Which public-health benefit is associated with pesticide use as described?

Which public-health benefit is associated with pesticide use as described?

• A. Disease control in areas with mosquito-borne diseases and cheaper crops
• B. Increased pest resistance
• C. Higher water pollution only
• D. No effect on agriculture

Answer: (A)

Pesticide use can directly reduce disease risk in communities by lowering populations of pests that transmit illness, such as mosquitoes. When mosquito numbers are suppressed, transmission of diseases like malaria and dengue declines, improving public health. At the same time, protecting crops from pests helps prevent yield losses, which can lead to cheaper, more available food for people. So the public-health benefit described is the reduction in disease transmission plus better access to affordable crops. The other options describe negative outcomes or no effect, which do not represent a public-health benefit.

Pesticide use can directly reduce disease risk in communities by lowering populations of pests that transmit illness, such as mosquitoes. When mosquito numbers are suppressed, transmission of diseases like malaria and dengue declines, improving public health. At the same time, protecting crops from pests helps prevent yield losses, which can lead to cheaper, more available food for people. So the public-health benefit described is the reduction in disease transmission plus better access to affordable crops. The other options describe negative outcomes or no effect, which do not represent a public-health benefit.