How Safe Are Pesticides, Really?

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  • čas přidán 12. 06. 2018
  • If you’ve heard anything about pesticides, it’s probably about how toxic they are. But they make growing food more cost-effective, so when some make it into your groceries, how bad can they be?
    Hosted by: Olivia Gordon
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    Sources:
    blogs.scientificamerican.com/...
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    geneticliteracyproject.org/20...
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    npic.orst.edu/
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    www.wired.com/2012/06/arsenic...
    journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
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    npic.orst.edu/capro/fruitwash....
    www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/f...
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    gmo.geneticliteracyproject.or...
    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
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    Images:
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Komentáře • 905

  • @47Yeoman
    @47Yeoman Před 6 lety +79

    As someone with experience with pesticide regulations, I found this presentation to be comprehensive, balanced, understandable and accurate. Well done! Thank you.

    • @kevinconrad6156
      @kevinconrad6156 Před 6 lety +6

      As someone who also has experiencing in regulating pesticides for a government and had a Pesticide Officer who monitored and kept records on all agricultural pesticide applications I to agree that this was a comprehensive, balanced, understandable and accurate. The vast majority of people with experience about pesticide regulations do not work for Bayer.
      Great job SciShow.

    • @marshallbiskup9517
      @marshallbiskup9517 Před 6 lety +1

      Joe Curtis i work as a herbicide applicator and 100% agree. They did a good job of explaining the misunderstanding of pesticides.

    • @Notmyname1593
      @Notmyname1593 Před 6 lety +1

      It`s nice that there are some people, that aren`t just fearmongering.

    • @ahhwe-any7434
      @ahhwe-any7434 Před 5 lety

      I absolutely hate that ish about the internet. It's like they think we can't actually get ahold of outside sources ( away from the i.net) & just expect us to take things for face value. I live in the country & I'm a bit a.d.d. ish. I hear something just the least bit shady (like this) & I'm like 😑🧐," watch me get ahold of one of these yeehaw folks tho. ... Say I won't. I'll find out one way or another💡 😤." But I'm so a.d.d. I made this comment before even finishing the video. :/ Summarize. It must be along the lines of ,"don't believe the hype." Wtf is the purpose of damn trolls anyway? They need to go back to chillin under a bridge or some sh. Wherever they're known for chillin at. 🤔🤷 Other than the I.net.

  • @Master_Therion
    @Master_Therion Před 6 lety +284

    Patrick: Why kill them? They can take the pests and push them somewhere else.
    Spongebob: Great idea, Patrick! A pesticide that moves a... pest aside.

  • @musclehank6067
    @musclehank6067 Před 6 lety +467

    they're really safe as long as you are strong enough to handle them.

  • @jcspider7259
    @jcspider7259 Před 6 lety +10

    I hope that everyone who watches does so all the way through, as there are a number of turns and curves that lead to really important info. Excellent job here, SciShow.

  • @dschonsie
    @dschonsie Před 6 lety +9

    sounds like an ad for pesticides

  • @kittykatxox845
    @kittykatxox845 Před 5 lety +9

    As a pest control technician that I completely appreciate this video and informing the public of organic versus synthetic pesticides thank you so much! Nobody realizes that dosage is the key factor here pesticides can absolutely be harmful if used improperly however as you stated we are extremely strictly enforced by law to use them in the ways that they were intended.

    • @DukeGMOLOL
      @DukeGMOLOL Před 4 lety +1

      Exactly!

    • @barricklowseth2033
      @barricklowseth2033 Před 5 měsíci +1

      'extremely strictly enforced' is a bit of an overstatement, I think. I personally worked for a lawn and ornamental pest control company that required us to dump our tanks on the ground at the shop every morning and use herbicides illegally. Nobody ever seems to come knocking to enforce any of the laws that are written around some pesticide use until someone gets hurt.

    • @curtis-dj5bp
      @curtis-dj5bp Před 3 měsíci

      @@barricklowseth2033 Correct. Whats also funny is that these people actually repeat what the companies say. Who can verify the long term results. Remember...Round UP is safe, Cigarette smoking was safe. People are paid to torcher the data.

  • @sciencespencer123
    @sciencespencer123 Před 6 lety +163

    Thank you for explaining why organic does not mean pesticide free and why natural isn't always better. Science literacy for the win!

    • @akselhansen304
      @akselhansen304 Před 6 lety +5

      Spencer Morran unless u live in a part of the world where the government cracks down on companies using organic for anything that isn't organic according to strict guidelines
      Consumer protection is a must companies answer to capitalism which have no morals

    • @sciencespencer123
      @sciencespencer123 Před 6 lety +2

      A Malevolent you know that isn’t true because it doesn’t say #ad anywhere. They are presenting the facts.

    • @sciencespencer123
      @sciencespencer123 Před 6 lety +6

      A Malevolent Oh how cute you believe everything you see on the internet. Contrary to popular belief, agencies such as the FDA, EPA, Health Canada, etc. have guidelines for testing chemicals and food in order to protect us, the public, as well as the environment. They publish much of their findings in industry jargon so I think it is important for the public to have a way to access the information in an understandable way, which is what videos like this do. If you don’t like accurate science, don’t watch. By the way, I have a masters degree in environmental toxicology so before you tell me to “educate myself” believe me, I have.

    • @DjapDude11111
      @DjapDude11111 Před 6 lety +1

      Spencer Morran "how cute you believe everything you see on the internet" "Contrary to popular belief" "industry jargon" "information in an understandable way, which is what videos like this do"
      Oh my, oh my.

