Arts Integration

The Eco Injustice of Pesticides and Chemicals in Our Soil

A deep dive into the community, cancer, and what can be done to help. 

Cited Script for The Eco Injustice of Pesticides and Chemicals in Our Soil

Introduction

Children thrive outdoors, and building an appreciation for nature is vital for the development of both their bodies and minds. A 2023 study by D. Glassy and P. Tandon from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that children benefit by being physically healthier, more creative, are less prone to anger and depression, and have reduced symptoms of ADHD. When children lose the freedom to exist and play outdoors it can negatively affect both the development of the child, but creates a loss of environment as children lose the meaning behind the importance of nature, (White, 2004). By spending time outdoors, children and adults alike can grow an appreciation of the natural world. Finding wonderment and awe, and a deep respect for plants, animals and all living things. In recent years,and with the increase in social media, the interest in foraging for wild plants and fungi as a way to reconnect with nature has exploded! (Wilde, 2016). However due to an ecological injustice happening in our backyards, spending time in nature may not be the natural solution that we have hoped for. 

The Issue with Pesticides

After an amatuer mycologist in 2010 was diagnosed with a severe case of heavy metal poisoning from consuming foraged morels- a gourmet variety of mushrooms- researchers looked to the environment that he had foraged from, and they found an abandoned apple orchard. Researchers tested the soil and found that the orchard had been previously treated with lead arsenate pesticides that had never truly decomposed or had been flushed out of the ecosystem, (Shavit & Shavit, 2010). While the orchard had been sprayed years ago with chemicals that had not been properly tested, it does not excuse the generations of today from making the same mistakes. Chemicals that are not fully understood are still being used today with unknown effects. A study done in 1982  by G. Willis and L. McDowell published in the Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry journal looking at the runoff water found that all chemicals are toxic to living organisms at sufficiently high levels. Agricultural pesticides specifically are dangerous as they not only seep into the soil, water and air, but animals near the top of the food chain seem to accumulate the highest concentrations of these chemicals, (1982). A later study conducted by G. Willis and A. Martin in 1995 from the Institute of Comparative and Environmental Toxicology found that even years after a pesticides application, one common ingredient that affected living organisms metabolism became resistant to microbial degradation, (1995). This means that after the initial carbon breakdown, the microbes in the soil are no longer able to remove it to cleanse the ecosystem. 

Community Connections

This information is devastating, but how does it affect us and our community? 

Back in the 1950’s, the incredible environmentalist and researcher Rachel Carson published her infamous book Silent Spring. In it she states that 

“A quarter century ago, cancer in children was considered a medical rarity. Today, more American school children die of cancer than from any other disease. Some oncologists suggest that congenital cancers and cancers and infants may be related to the actions of cancer producing agents to which the mother has been exposed during pregnancy and which penetrate the placenta or act on rapidly developing fetal tissue others suggest that we may be initiating cancer in the children of today by the additional chemicals to food… no, perhaps for a generation or two, what the effects will be.” (p. 193)

This research was done almost eighty years ago. Today, approximately 1 in 285 children in the US are diagnosed with cancer before they turn 20, (N.a. 2021). Countless other recent studies have also found links between the use of pesticides and cancer. It is also worth noting that parental pesticide exposure has been linked to childhood cancer- and exposures to pesticides during vulnerable periods of childhood might lead to increased cancer risk as an adult, (Garry, 2004). 

While cancer may take the forefront of this issue, there are other issues affecting our children. 

Neurological development in children has taken a dramatic increase, (Cainelli & Bisiacchi, 2022) and according to the 2022 study Neurodevelopmental effects in Children Associated with Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides by M. Muoñoz-Quezada et al. found that exposure to organophosphate pesticides was a risk factor for poor neurodevelopment. The neurodevelopment from this study included: Cognitive, Behavioral, Sensory, Fine and Gross motor skills, and morphology or physical size of the brain. As teachers, we see more and more students who struggle with these developmental skills. So what can be done? Some residents in Monroe County took this issue to court. In an article written by S. Orr in 2016, activists went toe to toe with the Monroe County Legislature, citing fears of health and environmental impacts. And called for companies to have to notify neighbors when spraying lawns. While the bill was passed, pesticide use doesn’t seem to have lessened at all. In Monroe County, about 44,000 gallons of liquid pesticide products, which tend to be more concentrated, were used in 2010. Monroe ranked 17th among New York counties in liquid pesticides. More than a third of the liquid products used here were herbicides, led by the well-known weedkiller (2016).Vigilance and advocacy are still important, even if it did not work out for this community. It stands as a safeguard for ours, our childrens and their children's physical and mental health. 

Closure

All humans need to spend time outdoors. It is a vital part of existing and time spent in nature has countless benefits. While long term effects of what we have put into the earth by ways of chemicals and pesticides cannot be undone, it is up to us not to perpetuate and continue the trend of poisoning our environment. If we keep taking our children into nature, and instill the values of the outdoors, we can at least preserve and maybe in the future deter generations from utilizing these toxic chemicals for a healthier and brighter tomorrow.

References

American Childhood Cancer Association. (2021, March 3). US childhood cancer statistics. ACCO. https://www.acco.org/us-childhood-cancer-statistics/#:~:text=Each%20year%20in%20the%20U.S.,diagnosed%20with%20cancer%20each%20year. 

Cainelli, E., & Bisiacchi, P. (2022, December 24). Neurodevelopmental disorders: Past, present, and future. Children (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9856894/ 

Carson, R., Carson, R., & Steingraber, S. (2018). Silent Spring & other writings on the environment. The Library of America. 

Garry, V. F. (2004). Pesticides and children. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 198(2), 152–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2003.11.027 

Glassy, D., & Tandon, P. (2023, April 19). Playing outside: Why it’s important for kids. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/power-of-play/Pages/playing-outside-why-its-important-for-kids.aspx 

Hatzinger, P. B., & Alexander, Martin. (1995). Effect of aging of chemicals in soil on their biodegradability and extractability. Environmental Science & Technology, 29(2), 537–545. https://doi.org/10.1021/es00002a033 

Muñoz-Quezada, M. T., Lucero, B. A., Barr, D. B., Steenland, K., Levy, K., Ryan, P. B., Iglesias, V., Alvarado, S., Concha, C., Rojas, E., & Vega, C. (2013). Neurodevelopmental effects in children associated with exposure to organophosphate pesticides: A systematic review. NeuroToxicology, 39, 158–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2013.09.003 

Orr, S. (2016, August 26). Watchdog: Suburban lawns drive huge pesticide use in Monroe. Democrat and Chronicle. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/08/26/pesticide-usage-monroe-county/88764456/ 

Shavit, E., & Shavit, E. (2010). Lead and arsenic in Morchella esculenta fruitbodies collected in lead arsenate contaminated apple orchards in the northeastern United States: A preliminary study. Fungi Mag. Spring, 3(2), 11-18.

White, R. (2004). Young Children’s relationship with nature: Its importance to Children’s Development & the Earth’s Future. White Hutchinson - Leisure & Learning Group. https://www.whitehutchinson.com/children/articles/childrennature.shtml 

Wilde, M. (2016, September 8). Why foraging? A trend or an ancient connection to nature... Mo Wilde. https://monicawilde.com/why-foraging-a-trend-or-an-ancient-connection-to-nature/ 

Willis, G. H., & McDowell, L. L. (1982). Pesticides in agricultural runoff and their effects on downstream water quality. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1(4), 267–279. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620010402