Agricultural crops are under constant assault by insect pests, making insecticides essential to reduce losses. Synthetic insecticides such as organophosphates are important, effective tools in modern crop management. However, they pose serious threats to the environment and to people. Humans come in contact with dangerous pesticides on food, in water and in the air near farms. This "pesticide drift" occurs when pesticide dust and spray travel by wind to places unexposed to pesticides. Almost 98 percent of sprayed pesticides do not reach their targets. They penetrate to groundwater, pollute streams and harm wildlife, including natural predators of the targeted pests. Older pesticides such as DDT killed bald eagles, birds, fish and even people (Carson).