Introduction:

The term pesticide is often used to refer to substances that are insecticides, herbicides and
fungicides. These are designed to kill weeds, insects, rodents, fungus and mould. As they
are harmful to plant and animal life, they are also harmful to humans and especially
developing children. Some pesticides are naturally derived, such as from arsenic or plant
extracts, while most in use are man-made chemicals. The widespread use of man-made
pesticides really began in the 1940s and 1950s when production rapidly grew and spread
throughout the world. Pesticides are credited as part of the “green revolution” which raised
agricultural productivity and yields.

Definition of Pesticides:
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO 1989) a
pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, or
controlling any pest including vectors of human or animal diseases, unwanted species of
plants or animals causing harm during, or otherwise interfering with, the production,
processing, storage, or marketing of food, agricultural commodities, wood and wood
products, or animal feedstuffs, or which may be administered to animals for the control of
insects, arachnids or other pests in or on their bodies. The term includes chemicals used as
growth regulators, defoliants, desiccants, fruit thinning agents, or agents for preventing the
premature fall of fruits, and substances applied to crops either before or after harvest to
prevent deterioration during storage or transport. The term, however excludes such
chemicals used as fertilizers, plant and animal nutrients, food additives and animal drugs.
The term pesticide is also defined by FAO in collaboration with UNEP (1990) as chemicals
designed to combat the attacks of various pests and vectors on agricultural crops, domestic
animals and human beings. The definitions above imply that, pesticides are toxic chemical
agents (mainly organic compounds) that are deliberately released into the environment to
combat crop pests and disease vectors.

Brief Explanation on Pesticides

Pesticides are natural or synthetic agents that are used to kill unwanted plant or animal
pests. While the term pesticide is now often associated with synthetic chemical
compounds, it was not until relatively recently that synthetic pesticides came into use.
Naturally occurring compounds or natural extracts have been used as pesticides since
ancient times. The earliest pesticides were most likely salt, sulphurous rock, and extracts of
tobacco, red pepper, and the like. It is rumoured that the Napoleonic army used crushed
chrysanthemums to control lice, with limited effectiveness. Petroleum oils, heavy metals,
and arsenic were used liberally to control unwanted pests and weeds until the 1940s, when
they were largely replaced for many uses by organic synthetic pesticides, the most famous
of which is DDT.

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Because the broad term pesticide encompasses a diverse collection of substances, an
explanation of pesticide taxonomy and nomenclature is warranted. Pesticides can be
classified either by target pest or by chemical identity. Classification by target pest is
perhaps the most familiar. For example, insecticides are pesticides that target insects, and
herbicides target plants. There are many more examples (acaricides target ticks,
nematocides target nematodes, etc.), but it is important for the purposes of this report to
note that 11 of the 12 pesticides of concern identified by OSAGWI are insecticides and/or
acaricides. The twelfth, DEET, is also directed against insects and ticks, but it is unique in
that it is considered a repellent rather than an insecticide. To avoid confusion, the term
pesticide is used in lieu of sub classification alternatives in this report.

Pesticides can also be organized by their chemical class. A pesticide class is a group of
pesticidal compounds that share a common chemistry. For example, all pesticides in the
class organophosphate (OP) are derivatives of phosphoric acid, and all pesticides in the class
organochlorine are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine. There are also chemical
subclasses of pesticides, but these are beyond the scope of this discussion. This report
considers four chemical classes of insecticides, as well as the repellent DEET, which is more
conveniently identified by its mode of use.

When discussing a pesticide, it is possible to refer to the pesticidal compound itself or to the
pesticide product or formulation. The compound itself is also known as the active
ingredient—the chemical responsible for killing the target pest. The formulation is the
manner in which the active ingredient is delivered. Typical formulations include liquids,
dusts, wetable powders, and emulsifiable concentrates. The pesticide formulation includes
the active ingredient as well as other ingredients. These other ingredients may be inert,
such as talcum powder, or they can act to enhance the pesticidal properties of the active
ingredient. For example, some pesticide formulations include a synergist that enhances the
toxic activity of the active ingredient. Other ingredients in many pesticide formulations are
solvents. When considering the potential health effects of pesticides, it is important to
consider the toxicity of the active ingredient as well as the other ingredients in the
formulation. This is often a daunting task. Clinical reports of pesticide poisoning provide
clues about the toxicity of the pesticide formulation or product, while controlled
experiments involving laboratory animals may include the formulation or just the active
ingredient alone.

Historical background of pesticides use in agriculture

The historical background of pesticides use in agriculture is dated back to the beginning of
agriculture itself and it became more pronounced with time due to increased pest
population paralleled with decreasing soil fertility (Muir, 2002). However, the use of modern
pesticides in agriculture and public health is dated back to the 19th century. The first
generation of pesticides involved the use of highly toxic compounds, arsenic (calcium
arsenate and lead arsenate) and a fumigant hydrogen cyanide in 1860's for the control of

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such pests like fungi, insects and bacteria. Other compounds included Bordeaux mixture
(copper sulphate, lime and water) and sulphur. Their use was abandoned because of their
toxicity and ineffectiveness. The second generation involved the use of synthetic organic
compounds. The first important synthetic organic pesticide was
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) first synthesized by a German scientist Ziedler in
1873 (Othmer, 1996) and its insecticidal effect discovered by a Swiss chemist Paul Muller in
1939. In its early days DDT was hailed as a miracle because of its broad-spectrum activity,
persistence, insolubility, inexpensive and ease to apply (Keneth, 1992).

