LONG TERM EFFECT OF AGROCHEMICALS ON ENVIRONMENT

Submitted by Shruthi k PALB 4195 Dept of Forestry and environmental science

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION2. GLOBAL LEVEL AGROCHEMICAL CONSUMPTION AND USE3. EFFECT OF AGROCHEMICALS ON ENVIRONMENTa) SOILb) WATERc) AIRd) HUMAN HEALTH4. CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

• Agrochemicals are chemicals which are used in agriculture.

• These are used to improve quality and quantity of food.

GLOBAL LEVEL AGROCHEMICAL CONSUMPTION AND USE

Is it really possible to grow crops without

agrochemicals ?

Before Green Revolution

Father of the Green Revolution

Father of Green Revolution in India M.S. Swaminathan

High yielding varieties

EFFECT OF AGROCHEMICALS ON ENVIRONMENT

• Soil• Water• Air• Human

health

1.SOIL HEALTH

• Soil health is the capacity of soil to function within ecosystem and land use boundaries, to sustain productivity maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTHY SOILS

• Good soil tilth.• Sufficient depth.• Sufficient but not excess of nutrients.• Small population of plant pathogens and

insects.• Good drainage.• Large population of beneficial organisms.• Low weed pressure.• Free of chemicals and toxins• Resistant to degradation.

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF AGROCHEMICALS ON SOIL HEALTH

• Kills beneficial organisms. • Increase in nitrate levels of soils.• Damage natural make up of soil.• Alters the pH. • Decrease soil quality.• Kills soil organisms.• Toxic to microbes.• Toxicity availability of nutrients.• Kills earthworms.• Growth regulators:• Residual effect.• Toxic to soil organisms.

2.EFFECT ON WATER

• Water become unfit for drinking.

• The runoff of agrochemicals into streams, lakes, and other surface waters can increase the growth of algae.

• Eutrophication- Change in quality and composition of aquatic ecosystems by accumulation of excessive chemicals in water bodies.

• Polluted water leading to the death of fish and other aquatic animals.

• Excessive use of agrochemicals has led to the contamination of groundwater .

PESTICIDE PATHWAY ENTERING WATER

• There are four major routes through which pesticides reach the water: it may drift outside of the intended area when it is sprayed, it may percolate, or leach, through the soil, it may be carried to the water as runoff, or it may be spilled, for example accidentally or through neglect. They may also be carried to water by eroding soil.

3. EFFECT ON AIR

• Pesticides can contribute to air pollution.

• Pesticide drift occurs when pesticides suspended in the air as particles are carried by wind to other areas.

• Weather conditions at the time of application as well as temperature and relative humidity change the spread of the pesticide in the air.

• Low relative humidity and high temperature result in more spray evaporating.

• The polluted air is inhaled by humans end with up with different diseases.

Kerala’s Endosulfan Tragedy

• The UNO classifies Endosulfan as highly dangerous insect killer and banned in 62 countries.

• Endosulfan, a highly toxic organochlorine pesticide was sprayed in the cashew plantations in Kasaragod District sine 1976, till 2001 regularly three times every year.

• The aerial spraying of Endosulfan was allegedly undertaken to contain the menace of the tea mosquito bug.

• By 1990s health disorders of very serious nature among the human population came to the lime light.

• Children were found to be the worst affected with congenital anomalies, mental retardation, physical deformities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy etc

3.Human health

• Direct effect• Indirect effect Air Water Food chain Ingestion

• Pesticides can enter the body through inhalation of aerosols, dust and vapour that contain pesticides; through oral exposure by consuming food/water; and through skin exposure by direct contact.

• The effects of pesticides on human health depend on the toxicity of the chemical and the length and magnitude of exposure.

• Farm workers and their family experience the greatest exposure to agricultural pesticides through direct contact.

PESTICIDES ENTERING HUMAN BODY

• Pesticide exposure can cause a variety of adverse health effects, ranging from simple irritation of the skin and eyes.

• It also affects the nervous system, mimicking hormones causing reproductive problems, and also causing cancer.

• Children are more susceptible and sensitive to pesticides, because they are still developing and have a weaker immune system than adults.

The ideal Pesticide and the Nightmare Insect Pest

• The ideal pest-killing chemical has these qualities:

• Kill only target pest.• Not cause genetic resistance in the

target organism.• Disappear or break down into

harmless chemicals after doing its job.• Be more cost-effective than doing

nothing. It would stay exactly where it was put and not move around in the environment.

• There is no such thing!

Pesticides and the Law

• The EPA & USDA are responsible for the overseeing the laws.

FIFRA

• The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide Act

• It was first established in 1947 & revised as recently as 1996.

• It states what must be on a pesticide label & requires registration of all pesticides.

FFDCA

• Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act• Strengthened in 1996 • Sets pesticide tolerance levels

FQPA

• Food Quality Protection Act• Established in 1996 • Amends both FIFRA and FFDCA.

Rachel Carson

• Rachel Carson lived from 1907 to 1964. • She published her famous work Silent Spring

in 1962.

• SILENT SPRING heightened public awareness and concern about the dangers of uncontrolled use of DDT and other pesticides, including poisoning wildlife and contaminating human food supplies.

• The World Health Organization and the UN Environment Programme estimate that each year, 3 million workers in agriculture in the developing world experience severe poisoning from pesticides, about 18,000 of whom die.

• 99% of pesticide related deaths occur in developing countries that account for only 25% of pesticide usage.

• According to one study, as many as 25 million workers in developing countries may suffer mild pesticide poisoning yearly.

MALLES VILLAGE , ITALY• It is a village of 5000

inhabitants, close to the Austrian and Swiss border, become a lighthouse for an organic future for Europe’s agriculture.

• Now this village is surrounded by thousands of pesticides-free yellow and red apples.

REFERENCES

• Introductory soil science – Dr. Dilip Kumar Das.• www.wikipedia.com• www.slideshare.com

THANK YOU