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=Introduction= AP is dedicated to educating the farmers in China to a better understanding of the dangers of using pesticides. We also want to let the SAS community know just how bad pesticides can be.

Background info on issue
A pesticide is an anti-pest chemical that keeps pests such as insects and plant viruses from devouring the crop.

Over the past few years, pesticides have become more and more popular among farmers becaue they seem to protect crops and mean less crop casualties. However, they are becoming more expensive, but most importantly, they cause harm to both the crops, the environment, and biotic factors living near the place where the pesticide was used. Pesticides are bad in many ways. They poison the crop that they are used on. Exposure to these chemicals can have fatal consequences. Most of them burn your mouth, inner organs etc. The pesticides have also been polluting water sources near crops, endangering humans and animals that depend on that water source for drinking water. Most of the pesticide sprayed on plants right now are cheap and ineffective. They can poison animals and plants that live near the crops. Some more advanced pesticides even had cases where they leaked into the atmosphere and damaged the ozone layer. There are also many cited cases where farmers have been physically harmed by working near pesticide sprayed crops.

**Exposure to some pesticides can cause cancer!**
Recent studies show that agricultural chemicals may be the cause of high cancer rates among farmers in Canada. A survey was conducted to find proof. From 1993 to 1997 50000 men were surveyed and by 1999 156 of them had cancer, which is 14% higher than the expectancy. The researchers found that this was due to exposure to insecticides DDT, permethrin and carbofuran. (original article [|here])

**Exposure to some pesticides can cause birth deficiency**
If pregnant mothers are exposed to certain pesticides, it can result in a deformed child with features such as undeveloped jaws, missing limbs, no nose, no ears and no visible sex organs. 3 mothers in Florida worked on plantations which used pesticides and their babies were deformed at birth and one died after birth. (original article [|here])

What is organic food and why is it good?
Organic food is food that is grown by farmers who don’t want their products to be polluted by pesticides. Organic vegetables and foods are grown in special environments that have very clean water and soil. The soil and water cannot contain most fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers who grow organic food make sure their food is the best possible without using any chemicals and fertilizers. This means the food is of the best non-polluted quality.

[|An article explaining what pesticides are in detail]

[|Pesticides in Africa doing more harm than good]

[|An article about pesticides maybe being able to cause cancer]