Pesticides include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, disinfectant, and compounds used to control mice and rats.

Studies show pesticide exposures in humans induce an increase in headaches, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, hand tremors, and other neurological symptoms. Evidence suggests that children are particularly susceptible to adverse effects from exposure to pesticides, including neurodevelopmental effects.  http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides/index.cfm

Pesticides can cause higher instances of brain cancer, leukemia and birth defects in children. For more information, visit:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JQP/is_/ai_30324417

Children are often the first victims of pesticide poisoning, even if they do not participate in spraying and farming, due to the proximity of their homes to cotton fields or because of the re-use of empty pesticide containers. http://www.ejfoundation.org/page332.html

Between 1 and 3% of agricultural workers worldwide suffer from acute pesticide poisoning. http://www.ejfoundation.org/page332.html

Acute symptoms of pesticide poisoning include headaches, vomiting, tremors, lack of coordination, difficulty breathing or respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, seizures and death. Chronic effects of long-term pesticide exposure include impaired memory and concentration, disorientation, severe depression and confusion.   http://www.ejfoundation.org/page332.html

1 million to 5 million cases of pesticide poisoning occur every year, resulting in 1 million long-term acute poisonings per year, 20,000 reported deaths among agricultural workers, at least 1 million requiring hospitalization, 2000,00 suicides (due to debt for pesticides). http://www.ejfoundation.org/page327.html Real figures are estimated to be much higher: upwards of a million deaths and 3 million long term poisonings. http://gliving.tv/news/fashion-designer-campaigns-against-poison-cotton-and-slave-labor/

The majority of pesticide poisonings occur in a developing world including and estimated 99% of pesticide induced deaths. http://www.ejfoundation.org/page332.html

In the 1990s, estimated cases of pesticide poisoning a year in agriculture were up to several million, resulting in between 20,000 and 40,000 deaths some of which relate to cotton growing.   http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cotton_for_printing_summary_report.pdf

Many pesticides are toxic to aquatic life, devastate rivers, lakes and groundwater if used carelessly or disposed improperly. Scientists have linked declining numbers of farmland birds over the last 50 years to pesticide use in intensive farming. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/data/34397.aspx

Pesticides can contaminate drinking water supplies. Groundwater contributes nearly a third of drinking water (over 70% in south-east England). Polluted groundwater remains contaminated for many decades and is costly or impossible to clean up.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/data/34397.aspx

Pesticides are hazardous by design – these are chemicals manufactured with the aim of killing, repelling or inhibiting the growth of living organisms by impairing biological processes essential for the maintenance of life. In many cases, pesticides not only affect the physiology of the pest species they are intended to control but also impact upon the well-being of people and biodiversity needed to maintain a healthy environment. http://www.ejfoundation.org/page332.html

Insecticides account for almost 60% of all agrochemicals applied to cotton worldwide. The world’s cotton accounts for 16% of global insecticide releases by market share: significantly more than is applied to any other single crop worldwide.  http://www.ejfoundation.org/page332.html

Conventional cotton (grown with the aid of pesticides and herbicides) occupies 3% of the world’s farmland yet utilizes 25% of the world’s chemical pesticides and fertilizers. These chemicals not only destroy the planet, they affect the farmers who work with them as well as chemically sensitive people who wear the fiber.
http://mslk.com/reactions/?p=1195

Partially due to the use of pesticides, the United States has become the largest producer of food products in the world. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pesticidesgw.html

The use of pesticides has exploded with the growing global population. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pesticidesgw.html

About 50% of America’s population uses ground water for drinking water. Pesticides contaminate ground water especially in agricultural areas where pesticides are most often used. Application of pesticides on crop fields can contaminate surface water, seeping into the ground and reaching water-bearing aquifers below ground. Accidental spills and leaks, improper disposal, and even injection of waste material into wells all contribute to the contamination of ground water. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pesticidesgw.html


ORGANIC FARMING

• helps protect the air, soil, water, and food supply from potentially toxic chemicals and other pollutants.
• conserves natural resources by recycling natural materials.
• encourages an abundance of species living in balanced, harmonious ecosystems.