Pesticides & Food

Pesticides & Food

 

 

Background information:  Pesticides are not just for corporate agriculture.  They are part of many things, including home maintenance, disinfecting, lawn care, gardening, and insect repellants.  Pesticide products are all around us, even when we cannot see them. 

Assignment:   Select a pesticide product from your home or go to a local store and find a pesticide product.  Use the product’s label and Internet research to answer the following questions.  Be sure to write in complete sentences and type up your answers.

 

  1. Why did you choose this product?
  2. Where did you find the product?  What store did you find it in or did you find it at home?
  3. Where was the product stored?  For example:  Was it on a top shelf, away from children?
  4. What is the trade name of this product?
  5. Where and how is this product used?
  6. What is the corporation that manufactured this product?
  7. What does the label look like?  (Include a picture?)  Is the label clear and easy to understand?  Is the print tiny?
  8. What is the product’s US EPA registration number?  What is the purpose of the registration number?
  9. What is the name and amount of active ingredients?  Research the active ingredients & describe any toxic effects that they might have on the environment, animals, and humans.  Try to find objective references.  Cite your sources!
  10. What is the name & amount of inactive ingredients?  Research these and describe the toxic effects that they might have on the environment, animals, and humans.  Try to find objective references.  Cite your sources.
  11. What health and environmental warnings are listed on the container?
  12. Would you use this product?  If so, under what conditions would you use it?
  13. How safe do you think it is compared to similar products on the market?
  14. Now that you’ve researched the active and inactive ingredients, evaluate the label’s effectiveness in including information that you consider important.
  15. Think about the potential relationship between your product and our food supply and discuss how the pesticide may be a contaminant.
  16. What do you think about the product after doing this assignment?
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