What Are Pesticides, and Why Should You Care?

Pesticides are chemical substances used to kill or control unwanted insects, weeds, fungi, and other pests. While they’re commonly used in agriculture, landscaping, and even home gardening, many of these chemicals pose serious risks to human health and the environment—especially when overused or mismanaged. In Sonoma County, pesticides are used widely on vineyards, farms, public lands, and near homes and schools, raising growing concerns among health advocates, farmworkers, and residents.

Pesticides include:

• Insecticides (target insects, e.g. organophosphates and neonicotinoids)

• Herbicides (target weeds, e.g. glyphosate and paraquat)

• Fungicides (used to control molds and mildews)

• Rodenticides (target rats and mice, often toxic to other wildlife)

While some pesticides are considered less harmful when used correctly, many are classified as toxic or carcinogenic by public health authorities. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 90% of Americans have detectable pesticide residues in their bodies, and exposure is linked to a range of acute and chronic health problems (CDC National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals).

Why Sonoma County Should Pay Attention

As a region known for agriculture—especially wine production—Sonoma County sees routine and large-scale use of pesticides. Drift from aerial or ground spraying can carry these chemicals into nearby homes, schools, and waterways. Children, pregnant people, and farmworkers are especially vulnerable to exposure. A 2014 California Department of Public Health report found that more than one in three public schools in Sonoma County are located within a quarter mile of pesticide applications—placing young children at disproportionate risk (CDPH School Proximity Study).

Pesticides don’t just disappear after they’re sprayed—they can linger in soil, leach into groundwater, and become airborne in dust. Some break down into even more toxic byproducts. Over time, certain chemicals accumulate in the body, and chronic low-dose exposure—especially in childhood—has been linked to developmental disorders, cancer, reproductive harm, and neurotoxicity. (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: NIEHS Pesticide Health Effects)

A Public Health and Environmental Justice Issue

Pesticide exposure isn’t just a personal risk—it’s a community-level environmental justice concern. Farmworkers and their families, who often live and work near sprayed fields, face the greatest burden. These frontline communities are also the least likely to have access to protective gear, legal recourse, or medical care when exposure occurs. (California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation: Pesticide Drift and Farmworker Safety)

Wildlife and ecosystems also suffer. Pesticides have been linked to the collapse of pollinator populations, contamination of salmon-bearing streams, and the poisoning of birds and small mammals. Certain products, like neonicotinoids and rodenticides, persist in the environment and move up the food chain, harming biodiversity even far from the site of application. (EPA: Pesticide Environmental Impact)

Why This Matters Now

California has made strides in regulating some of the most dangerous pesticides, but many still remain in use, often disproportionately in rural and working-class communities. Local governments have limited ability to restrict pesticide use—making public awareness and pressure essential to drive stronger protections.

To safeguard human health and the environment, Sonoma County must:

• Advocate for reduced pesticide use and wider adoption of organic and regenerative practices

• Expand buffer zones near schools, homes, and public spaces

• Improve transparency and reporting on pesticide applications

• Invest in non-toxic land management on public property

• Support worker protections and health monitoring for exposed communities

The science is clear: many pesticides are harmful, persistent, and unequally distributed. It's time we prioritize the health of people and the land over chemical convenience.

Would you like me to draft sections for:

• “How People Are Exposed” (in the same style as the PFAS or wildfire entries),

• A Sonoma-specific pesticide map or data snapshot, or

• Calls to Action aligned with SCCA’s campaigns (e.g. school buffer zones or public lands policies)?

Let me know how you'd like to expand this!