment and humans like. Exposures to these pesticides go unnoticed to many people
around the world working on or near cotton crops. The farm workers are especially at risk
with a deadly combination of majority of them not having health care coverage. I
understand the demand for the cotton plant uses in our society, yet the environment;
animals and or humans should not suffer health issues and death because of capital. There
must be a reform to the use pesticides on cotton plants through State and Federal
regulations to mirror the large bodies of research about the harmful effects to exposures
of pesticides because of cotton crops. Developing strategies using other insects,
companion planting, or even biodegradable pest-control substances to lower the risk of
toxicity in humans and animals like.






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Reference:
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1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2003. Toxicological
profile for Malathion. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service.

2. Bronzan and Jones. 1989. Assembly bill 2161, Addition to the Food and Agriculture
Code SEC 8 section 13060. California Food and Agriculture Code,


3. EJF. (2007). The deadly chemicals in cotton. Environmental Justice Foundation in
collaboration with Pesticide Action Network UK: London, UK. ISBN No. 1-904523-10-
2.

4. Matthews, G., Zaim, M., Yadav, R., Soares, A., Hill, J., Ameneshewa, B., Mnzava, A.,
& Dash, A. (n.d.). Status of legislation and regulatory control of public health pesticides
in countries endemic with or at risk of major vector-borne diseases. (2011). Environ
Health Perspect , 119, 1517-1522. Retrieved from http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1103637/


5. Risher, J. (1991). Aldicarb: Environmental health criteria series. (Vol. 121). World
Health Organization.

6. Sullivan, J.B. Jr., G.R. Krieger (eds.). Hazardous Materials Toxicology-Clinical
Principles of Environmental Health. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins, 1992., p. 698