Can the Benefits of Using Agricultural Chemicals Outweigh the Risks?

摘要

Sadly, I was not able to attend the European Parliamentary Workshop on glyphosate organised by Pavel Poc, Member of the European Parliament, EuCheMS and ECTN on 10th May, 2017, but I have watched the video and was impressed by the very high level of scientific debate with most, but sadly not all, approaching the discussion with an open mind. It was appropriate that this debate focussed mainly on the science but it got me thinking about the whole issue of hazard/risk and risk versus benefit. More generally, can it ever be justifiable to use a hazardous chemical? Of course, if the risk can be contained to an acceptably low level. Petrol (gasoline) is a very hazardous material because it forms highly explosive mixtures with air, which is why it works as a fuel. Yet, all of us are happy to drive around with many litres of it in the back of our cars. It is contained in such a way that the risk of an uncontrolled explosion is very slight, but it is not zero (...) You can read the entire article at https://wp.me/P7iPLy-LA.