Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No.

1: 114-126 ISSN: 2073-9524

eISSN: 2310-8746

The Harmful Effects of Pesticides on the Environment and

Human Health: A Review
Israa Mahmood Ali
1
Rusafa Second Directorate of Education, Iraqi Ministry of Education, Baghdad, Iraq.
Corresponding author: is87raa@yahoo.com

Abstract
Article history:
Received: 17 March 2023 The population inflation that countries are witnessing during this century, makes
Accepted: 1 June 2023 it imperative to provide sufficient quantities of agricultural products to meet their
Published: 30 June 2023 urgent needs. Therefore, it became very necessary to use pesticides to improve
agricultural crop productivity and reduce losses resulting from agricultural pests.
The indiscriminate use of pesticides causes severe risks not only on agricultural
fields, but also workers in their manufacturing processes and individual use in
homes and institutions. The main adverse effects of utilizing pesticides on human
Keywords: adverse health, soil, microorganisms of soil, surface water and groundwater have been
effects of pesticides, covered in this review. This investigation is aiming to elevate environmental
human health, awareness, highlight the serious harms of pesticides and provide guidance for
pesticides, pesticide implementing a serious solution from the people and authorities. In addition, the
risks, environment. most important strategies to reduce the pesticides risks have been summarized.

https://dx.doi.org/10.52951/dasj.23150112
This article is open-access under the CC BY 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
during application to weeds and pest, less
Introduction than 1% of the total amount of pesticides
Pesticides are chemical preparations can reach the target. The lost amounts may
intended to kill fungal or animal pests. It can have negative consequences on specific
also be defined specifically as any substance communities, species, or ecosystems, as
or mixture of substances used for well as on human health, through processes
preventing, destroying, repelling, or including spray drift, off-target deposition,
mitigating any pest. They can also serve as run-off, and photodegradation, for example
plant regulators, desiccants, or defoliants. A (Hernández et al., 2013).
pesticide is a poisonous chemical compound Pesticides, despite their benefits, can be
or combination of biological agents or a toxic compounds that are ecologically
substance that is deliberately introduced into stable, bioaccumulative, and
the environment to prevent, dissuade, environmentally stable (Fenik et al., 2011).
control, kill, and/or eliminate populations of Pesticides can persist in the environment for
weeds, insects, fungi, rodents, or other years because many of them are persistent
undesirable pests. Pesticides function by and difficult to degrade. They persist in soil,
luring in, enticing, and then killing or permeate groundwater and surface water,
controlling pests. The term "pests" can and pollute the environment on a large scale.
widely refer to “the animals or plants that Depending on their chemical properties,
endanger our food, health and / or comfort” they can enter organism cells,
(Mahmood et al., 2016). bioaccumulate in food chains, and thus
On the other hand, the majority of impact human health. Humans can also be
pesticides target not only the undesirable exposed to harmful pesticide residues
pest; rather, they also affect non-target through occupational use (Mostafalou and
animals and plants during their application. Abdollahi, 2013). The cycle of pesticides in
Pesticides are lost in significant amounts

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the environment is depicted in Fig. 1 (Rajmohan et al., 2020).

Figure 1. Pesticide cycle in the environment

The maximum development in pesticides accumulations in the food chain.

occurred during and after the World War-II Insecticides are thought to be the most
period, when there was a pressing need to harmful type of pesticide, followed by
increase food production in response to the fungicides and herbicides, which are ranked
situation at hand. Various powerful and second and third in terms of toxicity. In the
reasonably priced pesticides were recent past, around 2 million tons of
synthesized and produced during this time pesticides were used worldwide, with 47.5%
period, including DDT, dieldrin, aldrin, 2,4- of those being herbicides, 29.5% being
D, endrin, and parathion. Acute poisoning insecticides, 17.5% being fungicides, and
events in the late 19th century led to a public 5.5% being other pesticides (Sharma et al.,
concern for ecotoxicology ,where the 2019).
potential drawbacks of the indiscriminate
use of pesticides were discussed in " Silent Classification of pesticides
Spring" book by Rachel Carson (Bernardes Pesticides can be categorized in a variety
et al., 2015). The use of DDT was banned of ways, including by the target they control
internationally wide (Levengood and (EPA - Environmental Protection Agency,
Beasley, 2007). Despite the stringent 2004):
prohibition, DDT is still consumed
unlawfully in many places, particularly in  Herbicides work on grasses, plants
developing countries. The dangers of DDT and weeds, in another meaning they
on human health were recognized and are used as plant growth regulators.
widely disseminated in order to warn people
and prevent unforeseen events. DDT still  Insecticides fight insect growth or
has negative health impacts on people even survival.
though it is no longer used because of its
 Rodenticides fight against rodents
long-lasting effectiveness and
and rats.

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 Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No. 1: 114-126

 Avicides act against undesirable bird the intake of contaminated food. Vegetables
populations. and fruit have a higher rate of fatal
contamination since they receive the
 Fungicides work by inhibiting or greatest pesticide application rates (Van der
killing fungi and fungal spores. Werf, 1996). Pesticide toxicity is not limited
to people working in agriculture; workers in
 Nematicides which combat industrial fields face increased risk as a
nematodes. result of handling a variety of toxic
The division of pesticides can also depend compounds, such as inert carriers,
on their chemical structure as shown below pesticides, toxic solvents, and raw materials.
(EPA - Environmental Protection Agency, In the agriculture field, some observe that
2004): farmers do not follow the safety
instructions, such as wearing safety masks,
 Organophosphorus (like diazinon gloves or other protective gear during the
and chlorpyrifos). spraying of pesticides (Bhandari, 2014).

 Organochlorine (aldrin and DDT). Acute Effects

Immediate effects of pesticide exposure
 Carbamates (like aldicarb and could be through oral, respiratory or skin
carbaryl). exposure. They could appear in many days
 Benzoic acids (dicamba). and are sudden in symptoms like stinging of
the eyes and skin, headache, irritation of the
 Pyrethrins and pyrethroids throat and nose, itching of the skin,
(cypermethrin and cyfluthrin). appearance of rash and blisters on the skin,
dizziness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea
 Triazines (simazine and atrazine). and vomiting, blurred vision, blindness and
scarcely the death. organophosphate
 Derivates of phenoxyacetic (2,4-D). pesticides are related with acute human
health problems.
 Derivatives of dipyridyl (like
paraquat and diquat). Chronic Effects
 Derivatives of glycine (glyphosate). Pesticides' chronic side effects can be fatal
and take years to manifest. Various body
 Dithiocarbamates (ziram and organs deteriorate as a result of these long-
maneb). term impacts. Consequences of persistent
pesticide exposure include the ones listed
Adverse effects of pesticides on human below.
health
According to the World Health  Pesticide exposure can cause a
Organization, developing nations record variety of neurological system
220000 fatalities and approximately defects, including loss of memory
3000000 cases of pesticide poisoning each and coordination, decreased motor
year (Lah, 2011). Approximately 2.2 million signaling, and impaired vision (Lah,
people, primarily in developing nations, are 2011). Many studies have found a
at an increased danger from pesticide link between pesticides and the
exposure (Hicks, 2013). diseases Parkinson's and
Alzheimer's.
Pesticides enter the human body through
inhalation, ingestion or penetration via skin,  There are many types of cancer
however, most people get affected through associated with pesticides (especially

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 Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No. 1: 114-126

