Pesticides and Their Effects on Biological Organisms

Pesticides plays an important role in the modern technology especially in the field the pre and post harvest application in agriculture, in industry, homes and offices. The relative importance of pesticides has increased despite the availability of alternatives (organic pesticides) to highly proprietal chemical pest control such as varietal resistance and integrated pest management (IPM). Though alarmingly their is an increasing concenr on the adverse effects of pesticides to the environment, human health, and even the non-target organisms but little scientific studies had been done by the government to address this problem. This book provides vast information on the different aspects of pesticides such as its types, classification, functions, hazards, metabolism, its toxicity and most of all its harm to human health and non-target aquatic and animal species.The sub-classes of pesticides that includes the herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, pediculocides and biocides had been identified in the different chapters and what is their exact microbial activity, interactions, exact role and how it will contribute to th break down of the persistent chemical residues in a pesticide compounds. Many pesticides can be grouped into chemical families which in return this pests can develop resistance to the which is sometimes dose dependent which can indiscriminate use of pesticide, necessitating a new pesticide. Alternatively an increased dose of the pesticide can be used to counteract the resistance, which will worsen environment further. Prominent insecticide families include organochlorines, organophosphates,carbamates, and endosulfan in natural environment.