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Pesticides Are Poison
Pesticides are chemicals used to kill insects, rodents, and weeds that might
harm our crops and health. But pesticides also poison and kill other living
things, including helpful plants and insects, and animals and people. Pesticides
can drift far from where they are used and pollute the soil, water, and air.
In this chapter we use the word pesticides to describe all chemicals used to
control pests. They include:
• Insecticides used to kill insects.
• Herbicides used to kill weeds and unwanted plants.
• Fungicides used to control plant molds.
• Rodenticides used to kill rats, mice, and other rodents.
Farmers did not always use pesticides, and many farmers have great success
farming without them. If you have a choice, it is safer for your health and the
health of the land not to use pesticides. Pesticides are never safe. But for farm
workers, plantation workers, and anyone who feels they must use pesticides,
there are ways to reduce harm and to be as safe as possible.