Evaluating the Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Pesticide Use: A Path towards Sustainable Practices

Abstract

Pesticides, a category of agrochemicals, are widely used not only in agriculture but also for public health purposes. However, their application poses significant risks to the environment, human health, wildlife, and ecosystems. Currently, approximately 1,000 organic and inorganic compounds are utilized as pesticides. Many of these chemicals are not only highly toxic but also persist in the environment for extended periods, often accumulating in biological systems. Due to their persistence, pesticide residues and their byproducts infiltrate soil, surface water, groundwater, air, and even crop yields. Human exposure to pesticides occurs through inhalation, oral ingestion, or dermal contact with the skin and eyes. Acute exposure to pesticides can lead to a range of health issues, including headaches, nausea, asthma, sore throat, eye and skin irritation, diarrhoea, pharyngitis, nasal irritation, sinusitis, contact dermatitis, inflammation, and endocrine disruption. Chronic exposure, on the other hand, has been linked to severe health conditions such as birth defects, infertility, endocrine system disorders, depression, diabetes, neurological deficits, and various forms of cancer. In addition to their direct impact on humans, pesticides adversely affect soil health by reducing the population of soil microbes and disrupting soil enzymatic activity. These changes diminish soil fertility and degrade its nutritional quality, ultimately affecting agricultural productivity.