Impact of pesticides on agro products, health and environment

Abstract

Pesticides are substances used by human being to kill or deter organisms (pests) that threaten our health and wellbeing of pets and livestock or cause damage to crops. Antibiotics in the medical sense are excluded, but included are insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, molluscicides and rodenticides among others. Of these, insecticides (to control insects) and herbicides (for controlling unwanted vegetation) are used in the largest quantities. They are also concerned that birds, fish and other beneficial organisms may be adversely affected by pesticides. The insecticidal activity of some naturally occurring compounds such as nicotine and pyrethrum derived respectively from the tobacco plant and certain chrysanthemum species has been known for centuries. These have since been supplemented by inorganic compounds for insect control and sulphur and copper based compounds for fungus control. Discovery of the insecticidal activity of a number of synthetic organic compounds such as Organochlorines like Dichloro-diphenyl trichloroethane (D.D.T.). Benzene Hexachloride (BHC) already synthesised as chemicals in the previous century.