A pesticide is a substance used to kill, control or repel a pest. Pesticides have disadvantages and advantages. They are able to control pests, but it can also kill other organisms as well. Not only do they affect animals but they can effect us, as humans. .

             It can get into drinking water as well as people's food. Research has proven that there are other, safer alternatives.

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             Pesticides have existed since the 1920's. These types of pesticides range from Acaricides which kill bugs mites and spiders too Rodenticides that kill rodents such as mice, rats, and moles. Other pesticides include Insecticides that kill insects, Avicides which kills off unwanted birds, Algaecides affecting and killing algae and Herbicides which effect weeds, wild grass and any other unwanted plant among a crop. Herbicides are the most used form of pesticide in Canada. .

             Pesticides have both disadvantages and advantages. Before pesticides were invented, entire crops were lost because of pests like locusts and disease. Now that pesticides exist farmers are able to spray entire crops for bugs, rodents or disease. The pesticides not only can be sprayed on quickly but are also very effective at killing insects , and any other pests. Some pesticides have a negative affect. In the 1950s, farmers used powerful new pesticides to control pest populations. These powerful pesticides killed many different insects and they worked quickly. However, they created some serious short term effects as well as long term effects. One pesticide called DDT, was very effective in controlling pests in Ontario, not only in Ontario but in all of Canada as well as the rest of the world. Farmers in Canada used it on there fruits, corn and grain crops to prevent pests from damaging there crops. Other countries like Asia and Africa used it to kill mosquito's which spread disease. DDT was very efficient, most insects died soon after they came in contact with the pesticide.