SOC 2080 Chapter : SOC 2080 Course Reader 3.docx
15 Mar 2012
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Document Summary
Can be found in drinking water and food and air. Pesticides are toxic chemicals [most can cause cancer, birth defects, changes in genetic material] Ground water contains unwanted pesticides as well as surface water. More than half of the pesticides in food can"t be found by fda"s lab methods. Farmers that come into contact w/pesticides have a higher chance of certain cancers. The pests that farmers are using these pesticides to get rid of are becoming immune to the pesticides. [both insects as well as weeds and fungi] Widespread use of chlorinated pesticides has reduced bird populations. Many pesticides in foods have been suspected of causing cancer, other types of pesticides can cause birth defects or miscarriages/infertility. Fda can"t always determine pesticides that leave residue in food. Epa has concluded that captan is a human carcinogen, therefore any level of exposure can cause cancer. Majority of captan tolerance were set before epa knew the chemical caused cancer.
