Pesticide use, in agriculture

One reason for the rapid growth in the use of pesticides worldwide has been the "Green Revolution" (5), Although there have been some benefits from pesticide use in agriculture, they also cause significant environmental and public health problems. The same is true in public health where Insecticides have been used to control malaria. However, today Increased resistance to insecticides in mosquitoes and Increased resistance to drugs by the malarial parasite are resulting in an explosive increase of malaria worldwide (5). 

Public Health Impact of Pesticides Used in Agriculture Report of a WHO/UNEP Working Group World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland, United Nations Environment Programme Nairobi, Kenya. 

Public Health Impact of Pesticide Use in Agriculture Report of WHO/UNEP Working Group. WHO, 1989. 140 pp. 

Hildebrandt A, Guillamon M, Lacorte S, Tauler R, Barcelo D (2008) Impact of pesticides used in agriculture and vineyards to surface and groundwater quality (North Spain). Water Res 42(13) 3315-3326... 

Vettorazzi, G. State of the art of the toxicological evaluation carried out by the Joint FA0/WH0 Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues. III. Miscellaneous pesticides used In agriculture and public health. Residue Reviews 66 137-184, 1977. 

Published information shows that the total amount of pesticides used in agriculture and industry is increasing (1,2). As a consequence of the large quantities used, pesticides are present in all areas of the natural environment. Monitoring pesticides in food poses substantial analytical problems as the demand increases for more sensitive methods, in response to recent legislation in many countries (3). 

The acute toxic effects of the cholinesterase inhibitors, like those of the direct-acting agents, are direct extensions of their pharmacologic actions. The major source of such intoxications is pesticide use in agriculture and in the home. Approximately 100 organophosphate and 20 carbamate cholinesterase inhibitors are available in pesticides and veterinary vermifuges used in the USA. 

Pesticides are applied to control pests and plant diseases. Pesticides used in agriculture to protect living plants and freshly harvested crops are called plant protection chemicals. When pesticides are used to protect stored food, processed goods, public hygiene, and dead objects, they are called biocides. Pesticides are divided into subgroups named after the pest they fight (Table 11.1). Examples discussed in this book are... 

NDMA has been detected in ambient air, water and soil however, monitoring data are rather scant. Low levels of NDMA (measurable in terms of ppb) are commonly found in the air of car interiors, food, malt beverages (beer, whiskey), toiletry and cosmetic products, rubber baby bottle nipples and pacifiers, tobacco products and tobacco smoke, pesticides used in agriculture, hospitals, and homes, and sewage sludge. 

Many pesticides used in agriculture are based on organophosphorus compounds, PC13 and POCl3 being important intermediates in their production. 

It appears that a final resolution will not be soon in coming. In many ways, the debate is just beginning, both around the country and in the U. S. Congress. The advent of biotechnology may provide a fundamental opportunity to phase out chemical pesticide use in agriculture. It may be an opportunity whose time has come, and therefore it needs to be pushed hard, and elevated to a national goal. 

Organic contaminants that present a concern to environmental protection include pesticides (used in agriculture), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, a by-product of incomplete combustion), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, components of coolants and lubricants), phenols (used in the production of plastics and pesticides), dioxins (unwanted by-products of many industrial processes including incineration and chemical manufacturing of phenols, PCBs, and herbicides) and alkyphenols (surfactants in agrochemicals and household cleaning products). 

FIGURE 11.1 Chemical structures of representative compounds of pesticides used in agriculture. 

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