The intensive use of pesticides in agriculture is also well known to be coupled with the
"green revolution". Green revolution was a worldwide agricultural movement that began in
Mexico in 1944 with a primary goal of boosting grain yields in the world that was already in
trouble with food supply to meet the demand of the then rapidly growing human
population. The green revolution involved three major aspects of agricultural practices,
among which the use of pesticides was an integral part. Following its success in Mexico,
green revolution spread over the world. Pest control has always been important in
agriculture, but green revolution in particular needed more pesticide inputs than did
traditional agricultural systems because, most of the high yielding varieties were not widely
resistant to pests and diseases and partly due to monoculture system (Vocke, 1986).

Each year pests destroy about 30-48% of world’s food production. For example, in 1987 it
was reported that, one third of the potential world crop harvest was lost to pests. (Hellar,
2002).

Insect pests and rodents also account for a big loss in stored agricultural products. Internally
feeding insects feed on grain endosperm and the germ the result of which is the loss in grain
weight, reduction in nutritive value of the grain and deterioration in the end use quality of
the grain. Externally feeding insects damage grain by physical mystification and by
excrement contamination with empty eggs, larval moults and empty cacoons. A common
means of pest control in stored agricultural products has always been the use of insecticides
such as malathion, chlorpyrifos-methyl or deltamethrin impregnated on the surfaces of the
storage containers (McFarlane, 1989).

On the other hand, malaria remains the major vector-borne infectious disease in many parts
of the tropics. It is estimated that over 300 to 500 million clinical cases occur each year, with
cases in tropical Africa accounting for more than 90% of these figures (WHO, 1995).

Other vector-borne diseases that present a serious problem especially in the tropics include
trypanosomiasis, onchocerciasis and filariasis. It is therefore quite apparent that, the
discovery of pesticides was not a luxury of a technical civilization but rather was a necessity
for the well-being of mankind.

Classification of Pesticides:

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The word "pesticide" is an umbrella term for all insecticides, herbicides, fungicides,
rodenticides, wood preservatives, garden chemicals and household disinfectants that may
be used to kill some pests. Since pesticides varies in identity, physical and chemical
properties, it`s therefore logical to have them classified and their properties studied under
their respective groups. Synthetic pesticides are classified based on various ways depending
on the needs.

Classification of Pesticides Based on the Mode of Action

Under this type of classification, pesticides are classified based on the way in which they act
to bring about the desired effect. In this way pesticides are classified as contact (non-
systemic) and systemic pesticides. The non-systemic pesticides are those that do not
appreciably penetrate plant tissues and consequently not transported within the plant
vascular system. The non-systemic pesticides will only bring about the desired effect when
they come in contact with the targeted pest, hence the name contact pesticides. Examples
of contact pesticides are paraquat and diquat dibromide. On the other hand, the systemic
pesticides are those which effectively penetrate the plant tissues and move through the
plant vascular system in order to bring about the desired effect. Examples of systemic
pesticides include 2, 4-D and glyphosate (Buchel, 1983). Under this classification, also are
stomach poisons that bring about the desired effect after being eaten e.g. Rodenticides.
Fumigants are those pesticides that produce vapour which kills the pests.

Heath effects summary:

High levels of exposure to organochlorines (one type of pesticides) have been shown to
cause cloracne, a type of acne cause by chlorinecontaining chemicals and skin rashes. There
is some evidence that organophosphate insecticides affect the immune system and can
cause psychiatric problems such as paranoid behaviour, disorientation, anxiety and
depression. Other pesticides may cause muscle twitching, tremors, weakness, inability to
breath, blurring of vision, vomiting, cramps, excessive perspiration, unconsciousness and
even death in cases of high exposures. But there remain many questions on the long-term,
low-level exposure of many types of pesticides.

How we are exposed:

Exposure to pesticides often comes from the consumption of food and water but those most
at risk of the highest exposures are the workers who apply the pesticides in the first place.
Pesticides can also be absorbed through the skin and from breathing. Those living in
agricultural areas may seem to face the highest rates of exposure, but the household
application of insecticides and herbicides can also be a significant source of exposure.

What you can do to reduce exposure:

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Buy and eat organic certified foods as much as possible. If you have a farmer’s market in
your area, ask them about their use of pesticides, many smaller farmers choose not to go
through the organic certification process, but still do not use pesticides. Always thoroughly
rinse or wash all foods before consuming regardless of where it was purchased or grown.
Planting your own garden is also another way to be sure you have pesticide-free foods.

To avoid using insecticides in the home you can avoid the conditions that attract insects and
rodents:

 Seal any cracks that you can find which might provide a way in for insects or rodents
 Keep food in cupboards and tightly sealed containers
 Completely clean up any food spills
 The moisture found in many basements can attract and provide a source of water for
insects.
 Fix any leaks and get rid of the moisture

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