2026· International journal of research and innovation in social science· Vol 10, pp. 11-28· 0 citations
Abstract
Pesticides comprise both naturally derived and synthetically manufactured compounds extensively employed to control insects, weeds, fungi, rodents, nematodes, and other agricultural pests. Their widespread application has significantly enhanced crop productivity and food security; however, indiscriminate use has resulted in serious environmental and public health concerns. Owing to their toxic nature, pesticides can adversely affect living organisms, and the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies these compounds according to their potential health hazards. This article provides a comprehensive review of pesticides' global distribution, classification, applications, and environmental effects. It summarizes the available literature on pesticide classification based on source, chemical composition, mode of action, target organisms, and toxicity. Furthermore, the review discusses the detrimental effects of pesticide residues on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, soil and water quality, plant physiology, metabolism, defence mechanisms, genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, and human health, including their association with genetic alterations, carcinogenesis, allergic disorders, and respiratory diseases. Eco-friendly approaches for pesticide remediation, such as bacterial degradation, mycoremediation, phytoremediation, and microalgae-based bioremediation, are highlighted. These biological systems utilize diverse catabolic enzymes to degrade pesticide residues and facilitate environmental detoxification. The review also emphasizes the need to identify efficient microbial strains, novel degradative genes, and advanced biotechnological strategies to achieve sustainable pesticide waste management.
The escalating reliance on synthetic chemical pesticides has caused significant environmental degradation, raised human health concerns, and accelerated the development of pesticide resistance. In response to these pressing challenges, botanical pesticides, which utilize natural plant-derived compounds, offer a viable, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternative for crop protection. Derived from sources such as neem, pyrethrum, and various essential oils, these natural secondary metabolites exhibit diverse modes of action against destructive pests, including neurotoxicity, antifeedant effects, and growth inhibition. This review paper comprehensively assesses the application of botanical pesticides, highlighting their numerous ecological benefits such as rapid biodegradability, lower environmental persistence, and minimal toxicity towards non-target organisms like pollinators. Despite these advantages, the widespread commercialization of botanical biopesticides faces several limitations, including variability in active compound concentration, slower knockdown rates compared to synthetics, and regulatory hurdles rooted in frameworks originally designed for conventional chemicals. To overcome these challenges, contemporary advancements in formulation technologies, such as microencapsulation and nanotechnology, are being explored to enhance their stability and field efficacy. Ultimately, the integration of botanical pesticides into modern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies is essential for transitioning towards resilient, productive, and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems globally.
Research Author· European Journal of Ayurvedi...· 0 citations
Food security depends on agriculture, but excessive use of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, has resulted in the loss of soil nutrients and the build-up of new pollutants including microplastics and heavy metals. Reduced crop production and quality result from these pollutants’ disruption of soil microbiota, degradation of soil health, and contribution to residue accumulation. Furthermore, excessive use of agrochemicals has increased production costs, necessitated more chemical inputs, and hastened the emergence of resistant insect populations. These issues are made worse by global climate change, which modifies soil conditions and increases pest pressure, ultimately lowering agricultural output and costing farmers money. Additionally, the presence of contaminant residues in agricultural produce frequently results in export rejection, which affects trade and the livelihoods of farmers. This review looks at how new toxins affect agriculture, emphasizing how they contribute to decreased production, environmental deterioration, and unstable economies.
Neonicotinoids are systemic, nicotine-derived insecticides that act primarily as agonists of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Their selective activity against insect pests, broad-spectrum efficacy and versatility in seed, soil, foliar and trunk-injection applications have supported extensive use in agriculture, veterinary ectoparasite control and structural pest management. This review examines their chemistry and structural classification, mode of action, field applications, physicochemical behaviour, environmental fate, ecological consequences and available remediation approaches. The properties that support systemic movement, particularly high water solubility, relatively low soil sorption and persistence, also promote movement from treated sites into soil, groundwater, surface water and plant tissues. Evidence summarised in the manuscript indicates risks to non-target organisms, including pollinators, aquatic invertebrates, earthworms and birds, together with the potential for dietary and environmental exposure in mammals. Residue persistence varies markedly among compounds, soil conditions, plant species and methods of application, while repeated use can extend environmental exposure. Current remediation approaches include physicochemical treatment, microbial remediation and phytoremediation, although each has practical limitations related to cost, efficiency, treatment duration or secondary impacts. Overall, the reviewed evidence indicates that effective neonicotinoid pest management requires careful regulation, judicious application and integration with preventive and ecologically compatible pest-management strategies to reduce off-target contamination while retaining necessary crop-protection benefits.
