The Impact of Agrochemicals on Human Health: A Global Perspective

Abstract

Background

Pesticides are natural or synthetic substances developed to eliminate various types of pests. They are widely used in fields such as agriculture, frestry, aquaculture, and the food industry. However, their extensive use poses significant risks to public health and the environment, threatening both human well-being and ecosystems.

Main Body

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies pesticides according to their harmful impacts, highlighting their significance in relation to public health. Their use can be reduced to a minimum by applying them sparingly and with a thorough understanding of their classification, which benefits both human health and the environment. This review addresses pesticides in terms of global perspectives, including their distribution around the world and their environmental effects. The primary literature has emphasized the potential uses of pesticides, their classification based on properties and toxicity, and their negative impacts on natural systems such as soil and aquatic environments. It also covers their effects on water, plant growth, metabolism, genotypic and phenotypic changes, impacts on plant defense mechanisms, and risks to human health, including genetic mutations, cancer, allergies, asthma, as well as their role in food preservation.

Short Conclusion

We have also outlined environmentally friendly pesticide management strategies as sustainable solutions, including bacterial degradation, mycoremediation, phytoremediation, and bioremediation using microalgae. Microorganisms utilize catabolic enzymes to break down pesticides and remove them from the environment. Pesticides are classified based on several criteria, such as their toxicity or hazardous effects, intended use or purpose, chemical composition, mode of action, timing of application, formulations, and source of origin. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified pesticides based on their hazardous effects, emphasizing the importance of public health. By understanding these classifications, the excessive use of pesticides can be reduced through careful and judicious application, benefiting both public health and the ecosystem.