**Classification of Pesticides:**
– Pesticides categorized by target organism: herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, pediculicides
– Biopesticides include microbial, biochemical pesticides, and plant-incorporated protectants
– Structural classes associated with a single mode of action
– Formulation with other components for application
– Classification based on mode of action for resistance management
**History and Development of Pesticides:**
– Evolution of pesticides from biblical times to the 1950s
– Introduction of synthetic organic compounds like DDT and 2,4-D in the 1940s
– Development of resistance to pesticides from the 1920s
– Introduction of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the 1950s
– Aim and process of developing new pesticides
**Regulation, Safety, and Environmental Impact:**
– Approval process by regulatory authorities
– Safety standards for human health and environmental protection
– Monitoring of pesticide use and potential bans or restrictions
– Negative environmental impacts like pollution and harm to non-target organisms
– Measures to reduce environmental impact including IPM and organic farming
**Usage and Benefits of Pesticides:**
– Agricultural applications to control harmful organisms
– Benefits including cost savings for farmers, increased crop yields, and reduced food prices
– Biological benefits like managing pests and improving crop quality
– Monetary benefits for farmers and consumers
– Disadvantages and potential health risks associated with pesticide use
**Health Effects and Risks of Pesticide Exposure:**
– Negative health impacts including reproductive issues and cancer
– Association with diseases like non-Hodgkin lymphoma
– Neurobehavioral alterations linked to specific types of pesticides
– Health risks associated with pesticide exposure such as neurological effects and birth defects
– Occupational exposure among agricultural workers and challenges in characterizing true pesticide exposure
Pesticides are substances that are used to control pests. They include herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides, and many others (see table). The most common of these are herbicides, which account for approximately 50% of all pesticide use globally. Most pesticides are used as plant protection products (also known as crop protection products), which in general protect plants from weeds, fungi, or insects. In general, a pesticide is a chemical or biological agent (such as a virus, bacterium, or fungus) that deters, incapacitates, kills, or otherwise discourages pests. Target pests can include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, molluscs, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms), and microbes that destroy property, cause nuisance, or spread disease, or are disease vectors. Along with these benefits, pesticides also have drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans and other species.
