Pesticides: Health, Safety and the Environment

by Graham Matthews

Overview

Over the last five decades pesticides have undoubtedly helped to increase agricultural production and control vectors of disease, however the environmental impact of long term agro-chemical use has been cause for concern along with the effects on human health.

In Pesticides, Graham Matthews begins by looking at the developmental history of pesticides, and how crop protection was achieved before they were in use, how pesticides are registered for use and what happens to pesticides in food and the environment. Pesticide application and operator safety is investigated and the future of pesticides in light of the development of genetically modified crops is explored.

• Provides commercially important information for the agro-chemical industry
• Addresses all aspects of public concern relating to human health and the environment, including spray drift, bystander, resident and worker exposure
• Looks at the future of pesticides in light of the increasing prevalence of genetically modified crops

Collecting together the most recent research in the area in a single volume, this book is a vital resource for agricultural scientists, agronomists, plant scientists, plant pathologists, entomologists, environmental scientists, public health personnel, toxicologists, crop protection personnel and all those involved in the agrochemical industry and government pesticide registration and legislation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405130912
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	07/17/2006
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.72(d)

About the Author

Graham Matthews is Emeritus Professor at the Department of Biosciences, Imperial College, UK, and is one of the world's foremost authorities on pesticides.

Table of Contents

Preface to the first edition vii

Preface to second edition ix

Acknowledgements x

1 Pesticides and agricultural development 1

Principal pesticides 5

Insecticides 6

Herbicides 9

Fungicides 11

Rodenticides 12

Crop distribution 12

Major crops 13

2 Approval of pesticides 33

Retrospective assessment 43

Environmental aspects 44

Endocrine disrupters 48

Approval in relation to efficacy 49

Operator proficiency 50

Storage and waste management 51

3 Application of pesticides 57

Hydraulic sprayers 57

Hydraulic nozzles 65

Sprayer testing 73

Rotary atomisers 73

Compression sprayers 75

Knapsack sprayers 77

Home and garden use 80

Weed wipers 80

Space treatment equipment 81

Granule application 84

Seed treatment 85

Storage of pesticides and equipment 86

Timing and number of spray applications 87

4 Operator exposure 92

Methodology of measuring exposure 102

Exposure of hands 107

Inhalation exposure 108

Biomonitoring 110

First aid 112

Periods of exposure 114

5 Spray drift, bystander, resident and worker exposure 129

What is drift? 131

How is drift measured? 132

Bystander exposure 137

Residential exposure 143

Worker exposure 150

6 Environmental aspects of spray drift 159

Protecting water 159

Protecting vegetation 174

Overall environmental impact assessments 184

Pesticide misuse affecting wildlife 190

7 Residues in food 201

8 The future of pesticides 225

Weed management 227

Disease management 229

Insect management 229

IPM 232

Traditional plant breeding 234

Present day pesticides 236

Herbicides 236

Fungicides 236

Insecticides 237

Other insecticides 239

Biopesticides 240

More selective applications 242

Pheromones 243

GM crops 244

Perceptions and hopes for the future 246

Appendix 1 – Standard terms and abbreviations 253

Appendix 2 – Checklist of important actions for pesticide users 264

Index 266

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"[This book] illustrates the factors, needs, and beneficial outcomes from adopting improved integrated pest management."
Southern Africa Pesticides Newsletter (SAPN)

"...the focus of the book on health, safety, and environment aspects of pesticides with a view to minimize their adverse impacts on operators, bystanders, and environment is welcome. Topics such as application technology, operator exposure, spray drift, and residue in food are covered in the eight chapters of the book. The book can help choose safer compounds, application methods, and application timings, and enhance awareness about the use of appropriate protective clothing (to minimise occupational exposure), disposal and waste management options, risk communication, and legislation. While it would serve as a useful resource for anyone dealing with pesticides from a range of disciplines, I think it is particularly useful for agencies and practitioners involved in spraying operations that aspire to improve the efficacy and minimize harm to operators and the environment."
R. S. Kookana Reproduced from Journal of Environmental Quality

