People have been abusing the environment for too long. Americans should not use chemicals without researching and considering the serious consequences. Rachel Carson, an aquatic biologist who helped form the US Environmental Protection Agency, wrote an article about the damage chemicals are causing on land. He made an important point that most of the damage Americans are causing to the earth cannot be reversed. These chemicals are left in the air or soil for generations (Carson 50). Americans should use environmentally friendly pesticides to reduce pollution and improve human and animal health. One of the main reasons for using environmentally friendly pesticides is to reduce pollution. In a National Wildlife article, it was found that surface and groundwater pollution is the greatest “uncontrolled” threat to American water today. This is caused when rain washes chemicals from pesticides into streams, lakes, and other bodies of water (Miller, para. 5). It can be very difficult to monitor this problem because it is difficult to decide which farmer is using too many or even overusing pesticides (Miller, para.5). One way to reduce pesticide pollution is to reduce the amount of pesticides used. Iowa farmers are being encouraged to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers on their crops to help stop pollution of groundwater and runoff. Farmers were overusing fertilizers and pesticides because they did not take into account the fertilizers already present in the soil in past years. There has been a decline in nitrate levels in groundwater since the project began (Miller, para. 16). If all farmers adopted this new way of thinking, the problem of water contamination would worsen... middle of paper... pesticides that will harm the land and that will not eat any pesticides. Like Rachel Carson, all Americans should be very concerned about the impact pesticides are having on the environment and all living creatures. In his conclusion to The Obligation to Endure he states: “I argue that we have allowed the use of these chemicals with little or no advance investigation into their effects on soil, water, wildlife, and humans themselves. Future generations are unlikely to forgive our lack of prudent concern for the integrity of the natural world that supports all life” (Carson 54). She, as well as many others, recognizes a big problem in current actions with pesticides, but is hopeful for the future. A small change in any person can achieve big results. To reduce pollution and improve the health of humans and animals, Americans should use only environmentally friendly pesticides.