    • @sciencespencer123
      @sciencespencer123 Před 6 lety +4

      Yes, I am. Literally one of my life goals is to increase science literacy and promote/praise others when they do the same. In this day in age the public trusts celebrities and random people on the internet with no qualifications more than scientists, doctors, and other experts who literally go to school and spend their careers researching this stuff.

  • @grasshoppermain9978
    @grasshoppermain9978 Před 6 lety +30

    As someone that is in agriculture research, thanks for educating the public about this topic and the gmo topic in previous vids. It's quite frustrating to explain this, as people are always stuck in their beliefs or simply misinformed. There are reasonable objections, but I want those objections to be factual and true so we can fund solutions instead of some media spin job putting us behind.

  • @colindevane
    @colindevane Před 2 lety +7

    Great video thank you. One thing that sometimes the ppm stats fail to take into account is the entourage effect where, yes you can stand a certain ppm of a particular pesticide, but if you have an 'acceptable' level of ppms of hundreds of different contaminants, each of those each individually might be at a 'safe' level of exposure, but the synergistic and interactive effect of all those relatively minor contaminants is unknown. It seems probably that such a kaleidescope of 'safe' ppms could compound on one another, making the reassurance of the 'safe' zone less reassuring when considered in full context rather than in lab isolation. What do you think tho?

  • @DankMatter
    @DankMatter Před 6 lety +83

    Toxicity can also kill a game

  • @eqlipse333
    @eqlipse333 Před 6 lety +95

    There's a key point to take away here: the EPA is responsible for determining standards and whether or not those standards are met. Now, remind me, who is running our EPA right now? OH YEAH! The guy who sued it some 14 or so times on behalf of oil companies, and wishes to see it dismantled!

    • @kimberlydrennon4982
      @kimberlydrennon4982 Před 6 lety +6

      +

    • @celinak5062
      @celinak5062 Před 6 lety +3

      eqlipse333 +

    • @rwgriffdawg
      @rwgriffdawg Před 6 lety +19

      Those pesticide residue limits were established before Pruitt got there.

    • @jennifblair
      @jennifblair Před 6 lety +1

      Exactly!

    • @jennifblair
      @jennifblair Před 6 lety +8

      Griffin Evans And now Scott Pruitt is doing everything he can to loosen all of those regulations.

  • @dwaynefrechette2011
    @dwaynefrechette2011 Před 6 lety +1

    You have improved so much! It has been a pleasure watching you grow.

  • @boundlessvoyageur5302
    @boundlessvoyageur5302 Před 6 lety +51

    EPA lol, like that exists anymore

    • @jarehelt
      @jarehelt Před 6 lety +1

      Cameron Cox
      oh ya it does, last i heard they arrested a guy for putting dirt on his own property

    • @professionalafrikaner2269
      @professionalafrikaner2269 Před 4 lety +1

      They dont anymore practically they label coal ash as common trash coal ash is highly toxic and carceogenics

  • @mdempsey7128
    @mdempsey7128 Před 6 lety +3

    There’s a book about companion planting called Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte. The earliest form of pest control on the farm was companion planting. Tomatoes protect carrots from carrot fly. Louise Riotte is from Oklahoma and is incredibly knowledgeable about using other plants as pest control. I’d like to add, Oklahoma was the epicentre of the so-called Dust Bowl of the 1930s. This author managed to be a successful vegetable grower in an area that still is affected today by that environmental disaster.

  • @emilyjoyce8214
    @emilyjoyce8214 Před 5 lety

    Thank youuuu for your time and research and dedication!

  • @Harryniss1188
    @Harryniss1188 Před 6 lety +5

    I work in the automotive salvage industry. I'd love to see an educational video on the effects of recycling on the economy and the ecosystem.

  • @96akashi13
    @96akashi13 Před 6 lety +116

    Young farmer here, it is completely possible and financially viable for farmers to grow crops WITHOUT PESTICIDES in a climate controlled environment with Hydroponics or Aquaponics , look it up. It is the practice of growing plants without the use of soil. Utilising these practices, vertical farming is possible, maximising output. You can grow 40 acres of crops in 1 acre of land. Hence, it covers the cost of controlling the temperature, humidity, as well as the price of crops for end users. The problem is, majority of farmers are well above the age of 50, and they tend to stick to "tradition" whilst refusing to learn new ways of farming.

    • @kirstenpaff8946
      @kirstenpaff8946 Před 6 lety +50

      96Akashi, agricultural engineer here, I agree with you that greenhouse and hydroponic production can significantly lower pest pressures, and therefore the need for pesticides. The reason why more farmers are not switching, however, goes far beyond old dogs not learning new tricks. High tech agriculture requires a high upfront cost. This means it only makes economic sense for high value crops like fresh vegetables and not for agronomic crops like corn, wheat, or soybeans. The high investment is also not economically feasible for many farmers who are working on a small profit margin. The price of land also has a major impact on whether or not farmers switch to different farming practices. For example, in the US, land is relatively plentiful and cheap, as long as you are not in a suburban area. In the Netherlands, on the other hand, land is very limited and expensive, so there has been a major push to maximize the yield you get per hectare.

    • @96akashi13
      @96akashi13 Před 6 lety +10

      Kirsten Paff indeed, i do agree that hydroponics have a high upfront cost for smallholders, and it is also part of the reason why farmers refuse to upgrade. For my set up, it takes about a year just to cover the initial cost of the system, with total sales of above 90%. I live in a country where land is considerably quite expensive, so this does profit me. Also theres the future prospects that with increasing population and climate change, we have no choice but to go vertical.