DDT), like brain cancer, leukaemia, (DBCP) which in turn caused human
lymphoma, breast cancer, ovarian infertility (Rajmohan et al., 2020).
cancer, prostate cancer, and
testicular cancer anywhere that  Exposure to pesticides can cause
cancer patients' blood has included hypersensitivity, asthma and
pesticide traces. Organophosphate allergies. Also, it may aggravate
pesticides used in vegetables asthma through irritability,
gradually accumulate in the human inflammation, immunosuppression,
body and have been associated with and hormonal imbalances (Amaral,
a link with cancer (Miah et al., 2014). Pyrethroid insecticides are
2014). Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is regarded as being hazardous to the
a group of blood cancers that respiratory system through
includes all types of lymphomas inhalation. The bronchial mucosa is
except Hodgkin lymphomas. NHL mostly damaged by the chemical
is caused by pesticide ingestion, compounds generated by pesticides,
mainly phenoxy acid herbicides, which makes the airways very
NHL risk has been found to be six susceptible to allergens. Many
times higher in Sweden in people pesticides have been considered as
who use phenoxy acid herbicides one of the most important links
(Singh et al., 2018). The incidence between asthma, household or
of cancer depends on the intensity environmental pollutants like
and exposure duration of pesticides. carbamate, organophosphate,
Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a chemical organochlorine, paraquat or
compound that has been pyrethroid insecticides (Singh et al.,
demonstrated to cause a redox 2018).
imbalance in human cells when
Effects of pesticides on the soil
coupled with pesticides. These
substances alter the antioxidant Pesticides can enter the soil via wash-off
defense mechanisms in cells, which from treated foliage spray, drift during
leads to breast cancer tumors (Rivero foliage treatment, or release from treated
et al., 2015). Heterocyclic aromatic seeds or granulates in the soil. Some
amines cause a number of cases of pesticides like nematocides and direct
colon or bladder cancer like application of soil fumigants dominate plant
Imazethapyr which increases the diseases and pests presented in the soil. The
danger of colon and bladder cancer pesticides transportation, degradation or
by 78% and 137% respectively persistence in the soil rely on their chemical
(Asghar, 2016). characteristics (like molecular structure,
solubility and the volatility) in addition to
 Long-term exposure to pesticides the soil's chemistry, physics, and biology.
alters the amounts of female and Soil properties, soil pH, and soil organic
male reproductive hormones, which matter all these factors affect sorption/
have an impact on an individual's desorption, degradation, volatilization, run-
ability to reproduce. As a result, it off, uptake by plants, and leaching of
causes birth malformations, pesticides. The most significant interaction
stillbirths, abortions, and infertility. between soil and pesticides is sorption,
It was found that testicular which determine both pesticides
dysfunction was caused by pesticides decomposition and movement through soil.
widely used in plant pathogen Rapid sorption frequently happens shortly
control Dibromochloropropane after a pesticide application; as time passes,
the sorption mechanism becomes slower.

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 Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No. 1: 114-126

