Introduction:

• Pesticide substances are often used in agriculture to eradicate weeds, pests, and insects.
• They are an essential component of agricultural and medical procedures in the current period. A 40 billion USD budget uses nearly 3 billion kg of pesticides annually worldwide. This general use has improved the food supply by increasing crop productivity and substantially decreasing harvest losses.
• On the other side, the indiscriminate use of these compounds has negatively impacted human health and the environment. Epidemiological data have shown that pesticide exposure has adverse effects on various organs, including the liver, brain, lungs, and colon.
•  Recent studies have shown that pesticides may potentially result in catastrophic outcomes like cancer in people.
• By entering the ecosystem, these pollutants interfere with the delicate environmental balance via bio-accumulation. They are considered a severe biohazard since they are not biodegradable and may survive for years in the natural environment. The current study aims to outline the effects of different pesticide exposures on the climate since only a few monitoring approaches that might raise awareness among people have been explored globally.
• Additionally, the use of biopesticides has the potential to boost agricultural productivity without endangering human health.

 Pesticide definition:

Pesticides are chemical compounds with properties that control or kill insects, fungi, mites, rodents, and weeds.

Pesticides are divided into groups as follows:

 ِA- According to the target pest:

Insecticides: 

They are applied to managing veterinary, medical, and agricultural insect pests.

Acaricide:

It is used to combat spiders and mites.

Fungicides:

These are employed to fight against fungus.

Nematicides:

It is employed to manage nematodes (serpent worms).

Rodenticides:

For rat and mouse control.

Herbicides:

They are used to control weeds that are harmful to crops.

According to its chemical composition:

Inorganic mineral pesticides:

Some of these pesticides have been phased out, along with substances like sulfur, copper, arsenic, mercury, and zinc. It is highly poisonous, except for sulfur, copper, and zinc, which limits its application.

Phytocide (plant-derived) insecticides like nicotine, detention, and pyrethrin.

Insecticides are made of organic chemicals, including pyrethroids, carbamates, and pesticides, including chlorine and organophosphorus.

C. Ingredients of pesticides:

The active ingredient, regarded as the most significant part of the pesticide, is very harmful to both the target pest and the user. 

In its purest form or condition, it is a concentrated liquid or solid that cannot be utilized immediately. To accomplish the intended effect, the active ingredient in pesticides is purposefully combined with a complementary adjuvant during production.

It is well recognized as a substance that may be directly utilized after diluting to the proper concentration.

Basic rules for choosing pesticides:

Choosing the proper pesticide takes work, especially considering the many options for commercial pesticides.

This leads to the dispersal and loss of the farmer and his acceptance of what is offered to him without taking into account essential factors available in the market, which often leads to control and defining the selection process as follows:

Essential steps in the selection process:

An agricultural advisor can accurately diagnose and control pests and diseases by directly monitoring the pest or its symptoms.

He chooses the appropriate and specialized pesticide to combat the pest or disease.

Choose the least toxic pesticide harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.

The characteristics of the pesticide and its importance in the selection process are:

Pesticides have different effects on pests depending on their ACTION OF MODE properties, such as:

1. Toxins that affect their natural properties
2. Protoplasmic toxins
3. Respiratory toxins
4. Neurotoxins
5. general toxins

Pesticide packages contain one of the following warning phrases or words:

DANGER/POISON:

Indicates that the pesticide is highly toxic and leads to severe illness when inhaled, ingested, or in contact with the skin.

DANGER:

This phrase indicates that exposure to this pesticide can irritate the body's eyes and skin. When this phrase is used alone, the pesticide should not be used in homes or gardens.

Warning:

Indicates that this pesticide can cause pathological illnesses when inhaled, ingested, or in contact with the skin.

CAUTION:

It indicates that the pesticide is lowly toxic or, to a lesser extent, non-toxic, as it is unlikely to cause any pathological injuries when exposed.

Thanks to the choice of pesticides that carry this phrase when used in gardens and homes,

Safe use of pesticides:

To achieve the desired benefit from the use of pesticides and reduce their risks to workers and the environment alike, these steps must be followed:

 Pesticide storage:

Pesticides should be kept in original containers, not food or beverage containers.

Store pesticides in tightly closed places out of the reach of children with a warning label on them.

Store pesticides in well-ventilated, dry, and moderately heated places.

 Dealing with spilled pesticides:

When any amount of pesticide is spilled on the ground, it must be dealt with immediately according to the following steps:

1. Do not wash the spilled pesticide with water, which leads to the spread of the pesticide over a larger area.

2. Cover the spilled pesticide with sand or sawdust, then remove it and place it in a plastic bag or drum until it dries.

3. If the spilled pesticide is in the form of a powder, it must be covered with a quantity of wet sand and then swept to avoid the volatilization of the pesticide.

4. After removing the spilled pesticide, wash the area with soap and water.

5. Bury the sand and dispose of the water with which the spilled pesticide was treated at a depth 50  cm away from wells and water sources.

Disposal of empty containers:

After mixing and using the pesticide, the empty containers must be disposed of using appropriate and safe methods. According to the following:

Wash empty containers well by filling one-third of them with water, sealing them, shaking them well, and emptying the washing water into the spray motor tank. It is preferable to repeat this process three times.

After washing the empty glass bottle, they break it and then bury it below the surface of the soil at a depth of at least 50 cm.

If the carton package is burned away from people and animals, except for the herbicide packages, which are supposed to be burned, bury it only, taking care not to get too close to the smoke from the burning.

Empty pesticide containers must not be reused, and excess pesticides must not be unloaded in drains or in places that may harm humans, animals, or water sources. The best method for properly disposing of pesticides is to use them in the designated area.

Pesticides and Their Hazards:

The mishandling and improper use of pesticides have several forms, including:

Spillage or leakage of the pesticide into the surface or groundwater during transportation, storage, or improper use failure to follow the correct methods in disposing of empty containers of pesticides and leaving them in agricultural areas and public places.

She was pouring the remaining mixed pesticides into open spaces and on roadsides.

They spray in large doses and concentrations over the recommended limit and during strong winds.

Harvesting and marketing agricultural products treated with pesticides before the end of the prohibition period.

Misuse results in significant damage, whether to humans, animals, or the environment, and it may be done directly while using pesticides with the wrong application methods.

Indirectly, by eating agricultural products treated with pesticides without adhering to the prohibition period mentioned on the pesticide package.

Pesticide entry points into the human body include:

Oral ingestion is considered the most serious and fastest case of poisoning.

The characteristics are contamination through the skin and eyes and exposure of the human body to pesticides during application.

The physical nature of most pesticides allows them to penetrate through the skin, dissolve in fatty tissues, and then pass into the liver and blood.

Volatile gases and fumes from pesticides can be inhaled while opening the pesticide can and applying it through the nose, reaching the lungs.