Synthetic Organic Compounds Essay Example
Synthetic Organic Compounds
Synthetic organic compounds are a relatively new discovery in the field of chemistry but have had a major impact on the world. These compounds differ from organic compounds as they are manmade. Synthetic organic compounds have been damaging people and the environment since they were created. Synthetic compounds such as chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers have been beneficial to food production and favoured by farmers but they have been destroying the environment since they were introduced. Synthetic compounds such as steroids and psychoactive drugs have been abused, causing death and a drug war costing the government millions upon their introduction. Synthetic organic compounds have had a negative impact on human health and the environment.
Chemical pesticides and herbicides are an example of dangerous synthetic chemicals used around the world. Chemical pesticides are synthetic chemicals used to kill and prevent pests from impeding agriculture. For example, toxaphene is a synthetic organic insecticide made by the chlorination of camphene, a toxic fuel known for almost being insoluble in water (http://www.epa.gov). Toxaphene contains over 670 chemicals and does not occur naturally (http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca). Improper irrigation or bad weather can cause pesticide run-off. Run-off from pesticides can ruin river ecosystems, damage groundwater and contaminate soil leaving fertile land dry, unusable, and acidic. The production of chemical pesticides also releases greenhouse gases such as CO2 and SO2. Overall, chemical pesticides and herbicides are unnatural pest control devices and they destroy the environment.
Figure 1: Shows the absorption of chemical pesticides by the environment and how it contaminates soil (Joern, Lohman, & Whitford).
DDT, or dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, was a notorious pesticide introduced in the 1940’s and over one billion
Synthetic organic compounds are a relatively new discovery in the field of chemistry but have had a major impact on the world. These compounds differ from organic compounds as they are manmade. Synthetic organic compounds have been damaging people and the environment since they were created. Synthetic compounds such as chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers have been beneficial to food production and favoured by farmers but they have been destroying the environment since they were introduced. Synthetic compounds such as steroids and psychoactive drugs have been abused, causing death and a drug war costing the government millions upon their introduction. Synthetic organic compounds have had a negative impact on human health and the environment.
Chemical pesticides and herbicides are an example of dangerous synthetic chemicals used around the world. Chemical pesticides are synthetic chemicals used to kill and prevent pests from impeding agriculture. For example, toxaphene is a synthetic organic insecticide made by the chlorination of camphene, a toxic fuel known for almost being insoluble in water (http://www.epa.gov). Toxaphene contains over 670 chemicals and does not occur naturally (http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca). Improper irrigation or bad weather can cause pesticide run-off. Run-off from pesticides can ruin river ecosystems, damage groundwater and contaminate soil leaving fertile land dry, unusable, and acidic. The production of chemical pesticides also releases greenhouse gases such as CO2 and SO2. Overall, chemical pesticides and herbicides are unnatural pest control devices and they destroy the environment.
Figure 1: Shows the absorption of chemical pesticides by the environment and how it contaminates soil (Joern, Lohman, & Whitford).
DDT, or dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, was a notorious pesticide introduced in the 1940’s and over one billion