Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability 1

and opposition from agricultural chemical companies,whose pesticide sales would drop sharply. There isalso a lack of experts to help farmers shift to IPM.A 1996 study by the National Academy of Sciencesrecommended that the United States shift from chemicallybased approaches to ecologically based pest managementapproaches. According to the study, within5–10 years, such a shift could cut U.S. pesticide use inhalf, as it has in several other countries.Agrowing number of scientists urge the USDA touse three strategies to promote IPM in the UnitedStates:■ Add a 2% sales tax on pesticides and use the revenueto fund IPM research and education■ Set up a federally supported IPM demonstrationproject on at least one farm in every county■ Train USDA field personnel and county farmagents in IPM so they can help farmers use thisalternativeThe pesticide industry has successfully opposed suchmeasures.Good news. Several UN agencies and the WorldBank have joined together to establish an IPM facility.Its goal is to promote use of IPM by disseminating informationand establishing networks among researchers,farmers, and agricultural extension agentsinvolved in IPM.xHOW WOULD YOU VOTE? Should governments heavilysubsidize a switch to integrated pest management? Castyour vote online at http://biology.brookscole.com/miller14.We need to recognize that pest control is basically anecological, not a chemical, problem.ROBERT L. RUDDCRITICAL THINKING1. Do you agree or disagree that because DDT and theother banned chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides poseno demonstrable threat to human health and have savedmillions of lives, they should again be approved for useon crops in the United States? Explain.2. If increased mosquito populations threatened youwith malaria or West Nile virus, would you spray DDTin your yard and inside your home to reduce the risk?Explain. What are the alternatives?3. Explain how widespread use of a pesticide can (a) increasethe damage done by a particular pest and (b) createnew pest organisms.4. Explain why biological pest control often is more successfulon a small island than on a continent.5. Should farmers be given government subsidies forswitching to integrated pest management (IPM)? Explainyour position.6. Should certain types of foods be irradiated to helpcontrol disease organisms and increase shelf life? Explain.If so, should such foods be required to carry aclear label stating that they have been irradiated?Explain.7. What changes, if any, do you believe should be madein the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and RodenticideAct and the Food Quality Protection Act that regulatepesticide use in the United States?8. Congratulations! You are in charge of pest control forthe entire world. What are the three most important componentsof your global pest management strategy?PROJECTS1. How are bugs and weeds controlled in (a) your yardand garden, (b) the grounds of your school, and (c) publicschool grounds, parks, and playgrounds in your community?2. List all pesticides used in or around your home. Comparethe results for your entire class. Which ones could beeliminated?3. Some research shows that although many peopleagree we need to make greater use of alternatives to conventionalpesticides for controlling pests, when they arefaced with an actual infestation from insects or rodentsthe first thing they do is spray with pesticides. Surveymembers of your class and other groups to help determinethe validity of these research findings.4. Use the library or the Internet to find bibliographic informationabout Ralph Waldo Emerson and Robert L. Rudd,whose quotes appear at the beginning and end of thischapter.5. Make a concept map of this chapter’s major ideas, usingthe section heads, subheads, and key terms (in boldface).Look at the website for this book for informationabout making concept maps.LEARNING ONLINEThe website for this book contains study aids and manyideas for further reading and research. They include achapter summary, review questions for the entire chapter,flash cards for key terms and concepts, a multiple-choicepractice quiz, interesting Internet sites, references, and aguide for accessing thousands of InfoTrac ® College Editionarticles. Log on tohttp://biology.brookscole.com/miller14Then click on the Chapter-by-Chapter area, choose Chapter23, and select a learning resource.http://biology.brookscole.com/miller14531