Uses and environmental pollution of biocides

Abstract

Man’s endeavors to improve his life have been a long and momentous pursuit throughout. Ecosystems, in which life thrived, have been generous donors of numerous services that man has tamed, manipulated, and extracted copious dividends and values from. Agricultural ecosystems have especially played a pivotal role, providing man with his basic needs for foods, feeds, fibers, and many other raw materials. Each year, forty million people die of hunger and hunger-related diseases. Our world is growing at an enormous rate, and by the year 2050, its population could reach 10 billion. World population growth is projected to reach over 8 billion in 2030 and to level off at 9 billion by 2050. The unprecedented increase in human population that the last century witnessed has triggered a massive increase in man’s need for food and feed. Frequent drought and lack of rain in various parts of the world have added one more somber dimension to food shortage. The United Nations Organization has challenged the international community to work together to improve the situation, and one of the main objectives of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) is to reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by the year 2015. Pesticides have emerged as one of the most powerful tools to secure the provision of food and protect it against the wide mosaic of pests that attack food crops. Owing to their chemical nature, pesticides are biocides, which have the potential for poisoning organisms other than the target insect, microorganism, or plant species that should be controlled as has been mentioned in the Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and Council. Pesticides used in agricultural production affect environmental quality and human health. These external costs can amplify due to climate change because pest pressure and optimal pesticide application rates vary with weather and climate conditions.