Question

Recently, Jonesville County inhabitants have been embroiled in a controversy regarding the use of pesticides on crops grown in the county. The Jonesville Express interviewed county residents for opinions on pesticide use. Below is a sampling of their responses.Charles Ehler, farmer: I’m not going to use those pesticides because I don’t want to end up with leukemia. Maurice Gordon, farmer: The people who oppose the use of pesticides should have to decide which third of the world would starve.Wendell Mullison, chemical salesman: The health risks are minimal because these chemicals have been intensively tested by the chemical companies. Robert Rodriguez, Environmental Protection Agency employee: I worry about pesticides that find their way into groundwater. My agency has trouble keeping up with the new developments in farm chemistry. We don’t even test the water for most of the pesticides that are in use today. Bessie Smith, 80-year-old resident: I’m against pesticides. When those planes spray on the farm next to me, most of those chemicals end up in my yard. Alice Evans, farmer: I couldn’t earn a living without pesticides. My farm would not make a profit. Judy Johnson, college professor: We’re in a vicious cycle. We develop pesticides, apply them, andthe pests evolve resistance. Then we have to do it all over again. Ben Jackson, librarian: Pesticides are much safer than they used to be. The newer pesticides only affect specific pests and break down more quickly in the environment.Required: 1. Select four of the people interviewed. Provide a concise argument, based on scien-tific principles, that supports or refutes each individual’s viewpoint.2. Identify one specific pest and explain its adverse effects on either agriculture or human health.3. Describe a viable method, other than the use of pesticides, of controlling this pest.

Answer 1

Answer:

Charles Ehler: incorrect.

Wendell Mullison: correct.

Robert Rodriguez: correct.

Judy Johnson:correct.

Explanation:

-Charles Ehler´s statement is incorrect because in order for a chemical company launch a new product it must pass several tests, that´s why products lasts years in proves, there are several tests such as the environment test that proves that the product doesn´t affect other species, or the human safety that makes sure the product doesn´t affect human health.Wendell Mulison´s statement proves to be correct with this as well.

-Robert Rodriguez´s statement  is correct because even though there are several tests that take care human healt there are just a few based on the damage pesticides produce to the land where are used.

-Judy Johnson´s statement is correct because science has proved that the resistant of parasites as being increasing with the products tat are used to combat them. Bacterias are an example of it, many drugs used against bacterias are now useless for some people because of the resistantthey have developed.

-One specie that can be taken as a pesticide can be the ground snail, that affects some plants and also may contain a parasite aclled "Hepatic fasciola" that affects sheeps and goats of farmers.

-One viable method to control pesticides is the sue of other species to control them, this specie has to be adequate to the land, for example, if a farmer wants to get rid of the ground snails because of the parasite and  the damage they do to their platings, they can introduce ducks to the farm that eat them without damaging the land with any kind of chemical product.