Environmental fate and transport of pesticides

Abstract

Pesticides are biologically active substances used for preventing, destroying, or controlling pests by interfering with their metabolic processes (Rice et al. 2007). For decades, pesticides have been used for preventing diseases transmitted by pests such as mosquitoes and fleas in humans and animals, increasing food production by destroying insects and other pests in agricultural areas, and protecting the environment by controlling the growth of molds, weeds, and algae (Whitford 2006). For example, it was found that rice production was reduced by at least 10% without the use of pesticides (Kuniuki 2001).