Environmental Pollution By Pesticides

Pesticides play an important role in controlling pests that carry diseases and threaten crop production. In recent years, however, there has been increased concern about the adverse impacts of pesticides and their degradation products on public health and the environment. A considerable amount of work is being done to develop nonchemical methods of

The persistent organic pesticides have saved millions of lives by controlling human disease vectors and by greatly increasing the yields of agricultural crops. However, in recent years man has become ever more conscious of the way in which his environment is becoming increasingly polluted by chemicals that may harm plants, animals or even himself. Amongst these chemicals the organochlorine insecticides have been well to the fore as a major cause of anxiety to ecologists, not only because they persist so long, but also because of the readiness with which they are taken up into the bodies of living organisms, especially the fatty tissues of both animals and humans. The extent and seriousness of the potential hazards due to these chemicals still remains to be fully defined. Our information on the occur rence of residues in the various parts of the environment is very uneven and localized. For instance, whereas we have a great deal of data on residues in North America, we know virtually nothing about the extent of pesticide contamination in Africa, South America and much of Asia, although large amounts of organochlorine insecticides have been used in these areas.

Identifying and remediating environmental contamination is a complex and very expensive problem worldwide. Pollution of soil and water by pesticides is a significant issue that persists for years after the pesticide application ceases. Pesticide Properties in the Environment is a unique database compiled from extensive literature searches. It presents data on hundreds of pesticides, including their common, commercial, and scientific names, their chemical formulas, and their environmental properties including water solubility, field half-life, sorption coefficient, and vapor pressure. All data is carefully cited to original references, and is presented both in printed form and as an electronic database. Pesticide Properties in the Environment will be invaluable for environmental scientists, engineers, and consultants, as well as soil scientists and water quality specialists.

This report addresses a complex and controversial issue: the human health risks associated with the use of agricultural pesticides. Some people are extremely concerned about their potential exposure to pesticides, arising because they occupy properties adjacent to farmland or because they have (or have had) access to such land, for example when using footpaths. The official position in the UK in response to these concerns has been that a robust approach to the assessment of human health risks associated with pesticide exposure already exists; and that there is no scientific case for taking additional measures, such as the introduction of no-spray buffer zones, to protect members of the public who may be in the vicinity of a sprayed area. But those who consider themselves to be adversely affected by pesticide spraying have not been reassured, and have continued to campaign for the adoption of more precautionary measures.

Pesticides have contributed impressively to our present-day agricultural productivity, but at the same time they are at the center of serious concerns about safety, health, and the environment. Increasingly, the public wonders whether the benefits of pesticides - `the perfect red apple' - outweigh the costs of environmental pollution, human illness, and the destruction of animals and our habitat. Scientists and government officials are suspected of promoting commercial interests rather than protecting human welfare.

The Global Politics of Pesticides explores the varied, and often conflicting, interests involved in the formulation of international policies on chemical pesticide manufacture and use in each of the main areas of environmental pollution, trade, development, public health, food security, biotechnology and industrial safety and explains why some aspects of pesticide use are subject to strict international guidelines whilst others are not. The book breaks new ground in objectively examining the competing viewpoints of food producers and other pesticide users, the chemical industry, health officials, traders, environmental/consumer pressure groups and the public. It also considers how international regulation can occur in spite of the fundamental differences of opinion and seemingly opposing interests held by the key actors.