For decades, scientists have known that the use of pesticides has a negative impact on many species, including humans and ecosystems. But new studies have found that not only pesticides harm some Types – they harm almost all Of them.
What happens?
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was conducted by international research teams from the United Kingdom and China. It was one of the largest studies on the widespread impact of the use of pesticides so far.
“Our study provides an incomparable idea of the consequences of the use of pesticides in the natural environment worldwide,” said co -author Ben Wooddok in a message about the New Kingdom Ecology and Hydrology Center, Per Phys.org.
After analyzing over 1700 existing studies for the use of agricultural, commercial and domestic pesticides, researchers found that the negative effects were “predominant”, “wide -ranging” and comprehensive for hundreds of species according to the report.
These negative effects included effects on reproductive processes, individual growth, hunting and fodder, metabolism, mating behavior and more. In many cases, the use of pesticides leads to premature death and loss of the population.
“It is often considered that pesticides are toxic mainly to target pests and closely related organisms, but this is obviously not true,” explained Dave Gulson, another researcher. “In terms of this, we have found comprehensive negative effects on plants, animals, fungi and germs, threatening the integrity of ecosystems.”
Watch now: Giant snails invading New York?
Why are pesticides still used if they are so harmful?
It is clear that the widespread use of pesticides is a major contribution to the loss of biodiversity around the world. And while it may sound like a vague, indefinite problem, it has specific effects.
As a center for organic diversity and conservation, part of the American Museum of Natural History, it says, biodiversity provides major resources for people, including food, shelter, fuel and medicine.
“In addition, ecosystems provide decisive services such as pollination, seed spread, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient cycling and farm pest control,” it said.
Still, pesticides are still used, as Woodcock said, because our modern agricultural systems would fail without them. “Pesticides are a necessary evil without which the global food production and the livelihood of farmers would probably collapse,” he said. “However, our discoveries emphasize the need for policies and practices to reduce their use.”
What is done to mitigate these negative effects?
While some pesticides will continue to be used, researchers have recommended to limit their application as much as possible. This is already done in many parts of the world; For example, over 10% of agricultural land in the European Union are free from synthetic pesticides.
And scientists have encouraged farmers to take a surprisingly simple technique instead of spraying toxic chemical treatments: planting wild flowers. These species support species that naturally eat pests such as ladybugs and beetles. Similarly, landscaping, suitable for wildlife, can attract other natural predators, including frogs, birds and hedgehogs.
And Woodcock said there is a “very scope in the future” to include technology in future solutions, such as the use of artificial intelligence for pest monitoring with cameras or developing highly accurate application techniques to avoid unnecessary pollution.
Join our free newsletter for Good news and Helpful tipsAnd don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.