Pesticides/Herbicides

Select two or three pesticides and/or herbicides that are currently in use today (for example: parathion,
malathion, diazinon, DDT, chloropyrifos, atrazine, lindane, aldicarb, roundup). Use the following
questions to discuss the pesticides/herbicides that you chose.
1) Discuss the history of the compounds that you have chosen. When were they first synthesized?
2) What are their structures? Be specific – draw them out.
3) For what purpose are they used (be specific)?
4) Discuss current farming practices in this country with respect to pesticide and herbicide usage. Discuss
various crops where these pesticides/herbicides are applied.
5) Discuss benefits. How have they impacted crops, animals and humans?
6) Discuss disadvantages, toxicity and health effects (including a discussion about testing these
compounds for causing cancer).
7) Stability of these compounds – how long does it take for these compounds to degrade in the
environment?
8) Discuss the food chain and bio-magnification of these pesticides
9) Which food crops are the most contaminated with pesticides and herbicides? Would you eat food
that has been pesticide/herbicide treated?