Pesticide Residues
The term ‘pesticide’ represents a broad range of chemicals and other agents and generally covers products which
- Are intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest damage.
- Are intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant (drying agent).
Pesticides therefore refer to all types of substances including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, miticides, algicides, nematicides, disinfectants, plant growth regulators and defoliants. As well as being used in agriculture pesticides are used in industrial, commercial, Government and home and garden settings.
The toxicological properties of pesticides that mean they can kill insects and other pests means they can also be harmful to humans, to the environment and to any organism inadvertently exposed to it. Pesticides post particular risk to agricultural workers involved in mixing, loading and applying pesticides to crops, as well as those who live and work where pesticides are being applied. There have been frequent reports of occupational illness associated with pesticide use and associations between pesticide use and the development of specific types of cancers.
In the UK the charity Pesticide Action Network (PAN www.pan-uk.org) provide a lot of information about pesticide use and risk and campaign for harmful pesticides to be banned from use.
In our work we will focus particularly on information explaining why pesticide residues are a particular risk for pregnant women, infants and children. More information on this will be added to the website later this year.