    • @Sean_Lightning_OBrien
      @Sean_Lightning_OBrien Před 6 lety +11

      Coming from a New Zealand background where land is relatively plentiful and cheap, we still use the "traditional" way because there simply isn't the technology here or necessity to change to greenhouse and hydroponic production. Especially with NZ with less pests than other countries such as the US and a much lower population, farmers aren't prepared to pay the extra cost immediately. Although I do believe the long term benefit is significant enough.

    • @valtur25
      @valtur25 Před 6 lety +3

      I both agree and disagree with your points. I agree that hydroponics is the future, of agriculture but only in certain situation when having enough land for agriculture will be huge issue. Also it can make some of cities independent from rural areas. It is really possible to grow some of consumed food in greenhouses at roofs of buildings, or to grow algea in tanks in basements. But then we don't have proper species of plats yet for that scenario. Since like research on flowers grown in greenhouses in Netherlands showed that plants eventually grow weak when they have no stimulation form enviroment like wind, rain, insects etc. So to fix it we would have to increase use of GMO. We might end up having only few different species of crops. Nowadays we use agricultural enginnering to create better species for certain enviroment conditions, we have now plants that need less water to grow or have immunity to some of fungi. We won't have such problems strictly regulated production of hydroponics. Also most of countries can have very efficient agriculture industry just by educating farmers and offering safe and stable market for local producers. Stability of income is the most treatening thing for farmers. At least in Europe, where I live.

    • @celinak5062
      @celinak5062 Před 6 lety

      96Akashi +

  • @ireallyhatemakingupnamesfo1758

    She's gotten so much better

    • @jillianromick5353
      @jillianromick5353 Před 6 lety +3

      I really hate making up names for this kind of stuff While I have always liked her, I can definitely see improvement. #teamolivia

    • @bweatyfingy6503
      @bweatyfingy6503 Před 6 lety +1

      She's started to pause between words, and use full stops.
      I can actually understand what she's saying without huge amounts of concentration.

  • @FirstLast-fr4hb
    @FirstLast-fr4hb Před 6 lety +1

    Thank you for talking about both the benefits and hazards instead of only looking at limited scope of information ! Its the spirit of true science!

  • @AlexBiohazardous
    @AlexBiohazardous Před 6 lety +2

    That was extremely detailed! Thanks Olivia!

  • @zacharytoth1065
    @zacharytoth1065 Před 6 lety +6

    A question that I would love to know the answer to is why small bugs like mosquitoes like to fly into your ear. It's been bugging me for a while.

  • @Udinanon
    @Udinanon Před 6 lety +68

    Interesting, although I ewoudl be interested in a less US-centric episode, expecially on the different laws between the EU, the US and other countries

    • @_hector__
      @_hector__ Před 6 lety +7

      Udinanon what are u talking about, the us is the center of the world and none else matters

    • @beth8775
      @beth8775 Před 6 lety +19

      It would be nice to see the comparison. I'm under the impression that EU laws are a bit stricter on this front, but I would live to know more.

    • @violabrockman5284
      @violabrockman5284 Před 6 lety +3

      +

    • @raraavis7782
      @raraavis7782 Před 6 lety +1

      Udinanon
      Oh yeah...I’m often tempted to comment something like: ‚yes, but we do things a little bit different here in Europe....‘ - and then I think: ‚oh, why bother, no one cares...‘ lol.

    • @sweetwheatsy
      @sweetwheatsy Před 6 lety +3

      Exactly. I'm quite certain the laws for organic foods in my country, Denmark, is quite a good bit stricter than the US, also due to EU-legislation. I'm not sure to what degree pesticides are allowed.

  • @R-MD
    @R-MD Před 6 lety

    It's about time scishow did this. The internet needs this badly.

  • @runm4n
    @runm4n Před 6 lety +3

    For me as a farmer it's awesome to see such a big channel like yours to clear up that topic. Recently there are dozens of discussions in my local area, where people who aren't experts are trying to convince the populaton and the government to only allow organic farming and local media is spreading mostly one-sided knowledge about this pretty complicated topic.
    So thank you @SciShow for creating such an informative video in a language that's understandable for the common population as well.

  • @TeamShortGuy
    @TeamShortGuy Před 6 lety +3

    Rodenticides and Neonicotinoids are pesticides I work on in the lab daily. Really cool to see them talked about here!

  • @thijsvanleeuwen
    @thijsvanleeuwen Před 6 lety +8

    This video was sponsored by Bayer/Monsanto?

    • @DukeGMOLOL
      @DukeGMOLOL Před 4 lety

      No, the video talks about science.

  • @ChrispyNut
    @ChrispyNut Před 6 lety +1

    Though it's a touch off-topic, I'd have like to have seen mention of vertical farming, with hydroponics, aeroponics, closed-loop water system and air filters right at the end, talking about the future, as such mechanisms will (whilst likely uncovering their own, new set of problems) significantly reduce the need to pesticides and particularly cut-down on run-off harms.
    Other than that, another typical SciShow piece, real good. Thanks Olivia and all involved x o x

  • @ashknoecklein
    @ashknoecklein Před 6 lety +23

    You neglected diatomaceous earth. It's a dry clay that is made up of tiny sharp fossilized diatom shells. Scientists disagree about what exactly is happening, but it somehow messes up the outer cuticle of small arthropods, which kills them by dehydrating them. It's already in wide agricultural use. It's mixed into grain stores and used various other ways. It's a mild lung irritant if it gets into the air, but otherwise it's completely safe for vertebrate consumption. Food-grade DE is so safe it can be used to de-worm even tiny kittens and puppies. It's pretty much the only insecticide that's safe to use around my parrots (as long as I don't create clouds of dust). It's not universally applicable but it's great at what it does.

