Impact of synthetic pesticides utilization on humans and the environment: an overview

Abstract

Abstract. Pesticides are chemicals that kill or manage the population of pests. There are many different types of pesticides on the market today, but the most common are herbicides and insecticides, which kill or manage unwanted plants and insects. The benefits of pesticides include increased food production, increased profits for farmers and the prevention of diseases. Although pests consume or harm a large portion of agricultural crops, without the use of pesticides, it is likely that they would consume a higher percentage. More food is produced by farmers, thereby increasing profit. Pesticides also increase farm profits by helping the farmer save money on labor costs. Using pesticides reduces the amount of time required to manually remove weeds and pests from the fields. In addition to saving crops and livestock, pesticides have also had direct benefits to human health. It is estimated that since 1945, the use of pesticides has prevented the deaths of around seven million people by killing pests that carry or transmit diseases. Although there are benefits to the use of pesticides, there have also been many problems associated with their use. Pesticides do not always stay in the location where they are applied. They are mobile in the environment and often move through water, air and soil. The problem with pesticide mobility is that when they travel, the pesticides come in contact with other organisms and can cause harm. Pesticides have also been shown to disrupt the balance of an ecosystem. In many situations when a pesticide is used, it also kills non-pest organisms. This can drastically alter the natural balance of the ecosystem. By removing non-pest organisms, the environment can be changed to favor the pest. In addition to causing harm to wildlife, pesticides that travel from their original location are known to cause harm to humans. Human exposure to pesticides has caused poisonings, the development of cancer and the deaths of between 20000 and 40000 people worldwide each year. Another major problem associated with pesticide use is bioaccumulation and biological magnification. Bioaccumulation is when a substance builds up in the body because the body does not have the proper mechanisms to remove it. Many synthetic pesticides are not able to be broken down. Once they enter the body of an organism, they are permanently stored in the body tissue.

Facile hydrothermal synthesis of N-doped fluorescent carbon dots for selective detection of insecticide parathion

“…6 However, excessive use of organophosphates can lead to environmental pollution, food and water contamination, and pose a threat to human health by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE), [7][8][9] such as causing tumors, nerve disorders, endocrine disruption, immune system disruption, and even death. [10][11][12] As one of the organophosphates, parathion is widely used to control pests in vegetables, fruits, and owers. [13][14][15] Therefore, it is very important to establish a rapid, easy, low-cost method for parathion detection.…”

Controle de fungos com óleo de eucalipto e transmissão de Fusarium sp. em sementes de Mimosa caesalpiniifolia

“…O manejo destes patógenos é feito, principalmente, mediante o uso de tratamentos químicos (Oliveira et al, 2011). No entanto, com o avanço da agricultura sustentável e a maior conscientização sobre os efeitos negativos ao meio ambiente e ao ser humano causados pelo uso indiscriminado de defensivos agrícolas, além do custo elevado desses produtos, tem-se intensificado a busca por métodos alternativos para o controle de fitopatógenos (Oaya et al, 2019). É almejado que estes métodos alternativos sejam biodegradáveis, ecologicamente corretos, baratos e seguros (Nascimento et al, 2021).…”

Recent Advances on Detection of Insecticides Using Optical Sensors

“…This happened because insecticides were secreted into the soils and groundwater that may end up in drinking water. Additionally, the spray of insecticides can drift and pollute the air that can enter the body by inhaling aerosols, dust and vapor, whereas oral exposure to the insecticides can be happened during the consume of food and water or direct contact with the skin [ 16 ]. Over time, the chemical will bio-accumulate in the body.…”

“…They will experience the greatest exposure to agricultural insecticides through direct contact [ 18 ]. The effects from the exposure can be mild skin irritation, tumor, genetic changes, birth defects, diarrhea, blood and nerve disorders, endocrine disruption, immune system disruption, coma or death [ 16 ]. Figure 1 briefly shows exposure to insecticides impose danger on humans.…”