The food industry plays a significant role in the satisfaction of both communities as well as individual needs with respect to food availability, distribution, and quality. To meet this need, most food manufacturers adopt various methodologies to deal with the increasing demand for quality and quantity. Nonetheless, present use of chemicals continues to render the production of food unsafe for human consumption due to incurred health implications. The need for good production strategies has resulted in sustainable food production, thereby ensuring food safety and quality. In this respect, scholars continually sensitize the dangers associated with chemical food production on human health. Therefore, this literature review synthesizes pertinent arguments to this effect by analyzing various studies.
While the design of pesticides solely targets pests and other plant invaders, their poisonous nature shows their potential to do more harm than good. Blair et al. (2014) affirm the toxic nature of pesticides and their propensity to cause quite a number of health detriments, some long-term while others short-term, yet all dangerous to the quality of individual life. In their research, Blair et al. (2014), conducted a review explaining the effects of pesticide on the present world. Most populations currently have dangerous pesticides, which undoubtedly contribute to several chronic conditions. Additionally, the research notes a permeation of chronic conditions associated with the use of specific pesticides that ultimately result in carcinogenic occurrences. Moreover, while pesticide effects become apparent, the need for sophisticated multi-disciplinary studies on assessment methodologies in relation to the health effects of pesticides is crucial.
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Similarly, Nicolopoulou et al. (2016) affirm the effects of pesticides on human health. In the study, the authors present an argument asserting the need to develop proper agricultural concepts aimed at controlling this problem. Nicolopoulou and colleagues show the severity of several health conditions stemming from exposure to common pesticides. By delving into common classes of pesticides, the study shows how each class of pesticide ultimately affects human health, principally, in relation to their application. A major concern also, as shown by Blair et al. (2014), is the amalgamation of pesticides with other chemicals that can result in other combinatory chemicals with far greater effects on the human body. To make matters worse, the public, as well as the companies producing these chemicals, do not know of such combinations.
Similarly, Kim et al. (2017) provide a review of published studies showing the use of pesticides and their resultant effect on not only human health but also ecological systems and the environment. In the study, the authors begin by introducing the definitions of the types of insecticides as well as pesticide-related exposure routes. Through such routes, the researchers note a predisposition of exposures to lead to conditions such as leukemia, cancer, and diabetes among others. Such conditions often result in poor life quality and in cases of overexposure, morbidity and mortality.
Besides pesticides, Jeong et al. (2010), show the risk of growth hormones in the production of animal food. Largely, growth hormones have been a source of concern with scholars documenting their flagrant use. Jeong and colleagues present divergent techniques assessing the use of growth hormones including the conduction of hormonal risk assessments. By analyzing several synthetic and natural steroids used in cattle, they wholesomely conclude apposite installations, functions, and effects on the health of humans in relation to known steroids. Such steroids as progesterone, zeranol, and testosterone among others, negatively affect human health when used inappropriately. On the other hand, while used aptly, these steroids may have negligible effects according to the study. Nonetheless, such use of growth hormones is risky due to various factors, thus deeming other alternatives related to increased productivity as more sustainable.
Ultimately, each of these studies offers solutions to the problem of chemical food production. Blair et al. (2014), insist on the significance of sensitizing the populace on the ingredients of chemical pesticides. Such sensitization has the potential of being effective when incorporated into public education. While this is the case, Blair et al. (2014) further indicate inherent weaknesses presaging present research discourses as most occur in developed countries despite developing nations using similar amounts of pesticides if not more. Nicolopoulou et al. (2016) show the solution as the development of alternate model methods relating to food production policies. Such policies, as mentioned in the introduction and reiterated by Nicolopoulou et al. (2016) should intrinsically target sustainable production substitutes with the health of consumers at heart. Moreover, the study suggests the implementation of zones considered pesticide-free through policies such as bans at local levels as well as regions considered green and organic.
Kim et al. (2017) show the need for types and quantities determination since individual susceptibility effects vary dramatically. In addition, proper testing remains an absolute necessity according to this study. Ideally, the industry lacks proper implementations after the testing of insecticides. Moreover, failure to inform the public only fosters increased usage, demand, and eventually production. In this regard, curbing the menace requires multi-pronged strategies aimed at not only the manufacturers of pesticides but also current and potential consumers.
From this research body, it is apparent that the use of pesticides as well as animal growth hormones cause adverse health effects. Moreover, present sensitization campaigns are sorely lacking as most pesticide users lack information concerning their on human health. Ultimately as the population exponentially increases, the research and implementation of sustainable food production should also improve.