    • @familywilliams4058
      @familywilliams4058 Před 6 lety +11

      They did not include diatomaceous earth because it does not actually kill slugs and snails, that is a myth. If you want a pretty good and somewhat entertaining (though very small) test of the myth, check out www.gardenmyths.com/how-to-get-rid-of-slugs-with-diatomaceous-earth/

  • @PTNLemay
    @PTNLemay Před 6 lety +4

    I worry about the bee thing. I have wild bees both around my apartment and around my cottage, and I worry about leaving store-bought flowers out if they risk having pesticides on them.
    How long does it take for those kind of chemicals to wash off a plant? Surely after a few months the plant musk be clean? I use a spray bottle to water most of my plants.

    • @marshallbiskup9517
      @marshallbiskup9517 Před 6 lety +1

      PTNLemay what your worrying about is herbicides. Depending on the type of herbicide it wont really have an effect on them. The biggest danger to bees is actually insecticides because they are non specific and attack anything insect related. Its all based on protiens and the protiens herbicides attack are only found in plants.
      Your friendly neighborhood herbicide applicator, (out of canada tho)

  • @curiousrei8814
    @curiousrei8814 Před 6 lety +3

    While there are some benefits as someone who has suffered for a lifetime as a direct result of pesticides this definitely felt overly optimistic to me. One thing you didn't mention is the effects of pesticides when it comes to birth abnormalities. In the mid 90s in the UK there was an outbreak of children born (myself included) with varying forms of anophthalmia or microanophthalmia, many of which were traced back to mothers simply living in an area near where certain pesticides had been used. Though things may be improving for many people a distrust of pesticides does not come without reason when they can cause a lifetime of medical difficulties to someone even before they're born, regardless of eating foods which have been treated with pesticides.

  • @JoeBetro
    @JoeBetro Před 5 lety

    Wow, really eye opening! Thank you 🌟

  • @CrankyPantss
    @CrankyPantss Před 6 lety

    That was really good information. Thanks, Olivia.

  • @quagliumquagnarr3853
    @quagliumquagnarr3853 Před 6 lety +338

    Does anybody else not really care if your food is organic or not?

    • @_hector__
      @_hector__ Před 6 lety +14

      Quaglium Quagnarr Pesticides dont make your food inorganic

    • @KhanMann66
      @KhanMann66 Před 6 lety +114

      Organic is just a fancy word slapped on a product to make it more expensive.

    • @quagliumquagnarr3853
      @quagliumquagnarr3853 Před 6 lety +35

      Calabi-Yau Manifold - It was an off topic question. Do you like GMO's? I do.

    • @CJBurkey
      @CJBurkey Před 6 lety +28

      I personally don't care, and it's not a big deal. There's no down-side to GMOs or inorganic foods that we know of yet, so I don't care.

    • @TomsBackyardWorkshop
      @TomsBackyardWorkshop Před 6 lety +7

      Only the stupid people.

  • @rory5167
    @rory5167 Před 6 lety +6

    Fun fact: I grew up on a farm and the most toxic pesticide we used was an organic pesticide

    • @frostyboyken
      @frostyboyken Před 6 lety +1

      What was that organic pesticide? Thanks.

    • @rory5167
      @rory5167 Před 6 lety +1

      A Crawford Boy Copper Sulfate

    • @frostyboyken
      @frostyboyken Před 6 lety +1

      Thank you, Hana. I'm a city boy, so I'm mostly unfamiliar with farming techniques. Copper Sulfate, a metal derivative?

    • @rey3472
      @rey3472 Před 6 lety +2

      High concentrations of Copper will cause serious injury or death. Copper is also a metal that does not go away. Many former orchards and vineyards have a lot of Arsenic, Copper, and Lead in the soil because they are metals. The new pesticides are made of molecules that eventually degrade.

    • @drumyogi9281
      @drumyogi9281 Před 3 lety

      @@rey3472 Great point. That is the primary reason why we do not use Inorganic Poisons such as Copper, Mercury, Lead and Arsenic as pesticides in farming. They caused a lot of health issues.

  • @mcnorcan
    @mcnorcan Před 2 lety

    Thank you for such a balanced discussion of this topic.

  • @Odood19
    @Odood19 Před 6 lety +1

    Great video! Hopefully this curbs some people's misconceptions about Ag and Horticulture. One thing I think you missed is a class of pesticides called 'Biopesticides'. A chemical that targets a pest is made by the plant via genetic engineering. These engineered crops require less pesticide application because they make their own.

  • @d_wang9836
    @d_wang9836 Před 6 lety +15

    When Nicloas Cage finds out that pesticides kill bees:
    NOO, NOT THE BEES AgHH

  • @BigIggy
    @BigIggy Před 6 lety +13

    This video brought to you by: The Monsanto Corporation.
    Jk jk , you guys are awesome!

  • @huaweiwang6931
    @huaweiwang6931 Před 6 lety

    This is why I love scishow

  • @NickEneboe
    @NickEneboe Před 6 lety

    This was for real the best show ever! Period. Presenting a science-based, unbiased perspective on a topic that has so much vitriol and propaganda on both sides is seriously impressive. Thanks SciShow!

  • @kirstenpaff8946
    @kirstenpaff8946 Před 6 lety +6

    Some crop strains have also been created to produce their own pesticides. BT-corn and BT-cotton are both resistant to a type of pest called bollworms, which reduces the need for pesticides.