However, it has been detected that sorption of these soils into lakes and streams, soil
of many pesticides proportional to with more clay in its texture has a larger
increasing time, and frequent application, surface area available for adsorbing
that could increase the formation of bound pesticides. In terms of permeability, soils
non-extractable residues. Soil pH is one of with high permeability allow water
important factors that affect the adsorption containing dissolved pesticides to leach
which increase for ionizable pesticides with through them more easily, allowing the
a declining soil pH (e.g. picloram,2,4- pesticides to reach the groundwater. Texture
D,2,4,5-T, and atrazine) (Andreu and Picó, influences soil permeability (Lourencetti et
2004). Although adsorbed residues are al., 2008).
thought to have a low effect because they
are inert and non-available, it has been Pesticides' behavior influences their final
discovered that they can release over time. fate in the soil; they can be classified as (a)
These residues may be released using hydrophobic, nondegradable, and
because of a pH change or the addition of bioaccumulable pesticides that are strongly
nitrate fertilizers to the soil, there is linked to soil particles, such as the
evidence that certain organisms, such as organochlorine DDT, endrin, endosulfan,
plants and earthworms, can absorb and heptachlor, and lindane. Most of these
remobilize old, tightly bound residues pesticides are presently prohibited in
(Gevao et al., 2001). agriculture but their residues are still
present. (b) Polar pesticides are represented
The amount of organic matter in the soil is generally by herbicides but they also include
the most important feature. The adsorption fungicides, carbamates and some
of pesticides increases when the organic organophosphorus insecticides (Aktar et al.,
matter content is large. The absorbing 2009).
ability of the soils to pesticides depends on
their large content of organic matter and Pesticides' effects on soil microorganisms
keeps water with dissolved compounds. Microorganisms include bacteria, algae,
Additionally, there are higher actinomycetes, protozoa and micro fauna
microorganisms in these soils that can they are also called microbial biomass.
breakdown the pesticides (Farenhorst, Another definition of microbial biomass is
2006). Pesticides bound to soil organic the part of organic matter in soil that
matter or clay particles are immobile and contains living microorganisms smaller than
bioavailable, but they are also less 5–10 cubic micrometers and it is a fraction
microbially degradable and thus more of soil organic matter that is affected by
persistent. The soil's capacity to attract control practices and pollution (Sai et al.,
positively charged ions in an exchangeable 2019).
form is also essential with paraquat and
other pesticides that carry a positive charge. Pesticides applied to soil are transformed
These chemicals are stable and required a into one or more transformation products
strong mineral acid for their extracting through biological and nonbiological
(Andreu and Picó, 2004). actions. The microorganisms considered to
play an essential role in these
Pesticide travel can also be influenced by transformations through mechanisms
soil properties. One of these properties is the include oxidation, hydrolysis, reduction,
soil structure, sands and gravel with a coarse conjugation etc, catalyzed by many types of
texture have higher infiltration rates, and enzymes resulting in less bioactive
therefore, the water seeps over the soil to the compounds (Beigel et al., 1999). Therefore,
groundwater. While clays and other fine- microorganisms are among the most
grained soils typically have modest seepage significant biological factors that remove
capacity, therefore water tends to flow out

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 Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No. 1: 114-126

and degrade waste materials and chemical The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) has
products into less complicated compounds conducted a set of comprehensive studies on
reducing their risks in the soil. In addition, the main river basins that have shown that
soil microflora, mainly fungi, algae, bacteria more than 90% of water and fish samples
and protozoa play a major role in making collected from all streams contained one, or
the soil fertile through their primary more pesticides (Kole et al., 2001).
catabolic role in the degradation of animal
and plant residues in the cycling of the In general, surface water pesticide
organic, inorganic nutrients content of soil. contamination is substantially higher than
Overuse of chemical pesticides requires that in groundwater, mainly as a result of
adverse effects on the soil organisms, ground runoff from agricultural land and
because it can decrease of beneficial soil pollution from spray drift. Pesticides can
microorganisms. Indiscriminate use of infiltrate into the ground through polluted
chemicals will be beneficial for a few years, surface water, incorrect disposal, and
but after a while, there are not enough unintentional leaks and spills (Mahmood et
beneficial soil organisms to hold on the al., 2016).
nutrients (Savonen, 1997).
The factors that affect pesticide migration
As a result, pesticides that slow down the in the environment are site depth down to
soil microorganism's effectiveness could the groundwater, topography, geological
have an adverse impact on the soil's nutrient characteristics, and climate. When the
quality and, consequently, cause significant groundwater is shallow, a smaller quantity
ecological issues. Therefore, an ideal of contaminants can be adsorbed and
pesticide should be toxic only to the target degraded by the soil so pollution is a
organism, biodegradable and undesirable significant worry. Topographically, flat
residues should not affect nontarget terrain, regions with closed drainage
organisms (Chowdhury et al., 2008). systems where water flows into a basin's
center, and mostly sinkhole sites, are
Effects of pesticides on surface and vulnerable to groundwater pollution. In
groundwater terms of geological conditions, highly
permeable soils with gravel in their texture
Contamination of water by pesticides is
increase groundwater contamination, as
widespread. Pesticides can reach surface
does the presence of wells. On the other
water through runoff from treated soil and
hand, the surface water could be
plants or by being applied immediately to
contaminated by the rainfall or irrigation
the water's surface e.g., for elimination of
that collected in streams, ponds and lakes if
mosquitoes. The pesticides can damage
they exist. In terms of climatic conditions,
aquatic vegetation, lower dissolved oxygen
heavy irrigation or rainfall could cause large
content of the water causing harmful algal
amounts of water seeping through the soil
blooms and could influence behavioral and
and reaching groundwater. Furthermore,
physiological alterations in fish populations.
rain can transport pesticides to far-off
A drop in the numbers of various types of
locations and introduce them to surface
fish is noticed, that associated with the
waters, contaminating rivers, lakes, and seas
excessive use of pesticides (Scholz et al.,
(Bernardes et al., 2015). The nature of
2012). Aquatic plants contribute about 80%
pesticides (hydrophobicity, water solubility)
of the dissolved oxygen in surface water,
also plays a significant role in water
which is essential for the survival of aquatic
contamination. The higher solubility of
life. Destroying these plants with herbicides
pesticides increases the possibility of
causes a sharp drop in oxygen content,
which eventually kills fish and lowers their contamination.
production (Helfrich et al., 2009).

