Pesticide

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A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substance intended for: - preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. A pesticide may be a chemical substance, biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria), antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest. Pests include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, molluscs, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms), microbes and people that destroy property, spread or are a vector for disease or cause a nuisance. Although there are benefits to the use of pesticides, there are also drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans and other animals. FAO has defined the term of pesticide as:

For more information about Pesticide, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with pesticides

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Predators key to sustainable farming

Biology / Ecology

created Aug 21, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 0

Barn owls have emerged as the unlikely heroes in the fight against climate change, saving Malaysian farmers more than money, UQ PhD Student Chong Leong Puan has found.


Satellite image shows the dramatic retreat of the Aral Sea?s shoreline

Eastern Aral Sea has shrunk by 80% since 2006: ESA

Space & Earth / Environment

created Jul 10, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (20) | comments 3

The eastern lobe of the disaster-struck Aral Sea seems to have shrunk by four-fifths in just three years, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Friday.


Environmental regulators warn flea treatments may be toxic to pets

Space & Earth / Environment

created May 12, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (7) | comments 4

Federal environmental regulators are warning pet owners and veterinarians to closely follow instructions if they use several popular flea and tick treatments, and monitor their pets, as they investigate thousands of reports ...


New method applies pesticides in nanofibers to keep chemicals on target

New method applies pesticides in nanofibers to keep chemicals on target

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Mar 27, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- To prevent pesticides from drifting away and potentially posing risks to the environment, Cornell researchers have devised a solution: Apply the pesticides by encapsulating them in biodegradable ...


Research finds that low concentrations of pesticides can become toxic mixture

Space & Earth / Environment

created Nov 11, 2008 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (6) | comments 4

Ten of the world's most popular pesticides can decimate amphibian populations when mixed together even if the concentration of the individual chemicals are within limits considered safe, according to University of Pittsburgh ...


Pesticide build-up could lead to poor honey bee health

Pesticide build-up could lead to poor honey bee health

Chemistry /

created Aug 18, 2008 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 1

Honey bees industriously bring pollen and nectar to the hive, but along with the bounty comes a wide variety of pesticides, according to Penn State researchers. Add the outside assault to the pesticides already ...


Researchers Reveal That Environmentally Devastating Zebra Mussels Can Be Controlled

Researchers Reveal That Environmentally Devastating Zebra Mussels Can Be Controlled

Biology / Ecology

created 15 hours ago | popularity 3.2 / 5 (5) | comments 3

Cloaked in a delicate brown and cream striped shell and measuring a mere inch in length, the zebra mussel certainly doesn’t look ominous. This tiny invasive species, however, has wreaked havoc in waterways ...


An inexpensive 'dipstick' test for pesticides in foods

An inexpensive 'dipstick' test for pesticides in foods

Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry

created Nov 04, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Scientists in Canada are reporting the development of a fast, inexpensive "dipstick" test to identify small amounts of pesticides that may exist in foods and beverages. Their paper-strip test is more practical ...


Scientists examine how common pesticide mixes may affect bee die-offs

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Oct 29, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Since reports of widespread bee die-offs began to surface in October 2006, researchers have investigated possible reasons ranging from hive-infecting mites to cell phone-tower radiation. They have yet to ...


Pesticides exposure linked to suicidal thoughts

Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry

created Oct 22, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

A new study in China has found that people with higher levels of pesticide exposure are more likely to have suicidal thoughts. The study was carried out by Dr Robert Stewart from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College ...


Glacial melting may release pollutants in the environment

Glacial melting may release pollutants in the environment

Space & Earth / Environment

created Oct 21, 2009 | popularity 2.2 / 5 (5) | comments 0

Those pristine-looking Alpine glaciers now melting as global warming sets in may explain the mysterious increase in persistent organic pollutants in sediment from certain lakes since the 1990s, despite decreased ...


AP IMPACT: School drinking water contains toxins (AP)

School drinking water contains toxins

Space & Earth / Environment

created Sep 25, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (4) | comments 4

(AP) -- Over the last decade, the drinking water at thousands of schools across the country has been found to contain unsafe levels of lead, pesticides and dozens of other toxins.


Fungus enhances susceptibility of resistant malaria mosquito to pesticides

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Sep 24, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

In areas where malaria mosquitoes have become resistant to chemical pesticides, mosquito-killing fungi can be an effective tool. Fungal spores can effectively infect and kill malaria mosquitoes, even those that are resistant ...


Homes pollute:  Linked to 50 percent more water pollution than previously believed

Homes pollute: Linked to 50 percent more water pollution than previously believed

Space & Earth / Environment

created Aug 19, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 2

They say there's no place like home. But scientists are reporting some unsettling news about homes in the residential areas of California. The typical house there — and probably elsewhere in the country — ...


'Killer spices' provide eco-friendly pesticides for organic fruits and veggies

'Killer spices' provide eco-friendly pesticides for organic fruits and veggies

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Aug 16, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 2

Mention rosemary, thyme, clove, and mint and most people think of a delicious meal. Think bigger…acres bigger. These well-known spices are now becoming organic agriculture's key weapons against insect pests ...