Jaya Joseph, Thomas George, B. Rani et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
The widespread use of pesticides in modern agriculture poses significant threats to animal health, livestock productivity and environmental safety. Exposure to these chemicals has been associated with oxidative stress, DNA damage and disruption of endocrine, immune and nervous systems. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward natural interventions to mitigate pesticide-induced toxicity, particularly in veterinary and livestock systems. This review evaluates existing literature on the ameliorative potential of medicinal plants and their bioactive phytochemicals against pesticide-induced toxicity. Relevant studies involving multiple animal models, including rodents, poultry (chicken embryos), cattle feed systems and aquatic species, were analyzed. Emphasis was placed on phytochemicals such as flavonoids (quercetin), polyphenols (curcumin), alkaloids and other phenolic compounds and their mechanisms of action in counteracting toxic effects. The findings indicate that medicinal plants and their bioactive constituents exhibit significant protective effects against pesticide-induced toxicity. These effects are primarily mediated through restoration of antioxidant defense systems, including increased activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase, along with reduction in lipid peroxidation. Additional benefits include stabilization of cellular membranes, modulation of apoptotic pathways and prevention of histopathological damage in vital organs. However, most studies are limited to controlled laboratory conditions, with insufficient translation to clinical and field applications in livestock. Key challenges identified include issues related to dose standardization, bioavailability and species-specific responses.
Gayatri Dewangan, Ajay Kodiyatar, Swati Koli et al.· Indian Journal of Animal Res...· 0 citations
Pesticides, including insecticides, are widely used to control pests in modern agriculture. However, a small portion of the applied insecticide reaches the intended target, while off-target losses may contaminate agricultural environments. This review focused on the fate of insecticides in the environment and strategies to reduce their ecotoxicological risks. In this context, the environmental behavior of insecticides, their pathways into the ecosystem and the ecotoxicological effects on non-target organisms, ways to reduce ecotoxicological risks are discussed. Risk-reduction options discussed include IPM, modern application technologies, development of lower-risk insecticides, nanotechnology-based formulations, and remediation. The transport, distribution, persistence, and major exposure routes of insecticides are examined collectively, and measures for minimizing contamination of surface water and groundwater are summarized. Ecotoxicological risk is affected by the physicochemical properties of the insecticide, application method, soil characteristics, and environmental conditions. Future research should prioritize current-use insecticides, acaricides, and nematicides, realistic mixture exposures, and sustainable management strategies.
Osman Tiryaki, F. Malhat, Burak Polat et al.· Turkish Journal of Entomolog...· 0 citations
Pesticides are indispensable in agricultural production. They have been used by farmers to
control weeds and insects, and their remarkable increases in agricultural products have been
reported. The increase in the world’s population in the 20th century could not have been
possible without a parallel increase in food production. About one-third of agricultural products
are produced depending on the application of pesticides. Without the use of pesticides, there
would be a 78% loss of fruit production, a 54% loss of vegetable production, and a 32% loss of
cereal production. Pesticides play a vital role in modern agriculture by protecting crops from
pests, diseases, and weeds, thus ensuring high productivity. The most commonly used pesticides
are insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. These substances help control harmful organisms,
including insects, fungi, and bacteria, as well as weeds, thereby reducing the risks of yield loss
and diminished product quality. However, their extensive use poses significant risks to
environmental health, including soil and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and adverse effects
on pollinators like bees. Human health is also impacted, with potential links to chronic and on
ecological diseases. This review examined pesticides in soil: implication on food security. Based
on the review it shows that excessive application of fertilizer causes damage to the crops,
facilitates the eutrophication process, pollution of the water bodies, creates a negative impact on
the soil pH, and causes air pollution by nitrogen oxide emissions, among others. It was further
found that excessive application of herbicides inhibits the activities of micro-organisms in the
soil, causes acute poisoning and sometimes leads to human death, causes skin rashes to exposed
farmers, soil degradation, and reduction of water retention in soil, among others. Moreover, the
review indicated that excessive use of insecticides leads to the destruction of biodiversity,
declines in rare species of animals and birds, threats to aquatic animals, and declines in the
population of beneficial insects, among others. Remedies were found to include enacting specific
legislations to regulate the importation of extremely hazardous pesticides, registration of all
agrochemicals used in Nigeria, organization of seminars and workshops to educate farmers on
the safe application of agrochemicals, prohibition of sales of agrochemicals in an open market,
use of organic manures and pesticides, among others. It was recommended among others that
the Ministry of Agriculture should strictly regulate the application of agricultural chemicals to
reduce the deleterious effect on the sustainable environment and food security.
C. Ekejiuba· International Journal of Agr...· 0 citations
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