Organic Pesticides vs. Synthetic Pesticides

With rising concerns about the impact of pesticides on the environment and how they affect health, there is an increased interest in the use of organic pesticides. However, for those who have used synthetic pesticides for years, there continues to be value in this method of pest control.

Organic Pesticides

As long as humans have cultivated agriculture, organic pesticides have been in use. Today’s ecologically friendly pesticides are often created from everyday ingredients that are extremely effective when combined. The primary approach to organic and eco-friendly pest control is to make plants and homes inhospitable to unwanted insects and bugs, including making garden and houseplants unpalatable. Common ingredients include the use of other plant materials like peppers, garlic or onions, vinegar, tobacco, liquid soap and even simple boiling water.

The primary benefit of using organic pesticides instead of synthetic pesticides is the amount of safety involved and the lack of long term negative effects to soil (and to the general health of families and pets). Synthetic pesticides have long been linked to increased incidences of neurological disorders, cancers and birth defects. Even years after the use of synthetic pesticides has been discontinued, the carcinogens remain in the soil, potentially contaminating fruits and vegetables grown in that soil. Additionally, pets and humans remain at risk of potentially deadly illnesses with exposure to soils where synthetic pesticides have been used.

By contrast, organic pest control rarely contaminates the soil and often dissipates quickly. The soil does not become overly exposed to compounds that pose a risk to health and safety, nor does the use of organic ingredients create a risk to future fruits and vegetables that might be grown in the soil at a later date.

Synthetic Pesticides

The argument for synthetic pesticides is that they are effective and quickly produce results. They are easy to apply around the home and garden and are readily available at almost any home improvement or garden center.

Large scale farming and agriculture has made the use of synthetic pesticides routine, and agribusiness argues that the need to produce large amounts of food and plant products makes it necessary to use synthetic pesticides in order to eradicate potential infestations on a large scale. As long as chemical pesticides are used within legal limits, the use of chemical compounds is considered safe.

Certainly, if you are planning on using synthetic pesticides in your own garden or around your home, there are some basic safety precautions to be used.

• Do not spray these chemical compounds unless you absolutely need to, and only apply them to the intended plants for the intended insect infestations.
• Do not spray on windy or breezy days. Not only will this prevent back-spray onto yourself, but also will prevent the chemicals from being spread unintentionally to places you do not want.
• Do not store chemical pesticides where they can be found by children. Even with precautions, synthetic pesticides are dangerous and can be deadly.

There are arguments to be made on both sides of the pesticide argument. For those who have an interest in finding out more about organic pesticide use, there are many simple recipes available online and even entire books devoted to the use of ecologically friendly gardening.