    • @beth8775
      @beth8775 Před 6 lety +6

      Kirsten Paff There is a definite shortage of independent research on long term human safety on those though. Pretty much all the research has been funded by the companies making the seed, and they won't allow 3rd parties to do research themselves. With so much money on the line, it's hard not to suspect bias in their conclusions.

    • @nicholaswilson7734
      @nicholaswilson7734 Před 6 lety

      But you have to pay a BT premium $$$

    • @kirstenpaff8946
      @kirstenpaff8946 Před 6 lety +1

      Bethany Lade and Nicholas Wilson, I agree that BT crops have drawbacks. I just wanted to bring it up as another possible route for pest control.

  • @Yora21
    @Yora21 Před 6 lety +4

    Do a video about biological pest control. Fighting bugs with bugs is the coolest stuff we currently use in gardening.

  • @larryscott3982
    @larryscott3982 Před 6 lety +1

    Pruitt gets all those restrictions undone.
    And FDA isn’t much a regulatory agency. EPA doesn’t want let harm get in the way of profit.

  • @jrbrodiejrbrodie4568
    @jrbrodiejrbrodie4568 Před 6 lety +1

    harmful limits are usually determined by LD50 or some other obvious form of toxicity. These pesticides are not being tested for possible long term effects of low dose exposure on various metabolic systems before being released onto the market.

  • @lonjohnson5161
    @lonjohnson5161 Před 6 lety +5

    Sadly, many environmental issues have become political over the decades. Fortunately, this episode presented the information in as balanced and seemingly non-biased way as one could hope for given the time available and format of the show.

  • @weejitwill
    @weejitwill Před 6 lety +4

    This video promoted by MONSANTO!

  • @kassiman5307
    @kassiman5307 Před 6 lety

    THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO ...... THANKS FOR THIS INFORMATION ...!

  • @SRBOMBONICA86
    @SRBOMBONICA86 Před 2 lety +1

    My mother worked in laboratory with pesticides with no protection for 40 years ,she got stage 4 NET cancer at age 68 and died 2 years later

  • @HiDeguild
    @HiDeguild Před 6 lety +3

    Great video, very in-depth. I think you missed discussing how biological pest control is becoming much more effective and popular. EPA/USDA regulations become stricter every year and more and more growers are turning towards biological controls where they release specific predatory insects/arachnids that will target and kill certain pests instead of using pesticides. For instance, lady beetles to kill aphids or phytoseiulous persimilis to kill two spotted spider mites. I've been working in this industry for almost a decade and the trend is more and more operations ditching pesticides entirely in favor of these systems, especially those growing medical/recreational cannabis.

  • @MatthewBishop64
    @MatthewBishop64 Před 6 lety +3

    Thank you, thank you, thank you SciShow for addressing the naturalistic fallacy. Just because something is natural, doesn't mean it's better.

    • @mauricejohnson1674
      @mauricejohnson1674 Před rokem

      So what are the negative affects that pesticides can cause? Just asking

    • @epicdeadalus4345
      @epicdeadalus4345 Před rokem

      @@mauricejohnson1674 well that depends on the pesticide. 1 example they used in this video was the natural pesticide Rotenone. It's terrible for fish when it leaks into groundwater or run off that then leaks into natural waters and it has a high risk of causing Parkinson's in humans.

  • @jnzkngs
    @jnzkngs Před 6 lety +1

    How can people understand that it's ok for them to eat chocolate but it's deadly for their dog. yet they can't understand that it's possible to have different pesticides designed to target different pests?

  • @michelenakamura3360
    @michelenakamura3360 Před 6 lety

    I now have something to show my sister that insecticides on an apple won't kill her. You've given me supporting information that shows why that Apple won't kill her. This is why I love Scishow!

  • @alcurtis93
    @alcurtis93 Před 6 lety +18

    I like these roof top hydroponic vegetable farms which use no pesticides and natural predators like nematodes. Like Gotham greens in New York

    • @diceman199
      @diceman199 Před 6 lety +4

      I'll just leave this here www.livestrong.com/article/76685-parasitic-nematodes-humans/

  • @hydronpowers9014
    @hydronpowers9014 Před 6 lety +65

    Safer than drinking Bleach

  • @lonniebrodrick5929
    @lonniebrodrick5929 Před 3 lety

    Olivia, you are absolutely, amazingly beautifully nerdy. I'm enamoured 😍

  • @roaldpage
    @roaldpage Před 4 lety

    Recently there have been products put on the market for home use that deter pests with audio frequencies that the specific pests (mice for example) are sensitive to. Could the future of pest control actually lay in cymatics, and other forms of frequency manipulation such as light or other waveform transmission. If we could figure out what frequencies inhibit which pests while not damaging the growth of the intended produce we could potentially have food that once it is on the table is virtually chemical free.

  • @uss_04
    @uss_04 Před 6 lety +6

    What about a video on Diatomaceous Earth. "does it really work?"

    • @IizUname
      @IizUname Před 6 lety +1

      It works on bed bugs.

    • @TomsBackyardWorkshop
      @TomsBackyardWorkshop Před 6 lety +1

      yes

    • @DandyParrott
      @DandyParrott Před 6 lety +3

      It works only when dry.

    • @familywilliams4058
      @familywilliams4058 Před 6 lety

      It also only works as a deterrent, it does not actually kill the slugs and snails (well, at least it doesn't kill some that were caught and tested in Canada, and that's the only test I've been able to actually find.) www.gardenmyths.com/how-to-get-rid-of-slugs-with-diatomaceous-earth/

    • @uss_04
      @uss_04 Před 6 lety

      Daniel Williams Plenty of IPM information out there, but would love a Scishow ep on its usages.

