Below, we have detailed the effect of pesticides on target and non-target organisms including earthworms, predators, pollinators, humans, fishes, amphibians, and birds. More recently, several human acute and chronic illnesses have been associated with pesticides exposure ( Mostafalou and Abdollahi, 2012). Pesticides have also entered into the food chain and have bioaccumulated in the higher tropic level. The repeated use of persistent and non-biodegradable pesticides has polluted various components of water, air and soil ecosystem. In general, it has been estimated that only about 0.1% of the pesticides reach the target organisms and the remaining bulk contaminates the surrounding environment ( Carriger et al., 2006). Unfortunately, this is rarely the case as most of the pesticides are non-specific and may kill the organisms that are harmless or useful to the ecosystem. Ideally, the applied pesticides should only be toxic to the target organisms, should be biodegradable and eco-friendly to some extent ( Rosell et al., 2008). Manufacturers and researchers are designing new formulations of pesticides to meet the global demand. It has been estimated that globally nearly $38 billion are spent on pesticides each year ( Pan-Germany, 2012). Pesticides have now become an integral part of our modern life and are used to protect agricultural land, stored grain, flower gardens as well as to eradicate the pests transmitting dangerous infectious diseases. Before this introduction, most weeds, pests, insects and diseases were controlled using sustainable practices such as cultural, mechanical, and physical control strategies. These chemicals have mainly come into the picture since the introduction of synthetic insecticides in 1940, when organochlorine (OCl) insecticides were first used for pest management. In the process of increasing crop production, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, fertilizers and soil amendments are now being used in higher quantities than in the past. The increasing world population has therefore put a tremendous amount of pressure on the existing agricultural system so that food needs can be met from the same current resources like land, water etc. However, increase in food production is faced with the ever-growing challenges especially the new area that can be increased for cultivation purposes is very limited (Saravi and Shokrzadeh, 2011). The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has in-fact issued a sobering forecast that world food production needs to increase by 70%, in order to keep pace with the demand of growing population. Based on evidence, world population is increasing by an estimated 97 million per year ( Saravi and Shokrzadeh, 2011). Increase in food production is the prime-most objective of all countries, as world population is expected to grow to nearly 10 billion by 2050.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |