Show s I Dad Bad Effects of Pesticides Not All True There is too much hysteria these days concerning the use of pesticides and their supposed contamination of our environ environ- ment Reed S. S Roberts i Extension Entomologist reports how pesticides protect our food supply H He pointed out that much of this hysteria is started by fanatics fanatics fanatics fan fan- who are self-appointed self experts on pesticide and other c chemical h hem e m i c a l 1 poisoning Through their undocumented ace accusations accusations u s a- a they create confusion for housewives and others who beli believe be believe be- be lieve li ve they are being poisoned by their food Pesticides are poison They are meant to kill insects weeds fungi rats mice and other ver ver- min But there is not one documented documented documented doc doc- case of ill health or death in man caused by legal pesticide residues on our food supply Pesticides are dangerous danger danger- ous if not handled properly however hazard to man from legal chemical residues on food is non Many com common m 0 n food items would disappear from the grocers grocer's grocers grocer's grocers grocer's groc groc- ers er's food shelf almost overnight if modern pesticides were not available E Economic production of apples peaches lettuce cabbage cabbage cabbage cab cab- bage potatoes tomatoes and many other f fruits r u its and vegetables vegetables vegetables vege vege- tables would be almost impossible impossible impossible sible without plant protection chemicals Not only would many of these foods disappear but prices of those foods available would be very high Production of cereals eggs meat and dairy products would also be affected The quality of all an food available would be very poor due to insect and disease damage The small amounts of chemical chemical chemical chem chem- ical substances in foods do not constitute a h health e a l t h hazard These chemical substances in food dont don't constitute a health hazard These chemicals are not toxic at these extremely low levels and the human body's biological pro processes c e s breakdown break breakdown breakdown down these chemical as soon as they enter the body into harmless harmless harmless harm harm- less substances Plant protection protection protection tion chemicals can be detected in the supply but the amounts of such residues are insignificant from a health standpoint far below the amount specified by the Food and Drug Administration Thanks to careful surveillance surveillance surveillance lance of the DS the American American American Amer Amer- ican housewife can be confident that the foods she buys are safe and nutritious She can also be thankful that pesticides have made it possible for her to buy fruits and vegetables free from worms and disease |