  • @veronika1159
    @veronika1159 Před 6 lety +3

    I’ve never felt so justified in my annoyance at the organic farming industry and its supporters haha I always knew it couldn’t be as great as it’s hyped to be. Thank you for this video!

  • @justinmirharoon4264
    @justinmirharoon4264 Před 4 lety

    Amazing video
    Incredibly informal

  • @hamilpatel4025
    @hamilpatel4025 Před 6 lety

    love this, and healthcare triage. Keep up the fantastic work!

  • @cup_check_official
    @cup_check_official Před 6 lety +237

    Probably safer than my ex

    • @tommeng6522
      @tommeng6522 Před 6 lety +2

      Sad that you have one

    • @roseykat8847
      @roseykat8847 Před 6 lety

      Oof

    • @jerry3790
      @jerry3790 Před 6 lety +1

      I see you on every video

    • @nuqueerwarhead3564
      @nuqueerwarhead3564 Před 6 lety +1

      Software Man Your ex must really hate birds, fish, and farm workers.

    • @iLoveBigKnockers
      @iLoveBigKnockers Před 6 lety +1

      Definitely safer than the last condom I used! *HA!* (how do I get out of the situation I am in?)

  • @45obiwan
    @45obiwan Před 6 lety +4

    I've been a farmer/rancher for over 40 years and have gone from constant use of pesticides to just using them when I have to. The one that I will no longer use is roundup after the local university did testing on my oat crop that I give my horses and found glyphosate residue in high concentrations. We've gone with planting directly into grass instead of plowing and planting. Our yields aren't quite as high but, we have a much lower soil loss rate and I have to use much less fertilizer. We've also started using predatory insects instead of spraying insecticides. The major problem comes in with corporate farming/ranching, they're so driven by profit that they don't want to lose any yield. We'd have a much better agriculture system if we could go back to small family owned farms and do away with the huge corp ranches and feedlots. Buying organic foods does at least one good thing, it makes it much more desirable for the farmer/rancher to produce organic and ethical/sustainable food. We've come a long way in the last 60 years and if you have a chance to support your local ag people, we'll continue to make greater strides.

  • @ScamallDorcha
    @ScamallDorcha Před 6 lety +1

    I'm not afraid of pesticides killing me, I'm afraid of them killing the bees.

    • @DukeGMOLOL
      @DukeGMOLOL Před 4 lety

      Pesticides are a minor problem for bees, varroa destructor and fractured habitat are the biggest problem for bees and insects.

  • @Karabetter
    @Karabetter Před 6 lety +1

    What EPA? Under either party, the elected government officials have been bribed for the last 35 years to reduce funding so that there are intentionally not enough agents to check corporate farm's usage of pesticides to assure they are in compliance. And now, epa head was purposely selected and approved to insure the agency withers and dies. :(

  • @julesb16272
    @julesb16272 Před 6 lety +3

    Loved this episode. I definitely thought it would be full on pro pesticide. I'm glad to see an honest and unbiased video unlike some other science communicators.

  • @beth8775
    @beth8775 Před 6 lety +3

    The problem is the long term research on pesticides has largely been the public. We simply don't have all the data.
    Bigger issue is sustainability. I really like the restoration agriculture model. Mark Shepard/Restoration Agriculture - there are a number of videos on their channel.

  • @dmarsub
    @dmarsub Před 6 lety

    sooo does it make sense to assume = higher surface area to weight ratio = more pesticides. as a general rule?
    Or other other effects like plant type just way more important?

  • @nadiamayer11
    @nadiamayer11 Před 6 lety +1

    If you haven't already, could you make a video like this about preservatives (food, cosmetics)?

  • @mrzmaster2
    @mrzmaster2 Před 6 lety +9

    I really wonder what do we normally use today that'll be found to be dangerous and life threatening in the future 🙃?

    • @Michael-lc8yl
      @Michael-lc8yl Před 6 lety +3

      the Internet

    • @isaaclaf1000
      @isaaclaf1000 Před 6 lety

      Everything. But don't worry soon after that it will be found to be non-harmful and shortly after that good for you!

  • @Tom-Travels
    @Tom-Travels Před rokem +3

    Why should I believe anybody with a ring in their nose?

  • @Nhoj31neirbo47
    @Nhoj31neirbo47 Před 6 lety

    There is a good new movie on Rachel Carson, the author of the classic book, Silent Spring, mentioned in this video. She did so much to raise awareness of the potential dangers of pesticides. The film is available on Netflix, etc..

  • @mlck24
    @mlck24 Před 6 lety

    I found out that in button mushroom production, the medium that they will be grown on is prepared by adding formaldehyde and bavastin (a fungicide). Could someone give me an overview of how this works and the possible toxicity related to this?

  • @yikyakcadillac5585
    @yikyakcadillac5585 Před 6 lety +3

    Dont poisin me. I see you over there farmer joe with the pesticide

  • @brianfuller5868
    @brianfuller5868 Před 6 lety +86

    Commercial agriculture could not continue without pesticides as multiple insects eat crops. Pest control, whether controlling bugs, fungus or weeds is vital. Honestly, many organic methods are not very effective but some are. A spray made from vinegar , salt and water is quite effective against weeds. Goats love weeds as well. Baking Soda is effective against fungal infections. My dad made a spray with cayenne pepper, onion and garlic that controlled many bugs

    • @alwayschanging5821
      @alwayschanging5821 Před 6 lety +27

      Pesticides and farming in the ground is outdated anyway. That way of farming is primitive. If we switch to VERTICAL AEROPONIC farming techniques we wouldnt have to worry about weeds, pesticides, fungicides, food shortages, crop rotation, we would be able to grow all year round and within a controlled environment.
      Its time to update your farming systems humans!

