Often, when people consume agricultural products, they do not think to consider the process necessary to preserve the products from deterioration or consumption by pests. “A pesticide is a chemical substance used to prevent, destroy or repel pests. Pests can be insects, mice and other animals, weeds, fungi, or microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses” (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). “A parasite can come from any plant or animal and endanger our food supply, health, or well-being” (Delaplane, 1996). Pesticide is a broad term that includes things like insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Most pesticides used contain chemicals that can be harmful to people, animals and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pesticide Programs regulates pesticides in the United States to protect public health and the environment. All pesticides used must be registered with the EPA, and the agency requires a series of scientific tests not only for each pesticide, but for each use of each pesticide. Some pesticides that people may be aware of are things like roach sprays and rat poisons. However, some common products we use are also considered pesticides, such as: disinfectant cleaners, mold cleaners, and plant sprays. “Ancient Romans killed insect pests by burning sulfur and controlled weeds with salt. In the 1600s, ants were controlled with mixtures of honey and arsenic. By the late 19th century, U.S. farmers were using copper acetoarsenite (Paris green), calcium arsenate, nicotine sulfate, and sulfur to control insect pests in field crops” (Delaplane, 1996). DDT was developed as the first modern synthetic insecticide in the 1940s. DDT was initially used to treat malaria, typhoid, a... middle of paper... intensive exposure to a variety of pesticides, both from the application of these chemicals and from the harvesting of agricultural products sprayed with pesticides. According to the 2012 Toxics Action Center, “National Cancer Institute studies found that American farmers, who in many ways are healthier than the general population, had startling incidences of leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and many other forms of cancer." In summary, pesticides are often considered a quick, easy and economical solution to weed and insect control. However, the use of pesticides has its cons. Pesticides have been shown to contaminate the environment and affect human health and wildlife. Pesticide residues are found in soil, air and groundwater. The best way to reduce pesticide contamination in our environment is to use safer, non-chemical pest control.