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 Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No. 1: 114-126

Effect of pesticide in aquatic environments alteration of periphyton and plankton

Water bodies are most at risk from abundance and composition (Relyea and
pesticide exposure. They can have an impact Hoverman, 2008). Endosulfan and
on aquatic life at different trophic levels, chlorpyrifos both caused substantial harm to
ranging from algae to fish. Through the food amphibians (Sparling and Fellers, 2009).
chain, the pesticides that have accumulated The bioaccumulation of DDT was
in the water become stronger and enter fish evaluated, in Müller’s clawed frog Xenopus
that are dangerous to consume (Karr, 2000). muelleri that captured from South Africa's
There are three typical ways that fish and lower Phongolo River floodplain, it was
aquatic life can expose to various type of revealed that its concentration had
pesticides: orally (by drinking contaminated significantly increased during the study
water), dermally (direct absorption via the period (Wolmarans et al., 2018).
skin), and breathing (gill uptake through A study conducted in Brazil over a period
breath). from 1994 to 2004 discovered residues of
The use of herbicides near weedy fish DDT, chlordane, and hexachlorobenzene in
nurseries, aquatic species' capacity to the blubber of franciscana dolphins. (Leonel
reproduce was impacted (Helfrich et al., et al., 2010).
2009). The water contaminated by Atrazine Generally, the polarity and water
showed markedly reduced peripheral solubility of the pesticides affect the amount
leukocyte counts, indicating an effect on the of bioaccumulation of certain pesticides in
immunological system of fish and fish. The bioaccumulation of a pesticide
amphibians (Forson and Storfer, 2006; Rohr chemical in fish is inversely correlated with
et al., 2008). With reports of fish poisoning its water solubility. Water solubility is a
from pesticides like endosulfan, Winam crucial factor in reducing pesticide
Gulf is the most polluted area of Kenya's dynamics in aquatic habitats (Haque et al.,
Victoria Lake. As a result, the European 1977).
Union banned the import of fish from the
lake (Abong’o et al., 2014). Endosulfan, Impact of pesticides on birds and honey
chlordanes, and hexachlorocyclohexane bees
isomers were detected in fish tissues and
Birds are extremely vulnerable to toxic
dietary components of Cynoscion
pesticides, which can kill them instantly or
guatucupa, demonstrating high
cause physical deformities, lower mating
bioaccumulation and biomagnification of
success, and a reduced ability to travel and
these chemicals at various trophic levels.
evade predators (Aktar et al., 2009).
Nineteen pesticide standards were employed
to detect the pesticides (Lanfranchi et al., DDT is sprayed in malaria-prone areas
2006). annually following the rainy season,
according to information gathered from the
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia's
ministry of health. The regional office of
keystone marine creatures, which include
agriculture's information verified that DDT
seagrass, corals, and algae, have highlighted
is sprayed close to water bodies where
the potential catastrophic effects of pesticide
mosquito flies are thought to be nesting
runoff (Cantin et al., 2007).
(Yadav, 2010). Birds are most exposed to
Many amphibian families were negatively DDT through the food chain when they prey
impacted by carbaryl (1-naphthyl on fish, earthworms, and other aquatic
methylcarbamate), and the herbicide and/or terrestrial animals that have high
glyphosate increased the mortality rate of DDT body loads.
tadpoles and young frogs (Relyea, 2005).
Tadpoles adversely affected by malathion's
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 Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No. 1: 114-126

