The U.S. Geological Survey released a study this past Friday saying that pesticides have been found in almost all the nation's rivers and streams, and newspapers from coast to coast have been reporting like it's a big deal. It's not. But you wouldn't know it from the headlines. Here's a couple.
"Pesticides permeate U.S. waters" — Newark (NJ) Star Ledger (permeate?)
"Pesticides foul U.S. streams, fish" — The State, Columbia, SC
"Most U.S. rivers polluted by pesticides" — Xinhua, China (no kidding)
Yes, pesticides were found in U.S. streams and rivers, but not in concentrations likely to affect people or affect drinking water supplies. The USGS report makes that very clear.
I'm not big fan of pesticides and I wish we didn't have to rely upon them so much for our food and fiber. But with 6 billion people on this planet and another couple of billion more added to the total within the decade, we'll have to rely more and more upon chemistry and bioengineering to keep everyone fed. — Ron Hall
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