What is a pesticide?

A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.

Pesticides are drugs grouped according to the organisms they affect:

Click to see pesticide terms glossary

Though often misunderstood to refer only to insecticides, the term pesticide also applies to herbicides, fungicides, and various other substances used to control pests.

What is a pest?

Pests are living organisms that occur where they are not wanted or that cause damage to crops or humans or other animals. Examples include:

• insects,
• mice and other animals,
• unwanted plants (weeds),
• fungi,
• microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, and
• prions.

Do household products contain pesticides?

Many household products are pesticides. All of these common products are considered pesticides:

• Cockroach sprays and baits
• Insect repellents for personal use.
• Rat and other rodent poisons.
• Flea and tick sprays, powders, and pet collars.
• Kitchen, laundry, and bath disinfectants and sanitizers.
• Products that kill mold and mildew.
• Some lawn and garden products, such as weed killers.
• Some swimming pool chemicals.

What is the balance between the risks and benefits of pesticides?

Pesticides can cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms.

At the same time, pesticides are useful to society since they can kill potential disease-causing organisms and control insects, weeds, and other pests.

Are some pesticides safer than others?

Biologically-based pesticides, such as pheromones and microbial pesticides, are becoming increasingly popular and often are safer than traditional chemical pesticides. In addition, EPA is registering reduced-risk conventional pesticides in increasing numbers.

What substances are not regulated as pesticides?

The U.S. definition of pesticides is quite broad, but it does have some exclusions:

• Drugs used to control diseases of humans or animals (such as livestock and pets) are not considered pesticides; such drugs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
• Fertilizers, nutrients, and other substances used to promoteplant survival and health are not considered plant growth regulators and thus are not pesticides.
• Biological control agents, except for certain microorganisms, are exempted from regulation by EPA. (Biological control agents include beneficial predators such as birds or ladybugs that eat insect pests.)

Pesticides have significant implications for the food industry. They are widely used by food producers, but have a sensitive public profile and can attract adverse consumer perceptions. Much of the regulatory framework for pesticides is set at European Community (EC) level.

Pesticide Residues

When pesticides are used, small amounts (residues) may remain in food. There are legal limits on the levels of residues which are permitted when food is put into circulation in the UK. These are known as Maximum Residue Levels or (MRLs). MRLs apply both to food produced in the UK and to food imported from other countries.

Click to see the page Keeping our Food Safe: Measuring, Monitoring and Assessing Residues.

The Pesticide Residues Committee

The Pesticide Residues Committee monitors levels of residues in home-produced and imported food. It is Government policy to brand-name suppliers of food which is found to exceed MRLs. The European Commission co-ordinates the distribution of food alerts where food is found to contain residues at levels which give rise to health concerns. Separate legislation on pesticide residues in processed baby foods is implemented by the Food Standards Agency.

References

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/index.htm
http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/about_pesticides.asp?id=219
http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/food_industry_home.asp

Geri