Chemical pesticides: Their negative effects on the environment and ways to reduce them

Abstract

We live in a globalized world in which the production, trade, and consumption of agricultural crops and other goods and services that use pesticides and fertilizers are shaped in large quantities by the needs and demands of a growing population and megatrends (such as urbanization and a growing global middle class). Unlike most industrial chemicals, both organic and inorganic pesticides and fertilizers are intentionally applied to the environment to provide specific beneficial functions. This leads to potential risks to the environment and health. However, despite numerous published scientific studies, there are data gaps and a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the adverse effects of pesticides and fertilizers on a global scale. Therefore, the current research highlights the role of chemical pesticides in increasing environmental pollution and its impact on all lifestyles, as well as the best approaches that can be used to address this degradation of the ecosystem.