Ali, S., Ullah, M. I., Sajjad, A., Shakeel, Q., & Hussain, A. (2021). Environmental and health effects of pesticide residues. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 48: Pesticide Occurrence, Analysis and Remediation Vol. 2 Analysis, 311-336.
Ali et al. (2021) analyze the impact of pesticides on humans, animals, and the environment as their use continues in the agricultural sector. In their analysis, they point out that 80 per cent of the sprayed farm chemicals contaminate the environment and that 90 per cent of rivers near farms are usually highly contaminated (p. 324). Their results indicate that exposure to pesticides increases the risk of health problems, such as cancer (p. 317). This journal will help drive the discussion forward by highlighting the impact of pesticides on biodiversity, the effects of pollinators and bees, the food chain and contamination, and health concerns. It will also provide valuable data to strengthen the argument.
Bexfield, L. M., Belitz, K., Lindsey, B. D., Toccalino, P. L., & Nowell, L. H. (2020). Pesticides and their degradation products in groundwater used for public supply across the United States: occurrence and human health context. Environmental Science & Technology, 55(1), 362-372.
Bexfield et al. (2020) extensively analyzed the levels of pesticide residues in groundwater in the United States, using public supply wells to determine whether they contained more than 100 pesticide residues (p. 367). The researchers analyzed the presence of 116 degraded and 109 active pesticide ingredients. Consequently, they found that one metolachlor sample degraded, and that active ingredients such as prometon, atrazine, and tebuthiuron were present in less than 5 per cent of the samples in which pesticide traces were found (p. 369).
The study’s findings will be used to show that the concentration of these chemicals is reaching levels warranting public concern, making it essential to demonstrate the prevalence of pesticide residues in American underground drinking water and their impact on the general public’s health. Information from the research is also helpful in supporting the argument about pesticide accumulation in ground and surface water. It also shows the side effects of these pesticides on human health, which will help discuss their adverse effects.
Buck, A., Carrillo-Hidalgo, J., Camarero, P. R., & Mateo, R. (2020). Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in common kestrel eggs from the Canary Islands: Spatiotemporal variations and effects on eggshell and reproduction. Chemosphere, 261.
Buck et al. (2020) narrowed their research to focus on organochloride pesticides, which are considered the most persistent organic pollutants. Their study was conducted in Northern Tenerife to test for polychlorinated biphenyls and protoporphyrin IX in 40 unhatched kestrel eggs (p. 3). They found that DDE was most abundant, followed by PCBs, and concluded that both organochlorides were negatively associated with the thinness of the kestrel eggs (p. 4). Similarly, they note that despite the total ban imposed on DDT pesticides years ago in Spain, there are still significant traceable amounts of DDT in eggs in areas where they were heavily used (for example, in Tenerife).
As such, the article will be key in demonstrating the harmful effects of pesticides on birds and proving that they lead to population declines in bird species. The chemicals analyzed will be used where examples are needed to strengthen the argument.
de Solla, S. R., King, L. E., & Gilroy, E. A. (2023). Environmental exposure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and potential contribution to eggshell thinning in birds. Environment International, 171.
de Solla et al. (2020) discuss the environmental exposure of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their impact on bird reproduction, particularly eggshell thinning. Some of the pesticides investigated in the study include DDT and its isomers (p. 10). The researchers show that these isomers are responsible for population crashes in birds, specifically scavengers and fish-eating birds, over the years, and discuss non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug modes of action.
Therefore, this article will be used in areas where specific examples of toxic pesticide residues are needed. Similarly, it strengthens the argument that pesticides are harmful to birds and animals. Likewise, it will be used to show how pesticides disrupt species growth, leading to population decline or stagnation.
de Souza, R. M., Seibert, D., Quesada, H. B., de Jesus Bassetti, F., Fagundes-Klen, M. R., & Bergamasco, R. (2020). Occurrence impacts and general aspects of pesticides in surface water: A review. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 135, 22-37.
de Souza et al. (2020) conducted a systematic review of articles published between 2012 and 2019 to establish the presence and types of pesticides in the environment. The study focused on their concentration in surface water, their impact on non-target organisms such as animals and plants, and the subsequent adverse effects on the environment (p. 23). The researchers established that, starting from the lowest concentrations, insecticides are the least concentrated in the environment, followed by fungicides, while herbicides are the most concentrated (p. 24).
The study concludes that once pesticides enter the food chain, they disrupt several links, eventually impacting other non-target animals. Therefore, the journal helps the discussion by raising concerns about the potential for mixing these pesticides to form a single persistent compound. Additionally, it provides evidence of how pesticides negatively impact the food chain.
Hao, Y., Zheng, S., Wang, P., Sun, H., Matsiko, J., Li, W., and Jiang, G. (2021). Ecotoxicology of persistent organic pollutants in birds. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 23(3), 400-416.
Hao et al. (2021) characterized the significant progress and central aspects of ecotoxicology of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The research indicates that protecting wildlife and humans from the inevitable side effects of persistent organic pollutants is becoming increasingly complex (p. 401). A broad spectrum of side effects, exerted by persistent organic pollutants on birds and other animals, interferes with growth, development, reproduction, and the endocrine, neural, and immune systems. The broad spectrum results from pesticides acting antagonistically or synergistically on birds and other animals, depending on their concentration (p. 402). The researchers note that there is little scattered information on the investigated POPs, a lack of sufficient avian species, and limited geographical representation. Thus, the work will help predict and trace the effects of persistent organic pollutants at different levels biologically and support discussions on how persistent organochlorides interfere with animals’ development, reproduction, and endocrine systems.
Stackpoole, S. M., Shoda, M. E., Medalie, L., & Stone, W. W. (2021). Pesticides in US Rivers: Regional differences in use, occurrence, and environmental toxicity, 2013 to 2017. Science of the Total Environment, 787.
Stackpoole et al. (2021) used analytical methods to quantify pesticide concentrations in 221 surface water samples collected between 2013 and 2017. They assessed the potential toxicity of 74 rivers in the United States by comparing standard concentrations that should not exceed the levels of pesticides in those surface waters (p. 2). To summarize their results by region, they found that the potential toxicity of pesticides is evenly distributed across these areas, regardless of use frequency (p. 4). Imidacloprid poses a significant threat to aquatic life, as it was detected at higher levels than the other compounds, occurring in 60 of the 74 sites (p. 5).
Information from this article’s analysis will show how pesticides can persist beyond their intended lifespan and spread to areas where they have not been used, causing harm to surrounding environments. Additionally, it will be used to support the argument on the presence of pesticides in surface and groundwater bodies while demonstrating the path the chemicals take to reach drinking water.
USGS (2020). The quality of our nation’s water.
Analysis of this website shows that significant amounts of pesticides are found in rivers in the United States. The quality of water from those sources has been investigated to determine if they have nutrients and pesticide residues. In the case of pesticides, their level of concern has been assessed to determine whether they remain safe for human consumption.
Some topics discussed in the analysis are resource management practices and modelling approaches to pesticides, nutrients, and land use. This article examines the effects of pesticides on aquatic and human life, including how pesticide residues affect the purity of surface water. Ultimately, the website contains data on pesticide residue concentrations in American rivers, which supports the argument.