Pesticides are used everywhere: in schools, homes, parks, and playgrounds, and especially in agriculture––the fruits and vegetables we eat carry the residue of one or more pesticides. In this riveting narrative, readers learn how pesticides became so popular in the United States and the many ways they can damage human health-both in the short term and long term. Asthma and cancer are linked to pesticides, as are developmental problems such as ADHD, autism, and lowered IQ. Pesticides can affect a woman's fertility and the ability to carry a pregnancy to term. Readers can take steps to protect themselves and their communities from these dangerous chemicals by dealing with pests in a safer, more environmentally friendly way. The book examines integrated pest management, government regulation of pesticides, and ways teens can contribute to a healthier future, for example, by starting a garden club at school or in the neighborhood.
