Chemistry - Risk Benefit Analysis of Pesticide Use

Risk/Benefit Analysis:
Insecticides and Pesticides

History records that agricultural chemicals have been used since ancient times; the ancient Romans are known to have used burning sulfur to control insects, as well asusing salt to control weeds. Many other ideas such as these originated hundreds of years ago all over the world and have continued to develop over time into today’s use of insecticide and pesticide use that we see in today’s agricultural practices. Coming from a small farming based community in southern Alberta I would like to look into the issue of insecticide and pesticide use in farming, the risks and benefits of their use to gain a better understanding of what they mean to the industry, the environment, and to myself to see if there use is a safe and environmentally friendly practice.
Before we get into the risks and benefits of insecticide and pesticide use, we should become familiar with what they are and what they do. Pesticides are used to...