The use of pesticides is dangerous. We have all heard the story of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and the devastating effects DDT had on wildlife and humans. Production of DDT halted after public outrage, but companies just developed new chemical pesticides. Even though these pesticides went through clinical trials, there were no studies on how long-term exposure affected the health of animals and humans. Now, though, some devastating effects on animal and human fertility are being seen.

Pesticides are everywhere. Thanks to widespread use for many years, pesticides have infiltrated the environment. They have been found in the soil, in the air, in water, and within animals. To make matters worse, the pesticide companies did not conduct any studies about the long-term effects of pesticide exposure. Nowadays, consequences from long-term contamination have appeared in humans, wreaking havoc on fertility and reproduction. In the past, reproductive issues in humans were a result of environmental contamination. The results showed lower birth weight and smaller head circumferences in babies exposed to pesticides through their mothers. However, the environment became contaminated due to chemicals that people started using in the 1950s-1960s. We do not know what potential effects our pesticides will have on our fertility and reproductive health, yet we still use them!

We, as students and faculty of the University of Lynchburg, need to put a stop to the use of chemical pesticides on campus. We do not know the long-term health effects of using pesticides, and they contaminate the environment. Sign this petition to show your support for stopping the use of chemical pesticides on the UofL Campus and transitioning towards natural pesticides!!