"Application is reviewed, revisited and refurbished with up to date 21st century technology. Matthews provides a timely, highly readable overview of the current pesticide situation, major crops, the ecosystems impacted, and the critical need for improved regulatory, IPM, and educational approaches to facilitate both judicious and safe use of pesticides...a convenient, single source of new information on topics that will be a useful reference to those teaching IPM and pesticide safety courses, government officials active in regulatory policy, and for agricultural specialists working in applied IPM worldwide."
Evan Thornhill, Imperial College

"The book provides useful material on how to minimize human and environmental exposure to high-risk pesticides. The book can help choose safer compounds, application methods, and application timings, and enhance awareness about the use of appropriate protective clothing. While it would serve as a useful resource for anyone dealing with pesticides from a range of disciplines, I think it is particularly useful for agencies and practitioners involved in spraying operations that aspire to improve the efficacy and minimise the harm to operators and the environment."
Journal of Enviromental Quality, June 27, 2007

'Pesticides: Health, Safety and the Environment (2006) is spot on the issues that are topical and of concern. Application is reviewed, revisited and refurbished with up to date 21st century technology... I would recommend this well indexed reference text to any involved in teaching or researching and those concerned with implementing safety issues... Matthews provides a timely, highly readable overview of the current pesticide situation, major crops, the ecosystems impacted, and the critical need for improved regulatory, IPM, and educational approaches to facilitate both judicious and safe use of pesticides.'

International Pest Control, vol 49, July/August 2007

Editorial Reviews

"[This book] illustrates the factors, needs, and beneficial outcomes from adopting improved integrated pest management."
Southern Africa Pesticides Newsletter (SAPN)

"...the focus of the book on health, safety, and environment aspects of pesticides with a view to minimize their adverse impacts on operators, bystanders, and environment is welcome. Topics such as application technology, operator exposure, spray drift, and residue in food are covered in the eight chapters of the book. The book can help choose safer compounds, application methods, and application timings, and enhance awareness about the use of appropriate protective clothing (to minimise occupational exposure), disposal and waste management options, risk communication, and legislation. While it would serve as a useful resource for anyone dealing with pesticides from a range of disciplines, I think it is particularly useful for agencies and practitioners involved in spraying operations that aspire to improve the efficacy and minimize harm to operators and the environment."
R. S. Kookana Reproduced from Journal of Environmental Quality

"Application is reviewed, revisited and refurbished with up to date 21st century technology. Matthews provides a timely, highly readable overview of the current pesticide situation, major crops, the ecosystems impacted, and the critical need for improved regulatory, IPM, and educational approaches to facilitate both judicious and safe use of pesticides...a convenient, single source of new information on topics that will be a useful reference to those teaching IPM and pesticide safety courses, government officials active in regulatory policy, and for agricultural specialists working in applied IPM worldwide."
Evan Thornhill, Imperial College

"The book provides useful material on how to minimize human and environmental exposure to high-risk pesticides. The book can help choose safer compounds, application methods, and application timings, and enhance awareness about the use of appropriate protective clothing. While it would serve as a useful resource for anyone dealing with pesticides from a range of disciplines, I think it is particularly useful for agencies and practitioners involved in spraying operations that aspire to improve the efficacy and minimise the harm to operators and the environment."
Journal of Environmental Quality, June 27, 2007

'Pesticides: Health, Safety and the Environment (2006) is spot on the issues that are topical and of concern. Application is reviewed, revisited and refurbished with up to date 21st century technology... I would recommend this well indexed reference text to any involved in teaching or researching and those concerned with implementing safety issues... Matthews provides a timely, highly readable overview of the current pesticide situation, major crops, the ecosystems impacted, and the critical need for improved regulatory, IPM, and educational approaches to facilitate both judicious and safe use of pesticides.'
International Pest Control, vol 49, July/August 2007

From the Publisher