Pesticide Usage Is Compromising People’s Health in the United States: Ideas for Reducing Damages
The development of synthetic pesticides has provided new tools for addressing troublesome pests. A review of parts of the registration process for pesticides in the United States identifies an outdated evaluation system that undervalues health damages. Registration fails to adequately consider co-fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/486 |
| _version_ | 1827691644507389952 |
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| author | Terence J. Centner |
| author_facet | Terence J. Centner |
| author_sort | Terence J. Centner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of synthetic pesticides has provided new tools for addressing troublesome pests. A review of parts of the registration process for pesticides in the United States identifies an outdated evaluation system that undervalues health damages. Registration fails to adequately consider co-formulants and effects of exposure to multiple chemicals. Frustration with failures to protect people and property from damages accompanying pesticide usage has led injured plaintiffs to resort to tort lawsuits to secure relief. However, litigation involves compensating injured persons after they are injured rather than preventing injury. A more proactive approach would be to prevent situations that injure people. This paper offers four ideas to reduce health damages accompanying pesticide usage. Slight adjustments to pesticide registration requirements can offer greater protection for people’s health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:05:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d44ecd4453f4bab888591bb053d9253 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:05:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d44ecd4453f4bab888591bb053d92532023-11-21T21:10:08ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722021-05-0111648610.3390/agriculture11060486Pesticide Usage Is Compromising People’s Health in the United States: Ideas for Reducing DamagesTerence J. Centner0Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 103 Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, USAThe development of synthetic pesticides has provided new tools for addressing troublesome pests. A review of parts of the registration process for pesticides in the United States identifies an outdated evaluation system that undervalues health damages. Registration fails to adequately consider co-formulants and effects of exposure to multiple chemicals. Frustration with failures to protect people and property from damages accompanying pesticide usage has led injured plaintiffs to resort to tort lawsuits to secure relief. However, litigation involves compensating injured persons after they are injured rather than preventing injury. A more proactive approach would be to prevent situations that injure people. This paper offers four ideas to reduce health damages accompanying pesticide usage. Slight adjustments to pesticide registration requirements can offer greater protection for people’s health.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/486pesticideregistrationhealthexposureco-formulants |
| spellingShingle | Terence J. Centner Pesticide Usage Is Compromising People’s Health in the United States: Ideas for Reducing Damages Agriculture pesticide registration health exposure co-formulants |
| title | Pesticide Usage Is Compromising People’s Health in the United States: Ideas for Reducing Damages |
| title_full | Pesticide Usage Is Compromising People’s Health in the United States: Ideas for Reducing Damages |
| title_fullStr | Pesticide Usage Is Compromising People’s Health in the United States: Ideas for Reducing Damages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pesticide Usage Is Compromising People’s Health in the United States: Ideas for Reducing Damages |
| title_short | Pesticide Usage Is Compromising People’s Health in the United States: Ideas for Reducing Damages |
| title_sort | pesticide usage is compromising people s health in the united states ideas for reducing damages |
| topic | pesticide registration health exposure co-formulants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/486 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT terencejcentner pesticideusageiscompromisingpeopleshealthintheunitedstatesideasforreducingdamages |