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Most forms of organic farming still use pesticies, just different ones, with similar or worse health risks. >In head-to-head comparisons, natural pesticides do
by a_bonobo 8y ago
Most forms of organic farming still use pesticies, just different ones, with similar or worse health risks.
>In head-to-head comparisons, natural pesticides don't fare any better than synthetic ones. When I compared the organic chemicals copper sulfate and pyrethrum to the top synthetics, chlorpyrifos and chlorothalonil, I found that not only were the organic ones more acutely toxic, studies have found that they are more chronically toxic as well, and have higher negative impacts on non-target species. My results match with other scientific comparisons. In their recommendations to Parliament in 1999, the Committee on European Communities noted that copper sulfate, in particular, was far more dangerous than the synthetic alternative. A review of their findings can be seen in the table on the right (from a recent review paper). Similarly, head to head comparisons have found that organic pesticides aren't better for the environment, either.
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/pesticides-food-fears/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/pesticide...