Environmental Ethics

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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pollution of 10 ppm in soil is magnified to 100 ppm when absorbed by plants and 1000 ppm when eaten by animals or humans.
The individual greed is so intense that it is totally insensitive to any amount of harm even death to others. In a T.V. interview when farmers were asked whether they were abiding by the rules that pesticides should not be sprayed at least a fortnight before vegetables or fruits are harvested for marketing the reply was that they were spraying pesticides deliberately a day before and even on same day because the products looked fresher and brighter in colour and fetched better prices. The farmers however told that they themselves were not using such products. Obviously they do care for their own families but not for others who may get any harm or even die. Most of the chemicals used in agriculture are persistent and remain in environment for several years with their harmful effects. The persistence of commonly used organochlorides (Aldrein, Dieldrin, DDT, Chlorodane, Endosulfan, Endrin, Heptachlor, Kepone, Lindane, Mirex, Toxaphene, Azodrin, Diaziman etc.) and organophosphates (Melathion, Parathion, Phosdrin, Carberyl or Sevin, Metacil etc.) is 5 to 10 years.
Extinction of Species :
The indiscriminate use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers has also resulted in extinction of several thousand species of useful micro-organisms, insects, birds, animals and plants, disturbing the natural ecological balance. With the birth of agriculture started the violation of symbiotic rules of nature. Any organism, insect, bird or animal causing slightest damage to crop, may be for a short while and may be useful in the long run, was considered enemy and killed and annihilated. In several scientific studies it has been observed that out of total number of organisims, insects, birds or animals only a fraction hardly 5% cause certain temporary damage but the use of chemicals to eliminate these, kills all other useful ones also. With increase in population and consequent increase in extension of agriculture in area, combined with
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