The greening of pesticide-environment interactions: some personal observations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pesticide-environment interactions are bidirectional. The environment alters pesticides by metabolism and photodegradation, and pesticides in turn change the environment through nontarget or secondary effects.

Objectives

Approximately 900 currently used commercial pesticides of widely diverse structures act by nearly a hundred mechanisms to control insects, weeds, and fungi, usually with minimal disruption of nature's equilibrium. Here I consider some aspects of the discovery, development, and use of ecofriendly or green pesticides (i.e., pesticides that are safe, effective, and biodegradable with minimal adverse secondary effects on the environment). Emphasis is given to research in my laboratory.

Discussion

The need for understanding and improving pestici

SUBMITTER: Casida JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3339468 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature