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Pesticides are carefully regulated in Canada through a program of pre-market scientific assessment, enforcement, education, and information dissemination. [7] All levels of government work together to help protect Canadians and the environment from any risks posed by pesticides and to ensure that pest control products do what they claim to on ...
Pesticides can accumulate in bodies of water to levels that kill off zooplankton, the main source of food for young fish. [92] Pesticides can also kill off insects on which some fish feed, causing the fish to travel farther in search of food and exposing them to greater risk from predators. [90]
Therefore, a pesticide with low toxicity and high exposure could pose a similar risk as a pesticide with high toxicity and low exposure. [35] Built-in safety factors are designed to take into account the potential variability of response, both within the same species (e.g., adults versus children) and between species (e.g., animals versus humans).
The Pesticide Question builds on the 1962 best seller book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. [4] Carson did not reject the use of pesticides, but argued that their use was often indiscriminate and resulted in harm to people and the environment. She also highlighted the problem of pests becoming resistant to pesticides. [3]
Many newer pesticides are derived from plants or naturally occurring substances (e.g.—nicotine, pyrethrum and insect juvenile hormone analogues), but the toxophore or active component may be altered to provide increased biological activity or stability. Applications of pesticides must reach their intended targets.
Pesticides, because they are toxic chemicals meant to kill pest species, can affect non-target species, such as plants, animals and humans. Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, because they are sprayed or spread across entire agricultural fields. [ 17 ]
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency, which was created under a former piece of legislation, reports to Parliament through Health Canada, and is delegated to govern the products. On 31 January 2008, the Review Panel Regulations were instituted, in order to administer sections 35 to 40 of the Act.
Health effects of pesticides may be acute or delayed in those who are exposed. [1] Acute effects can include pesticide poisoning, which may be a medical emergency. [2] Strong evidence exists for other, long-term negative health outcomes from pesticide exposure including birth defects, fetal death, [3] neurodevelopmental disorder, [4] cancer, and neurologic illness including Parkinson's disease ...