Search This Blog

De Omnibus Dubitandum - Lux Veritas

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Myth busting: Are synthetic pesticides, used with some GMOs, more dangerous than natural ones?

Layla Katiraee | December 9, 2014 | Genetic Literacy Project

Plants and animals have evolved mechanisms to fight against their predators. Some of them are mechanical, like thorns or spines on a puffer fish, but some are chemical in nature. As a result, our food is full of natural pesticides and toxins.

It’s important not to let the term “pesticide” confuse you. We’re used to thinking of pesticides as the stuff we spray on plants or around our house to get rid of bugs. But the term “pesticide” is much broader than that: it’s any substance that gets rid of or repels a pest. The term encompasses many different -cides: herbicides (to get rid of plants), fungicide (to get rid of fungi), insecticides (to get rid of insects), etc. A natural pesticide can be toxic to the pest that its evolved to target, so I use the term “toxin” in this piece as well......To Read More......

No comments:

Post a Comment