How Cotton Harms the Environment & Human Health
Around 75% of the world’s clothing items use some form of cotton. From denim to flannel, cotton is integral to the fashion industry. Derived from cotton plants, it has many benefits, such as being durable, breathable, absorbent, and soft. Thanks to its biological makeup, cotton can be grown in many warm areas around the world.
To the fashion industry, cotton is the it girl.
Yet, cotton’s high demand works to mask the many issues it causes the environment.
To grow cotton, many pesticides must be used. Although cotton production uses only 2.5% of the world’s agricultural land, it consumes 16% of all insecticides and 7% of all herbicides. That is more than any other crop in the world. Many of the pesticides used in this process have been deemed hazardous by the World Health Organization.
Endosulfan, one of the most widely-used pesticides for cotton growing, can increase the risk of health issues like seizures. It is also believed to be the main source behind the deadly poisoning of West African cotton farmers. In rural West Africa, one of the only means to earn a living is by growing cotton. This leads to farmers sacrificing their safety and wellbeing to support themselves and in most cases, their families. It is clear that the benefits of using pesticides in cotton production do not outweigh the costs.
In 1998, a project developed by France’s agriculture research center (Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement), a French cotton company (Développement des Agro Industries du Sud), and the Insect Resistance Action Committee recommended that farmers spray endosulfan twice along with other chemicals in order to prevent cotton bollworms from destroying crops.
However, many reports that came out after this recommendation showed the harmful effects of this pesticide on humans. In one case, a farmer had his three teenage boys help tend to the cotton field. After they had finished, the boys took a few corn cobs from the same field to eat. Within a few minutes, they began to vomit and had to be taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, one of the boys passed away.
These cases are not unique to rural West Africa. In other parts of the world, exploitation of child labor fuels large-scale cotton production, and these children are exposed to harsh chemicals daily, while being more vulnerable to their side effects than adults.
Such pesticides harm not only human health but also ecosystems. If they are not disposed of properly, they can seep into nearby aquatic ecosystems, causing a stem of environmental issues like habitat loss and animal harm.
The demand for cotton threatens aquatic ecosystems. Its water usage completely destroys habitats, affecting not only that ecosystem but the ones that surround and depend on it.
Aside from water pollution, cotton is considered a water-intensive crop, contributing to its negative environmental impact. According to the World Wildlife Fund, it takes approximately 713.3 gallons (2,700 liters) of water to produce the cotton needed to make just one t-shirt. Cotton’s immense water usage has even caused an entire water supply to run dry: the Aral Sea in Central Asia, the world’s 4th largest lake. When the Soviet Union began using the water for agricultural purposes (like growing cotton), the area was not able to replenish itself. Though organizations have been working to revitalize the Aral Sea, it seems as though it will never completely recover.
Cotton’s detrimental impact on the environment is indisputable. Yet, there is hope for a more sustainable future. In past years, organic cotton has grown in popularity. One of its many benefits is that it uses 91% less water compared to regular cotton. In areas like India and Africa, organizations have been working with farmers to reduce their overall cotton usage. Moving forward, farmers and fashion companies must work together to reduce their use of cotton.
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