The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a pesticide as “any substance or
mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or
mitigating any pest.”
A pesticide may be a chemical substance or biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria) used against pests including insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes, and microbes. These organisms may compete with humans for food, invade lawns and gardens, destroy wood in houses, spread disease, or just be a general nuisance in our everyday lives. Pesticides are usually, but not always, poisonous to humans.
There are 5 major types of pesticides you will encounter: insecticides (insect killers), herbidicides (weed killers), fungicides (fungus killers), nematocides (roundworm killers), and rodenticides (rat and mouse killers). Be aware that although the 5 are listed here, there are many (e.g. algicides, miticides).
After
being assigned one pesticide, you (and up to 3 partners if you would like) will
be creating a newspaper. Review your class handout which is located in the class handout section of this blog for information that needs to be included about your pesticide in your newspaper.
Your school librarian, Mrs. Hatcher, recommends the following information resources that will be helpful.
Online Databases (VRC):
Online Databases (VRC):
- Gale's Health Reference Center Academic
- eLibrary Science
- EBSCO General Science Collection
- Facts.com Today's Science
Print Collection:
- ebook and print resources available by searching WMHS library catalog
