Pesticides minimizing risk

WHO should facilitate and promote the search for alternative pesticides and control measures that pose minimal risk to human health and the environment, and are cost-effective. In this context, further strengthening of collaboration with relevant research institutions and industry should be sought. 

A consensus has developed from the scientists conducting residential exposure assessments screening-level or initial tier exposure estimates need to be obtained from those activities and pesticide applications that maximize human contact potential with the pesticide such as a baby crawling on a treated surface. Assessments which conclude minimal risk to humans from maximum exposures are then used to predict minimal risk at lower exposmes. 

In the past, pesticides were optimized for efficacy, but sometimes with harmful side effects to man or the environment. Today, modern pesticides have high selectivity for the target organism, and testing programs are mandatory to minimize risks and maximize benefits. Before a pesticide can be sold, the supplier must ask the competent authorities of the respective countries for a permit, the marketing authorization. The applicant must submit a dossier containing all information... 

List 4 Inerts of minimal concern, further broken down into List 4A minimal risk inerts, including all commonly consumed foods and List 4B inerts which have sufficient data to substantiate that they can be used safely in pesticide products. 

Risk communicators should be aware that risks that people can choose to avoid (e.g., skiing) give a sense of control and that risks that are familiar (e.g., Salmonella from potato salad or disease from smoking) or have been around a long time (e.g., food-borne disease) are easily tolerated and often minimized. Risks that are poorly tolerated are involuntary risks, such as exposure to small amounts of pesticide residues in food and those risks that have unknown effects (e.g., biotechnology-produced tomatoes) or long-delayed effects (which are possible with prion exposure). 

Research Approaches to Minimizing Risks Associated with Pesticide Use... 

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