Publisher's Synopsis
Encyclopaedia of Pesticide Chemistry and Biosciences updates all the key areas in pesticide chemistry and related activities. Pesticide chemistry has seen many remarkable changes and advances in recent years. This collection of current expert views and findings will be of immense interest to researchers and professionals working in the environment of pesticide chemistry. Pesticides are those chemicals that are used to destroy unwanted forms of life or organisms. They include insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, fungicides, fumigants etc. They are expected to have a selective action or toxicity to animals and man. Pesticides constitute any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. They can also serve as plant regulators, defoliants, or dessicants. Pesticide Chemistry Crop Protection, Public Health, Environmental Safety provides comprehensive coverage and even captures emerging technologies within the industry. All facets of pesticides are addressed, including agriculture, agrochemicals, and environmental health aspects. First chapter deals with the chemical analysis methods for the main pesticide chemical classes that are most frequently analyzed with gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). Second chapter explores on impact of pesticides on environmental and human health. The chapter also discusses the pesticides as inducers of oxidative stress and endocrine disruptors action of two important issues. Third chapter describes on human health, and methods of detection of these compounds. Pesticides are those substances which, on entering the body by whatever route, e.g. ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through intact skin, produce harmful effects. The effect may be in the form of damage to the tissues or as a disturbance of the functioning of the body. Fourth chapter details the effect of pesticides on target and non-target organisms including earthworms, predators, pollinators, humans, fishes, amphibians, and birds. Additionally, impact of pesticides on soil, water and air ecosystems is also discussed. Furthermore, an eco-friendly practice (Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach) has been detailed as a strategy that could minimize the use of pesticides. Fifth chapter presents a study on health problem caused by long-term organo phosphorus pesticides exposure and plant based pesticides are reviewed in sixth chapter. Seventh chapter presents a review on plants as potential sources of pesticidal agents. Eighth chapter determines the biomarkers the inner dosages, exposure and effect caused by the use of organophosphoric (OF), carbamates (C) and organochlorated (OC) pesticides. Green aspects of techniques for the determination of currently used pesticides in environmental samples are described in last chapter.