    • @celinak5062
      @celinak5062 Před 6 lety

      Brian Fuller +

    • @comradesillyotter1537
      @comradesillyotter1537 Před 6 lety +9

      Aconitus, if you're willing to pay for all that, go right on ahead.

    • @comradesillyotter1537
      @comradesillyotter1537 Před 6 lety +8

      Spraying salt into your fields is not really advised.

    • @alwayschanging5821
      @alwayschanging5821 Před 6 lety +4

      Comrade Silly Otter It is cheaper in the long term because you dont have to pay for what I already listed. Also the crops grow faster and in larger yeilds when they are in a controlled environment which means you make more money because you have more crops to sell. Its way more efficient and saves 90% of the water used in agriculture already. Money wouldnt be an issue... do some research first

  • @kamilk
    @kamilk Před 6 lety

    What is the amount of pesticides used in aquaponics?
    How does it compare to pesticide usage in traditional farming methods?

  • @AnimeShinigami13
    @AnimeShinigami13 Před 6 lety

    one year my kale got decimated by cabbage worms, and it released pheromones calling in a hive of yellow jackets that swarmed all over the damn thing picked up the cabbage worms from the leaves and made off with them. couldn't touch my kale planter for the rest of the season or they'd chase me.

  • @dhawthorne1634
    @dhawthorne1634 Před 6 lety +5

    The most interesting pesticide I've look into is Bacillus thuringiensis. This particular bacteria occasionally goes dormant and spreads like a spore. During this time, they produce crystalline proteins. When consumed by an animal with an acid based digestive system like humans, nothing happens. However, when consumed by an animal with an alkaline based digestive system such as moth and beetle larvae, it becomes denatured and soluble. This protein then binds with the cell membranes in the insects gut, paralyzing the digestive tract making it impossible for the insect to keep eating.
    The positive is that it is safe for us, the downside is it can also affect bees if the flowers or water source they are targeting has been treated or cross-contaminated.

  • @user255
    @user255 Před 6 lety +6

    Pesticides also reduces deforestation, because they allow bigger yields per farm area.

  • @Pierluigi996
    @Pierluigi996 Před 6 lety +1

    Good job whit this video, as a farmer I've found this video really accurate.

  • @RobertHopkinsArt
    @RobertHopkinsArt Před 6 lety

    Do a video on how well, or properly, grocery stores are cleaning our fruit or vegetables for us?

  • @CaptiveFreedoms
    @CaptiveFreedoms Před 6 lety +6

    Washing your produce wont remove systemics.

  • @Kiwi_Ladd
    @Kiwi_Ladd Před 6 lety +6

    Studies show that saying studies show makes people believe things easier

  • @guilhermebecker17
    @guilhermebecker17 Před 6 lety +2

    Would like to see the behind the scenes of making these videos. How the idea stars and how the research.
    Just a thought

  • @Darkchylde50
    @Darkchylde50 Před 6 lety

    Mad insightful

  • @TheJesterInYellow
    @TheJesterInYellow Před 6 lety +67

    I'd like to find an inorganic farmer. YESIRREE I FARM METAL POTATAS.
    god i hate food trends

    • @dontknowdontcare1934
      @dontknowdontcare1934 Před 6 lety

      David Bowie Sama Sensei Senpai San Sama Kun Ahit man can't even reply with your name

    • @OGSumo
      @OGSumo Před 6 lety +1

      This "food trend" isnt really that bad. The surge of people demanding "organic" practices has brought upon a huge wave of new research and, in general, a more informed consumer base. So while "organic" might not equal *food made by the gods* like some people think, its pretty helpful.

    • @shadowstorm657
      @shadowstorm657 Před 6 lety +1

      You say that but with crispr we could actually make potatoes that were modified to absorb metallic compounds in the soil to be harvested for later. GON' GET ME DEM METAL POTATS

    • @Redbird-dh7mu
      @Redbird-dh7mu Před 6 lety

      Hey, that metal potato farmer just cares about getting enough iron in your diet. Don’t hate on Joe, he is a good farmer

    • @Notmyname1593
      @Notmyname1593 Před 6 lety

      btw, plants already absorb all sorts of metals from the soil such as K, Cu, B, Mn, Mo.

  • @kalimer0968
    @kalimer0968 Před 6 lety +6

    Safety is by no means my primary concern, when I think about pesticides! I live in Germany. At the end of last year it has been reported that since 1989 the overall population of insects has decreased by 75%. It's been two years since I had a moskito bite. I've seen one butterfly all summer so far. Insects are dying and it's palpable. I don't even live in a big city. Sure, on the outskirts of one, but still. Considering that most pollination is done by wild insects, not bees from beekeepers, there will not be much agriculture left, if things continues like this. To top it all off, we have an overall tendency to overproduce! Not the topic you were going for here, but it sure as hell seems worth mentioning.

  • @tommymurrin5550
    @tommymurrin5550 Před 4 lety +2

    Insect: lives in house and minds it’s own business
    Human: So you have chosen D E A T H.

