Pesticides are chemical or biological agents used to control pests that threaten agricultural production, public health, and comfort. They include a broad range of compounds such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides, each targeting specific pests like weeds, insects, fungi, and rodents. The use of pesticides helps to increase agricultural productivity by preventing crop damage and controlling invasive species. However, their use also raises environmental and health concerns. Pesticides can lead to pollution of land and water bodies, harm non-target species including beneficial insects like bees, and accumulate in the food chain, potentially leading to health issues in humans such as neurological disorders and cancer. The development and application of pesticides are heavily regulated in many countries to minimize these risks, and there is a growing emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that use pesticides as a last resort, focusing instead on sustainable and less harmful methods.
Researchers have discovered that rose essential oil stimulates defense genes in tomatoes and draws in predators of herbivores, thereby protecting the plants. Plants-derived essential oils…
A new nanotechnology-based pest control method allows for deep soil delivery of pesticides, offering an effective solution to combat root-level nematode infestations while reducing environmental…
A new species of nematode has the potential to safeguard crops without the need for pesticides. Scientists at UC Riverside have identified a new species…
A study by the Environmental Working Group found chlormequat, a pesticide associated with health risks in animals, in 80% of participants, highlighting the need for…
Pasture infestation is estimated to exceed 1 million Asian longhorned ticks. An invasive tick species made a dramatic entrance into Ohio in 2021, swarming a…
With thousands of pesticides in use, the researchers’ new screening approach could make it easier to determine which ones are linked to the disease. Researchers…
Researchers at the Earlham Institute in Norwich have utilized precision gene engineering methods to transform tobacco plants into solar-powered factories that produce moth sex pheromones….
Researchers at South China Agricultural University have developed new insecticidal compounds that show significantly reduced bee toxicity without reducing effectiveness against target pests – in…
Scientists discover that a modern pesticide accelerated the corrosion of an ancient Roman relic. Chlorobenzenes, a chemical that was once used in pesticides and is…
For home gardeners and farmers, herbivorous insects present a major threat to their hard work and crop yields. The predator insects that feed on these…
Inflammation-induced mechanism might be linked with higher infection risk for veterans and people with metabolic disorders. A new study performed in human lung airway cells…
Researchers urge UK to keep EU ban on pesticide which has detrimental effect on pollinators. Just like us, many insects need a decent night’s sleep…
X-ray Imaging Reveals Insights into a Natural Mosquito-Killing Compound Study of a mosquito-targeting toxin produced by bacteria could lead to safer and more effective anti-mosquito…
Pesticides can impair brain growth in baby bumblebees, affecting their ability to perform a simple learning task as adults, according to a new study. Imperial…
Two Teams of INRS Join Forces and Develop a New Ecological Process to Degrade Atrazine Atrazine is one of the most widely used pesticides in…
A report published in PLOS ONE describes key roles of various microorganisms in the development of the larvae of Scaptotrigona depilis. Researchers warn that this…
Ben-Gurion University professor Alon Friedman will discuss groundbreaking research at Breaking the Barriers of Brain Science Symposium on October 27, 2019, in New York City….
On-the-job exposure to high levels of pesticides raised the risk of heart disease and stroke in a generally healthy group of Japanese American men in…