  • @98karlh
    @98karlh Před 6 lety

    @scishow Could you make a video about these groundwater fish that you mention? never heard of such

  • @ThunderGun2
    @ThunderGun2 Před 6 lety +19

    Ew right in front of my salad. Lol

  • @SGRODmaster
    @SGRODmaster Před 6 lety +4

    Idk, I've been hearing a lot of bad things about Roundup, something about the detergents allowing the carcinogenic glyphosphate to penetrate deeper and do more damage. The company apparently skimped on doing the research there. And I really don't have much confidence in the EPA right now when it's headed by someone who would prefer it didn't exist.

    • @SGRODmaster
      @SGRODmaster Před 6 lety

      CCH DZ Which ones?

    • @Blueyes91g
      @Blueyes91g Před 6 lety +2

      If you Google 'RoundUp' and 'Widely Used Herbicide Linked to Cancer' you will see the article from Scientific American.
      EPA was never great. It's constantly lobbied and the heads of it have never been apart of environmental research. Same goes for the DOA. Until we can elect the people in those departments never have confidence in them.
      Monsanto (company that makes RoundUp) lobbies like crazy in both and most people in those boards have direct monetary ties to Monsanto, so if they can approve their chemicals, more money for them.

    • @odoylerules9750
      @odoylerules9750 Před 6 lety

      B G you see that African American going to court because he got sick from round up? Man his whole body is peeling like a banana!!

    • @Blueyes91g
      @Blueyes91g Před 6 lety

      Guccio Gucci no, I haven't heard about that one, I know know that there are hundreds of lawsuits against Monsanto right now for family members getting cancer, nothing about pealing skin, I'll have to look into that one.

  • @sarahpfeuffer1396
    @sarahpfeuffer1396 Před 6 lety +2

    How extensive do we know how each pesticide and their amount can affect the human body? And some people are more sensitive than others. I doubt how we can thoroughly know their affects because testing is limited (costs money) and sounds like the chemicals we use change often.

    • @4411josh
      @4411josh Před 3 lety

      If your wondering every chemical has somthing called an sds if your wondering about one just search it in google with the term sds after it

  • @IonianGarden
    @IonianGarden Před 6 lety

    I spent this afternoon spraying Bravo fungicide on cucumber plants. Some plants have been lost due to fungus but hopefully no more plants will be lost.

  • @tommeng6522
    @tommeng6522 Před 6 lety +7

    DDTNSFW

  • @qb4428
    @qb4428 Před 6 lety +53

    You get more pesticides in a cup of coffee (caffeine is a pesticide neurotoxin, folks) than you do from food residue in a year.

    • @beth8775
      @beth8775 Před 6 lety +7

      Q B While it is rather toxic for a number of species, coffee is not generally considered a pesticide. Grapes are toxic to dogs, but we still just call them food.

    • @qb4428
      @qb4428 Před 6 lety +19

      No, caffeine is, by definition, a pesticide. Plants produce it specifically to kill insects that try to eat them.

    • @user255
      @user255 Před 6 lety +2

      +Mykel Duso
      Caffeine is about 20-30 times more toxic, than example glyphosate. Still both of them are safe, when used correctly.

    • @superhiffy
      @superhiffy Před 6 lety +1

      Q B I mean the majority of this video was talking about how not all pesticides are the same.... And here you are trying to quantitatively compare caffeine to all other pesticides in a linear fashion lmfao

    • @user255
      @user255 Před 6 lety +3

      +superhiffy
      Still the comparison works, because pesticide residues in food items are so tiny that they are nothing compared to average caffeine intake (which is also harmless).

  • @AustiuNoMatterWho
    @AustiuNoMatterWho Před 6 lety

    honestly there is an easy way to fix a good portion of this. grow SOME of your own produce. i'm not saying become a home farmer but having a garden in your backyard for potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and other veggies if your weather is willing can save you a bit of money, help you learn a new skill, and maybe ease your mind on what you consume.

  • @flipfloe2
    @flipfloe2 Před 6 lety

    Thanks!

  • @falnica
    @falnica Před 6 lety +7

    Like, I get that most of your audience is from the US, but phrases like "you are safe because the US government monitors this substances" makes me feel a bit of an intruder, listening to a conversation meant for people of another country, though I know this upsets me more than it should

    • @homerj8025
      @homerj8025 Před 6 lety +1

      They tell us were safe is a joke. To stop people from complicating things lol

    • @MusicalShenanigans99
      @MusicalShenanigans99 Před 6 lety

      Canadian government (and many others) also monitor for maximum residue limits

  • @mudgetheexpendable
    @mudgetheexpendable Před 6 lety +24

    More worried about what's coming if this administration continues

    • @Tracuer221
      @Tracuer221 Před 6 lety +4

      Move somewhere else if you're truly concerned. There's really no other manageable solution

    • @beth8775
      @beth8775 Před 6 lety +7

      what You mean aside from participating in what democracy we have left? Contact your representatives and senators, vote, and publicly challenge the notion that this bs can be "normal". Maybe we will fail, but we stand a better chance than if we do nothing.

    • @Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat
      @Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat Před 6 lety +2

      Thomas Taylor regulated capitalism is still capitalism. To be clear I actually believe in capitalism, just regulated, and I cannot wrap my head around how eliminating food safety is bad or not worth the cost.

  • @Cashatoo
    @Cashatoo Před 6 lety +1

    Everytime SciShow covers a hotbutton issue like this, I worry that this will be the time they sell out.
    As usual, I have nothing to worry about. Way to be awesome guys and keep being a source of reality!

  • @akidd2420
    @akidd2420 Před 5 lety +1

    "Round up is safer than you think"....How much did Monsanto pay for that???🤣

    • @DukeGMOLOL
      @DukeGMOLOL Před 4 lety

      Glyphosate is safe. How much did the organic industry pay you?