According to studies, the contamination of pesticides in American and European

bird populations with chlorinated countries is to blame for a 25–30% drop in
insecticides is a factor in the decline of bird the honey bee population. In North
populations (Mineau and Whiteside, 2013). American regions, more than half of native
It has been reported in India that aldrin and bee species are threatened with extinction
organophosphate insecticide (Sanchez-Bayo and Goka, 2014). The
monocrotophos-related pesticide toxicity effects of imidacloprid, diafenthiuron, and
has caused bird deaths (Muralidharan, 1993; ethofenprox were seen in response to
Pain et al., 2004). metabolic alterations in wild honey bee
larvae and adults. According to the
The variety of pollutants also negatively researches, honey bees' immune systems
impacts adult water birds' ability to were largely destroyed by pesticides
reproduce and results in developmental exposure. Bees' haemocytes were severely
flaws in embryos. Through hormonal damaged, which led to a lack of immunity to
mimicry of estrogens, the consequences on illnesses as well as other abnormalities such
embryos include mortality, decreased agglutination, denucleation, and cell shape
hatchability, failure of chicks to flourish, distortion (Perveen and Ahmad, 2017). The
and other teratological effects such skeletal quantity of haemocytes, the encapsulation
deformities, defective differentiation of the reaction, and the antibacterial activity were
reproductive system and brain system. all decreased by thiacloprid and
Acute death, sublethal stress, decreased imidacloprid. These anomalies were brought
fertility, eggshell thinning, suppression of about by clothianidin at apparently high
egg production, altered incubation and amounts (Brandt et al., 2016). Pesticide
chick-rearing behaviors are just a few of the residues have also been discovered in honey
effects that chemicals can have on adult and bee-wax samples worldwide, Besides
birds (Fry, 1995). bee damages, which is dangerous for the
final consumers (Al-Waili et al., 2012).
According to a study, common bird
species experienced an average loss of 10% The potential strategies for minimizing
between 1980 and 2006, however in the pesticide effects
United Kingdom, common agricultural bird
species experienced a reduction of up to Many environmental disasters that were
50% in 2006, leaving no chance for recorded over the past decades, it has
recovery and pointing to the environment- become necessary to develop global
harming effects of pesticides (Gibbs et al., strategies for dealing and applying
2009). In the United States, it is estimated pesticides in the correct manner to protect
that pesticide applications kill 72 million humans and the environment from their
birds annually (Fimrite, 2011). 1211 species risks. Legislations were put in place to
of birds were threatened as a whole, and prevent the use of some pesticides that were
86% of those are endangered because of classified as highly toxic like DDT. There
habitat loss and construction projects that are Many international agreements that
use pesticides and other synthetic substances states accept obligations to incorporate into
selectively (Mitra et al., 2011). their national policies. One of the most
relevant international policies and tools for
Pesticides have extremely detrimental reducing risks associated with the use of
impacts on honey bees. Apiculturists and pesticides is:
ecologists have been alarmed by the decline
of bee species and collapse of honeybee  The Rotterdam Convention aims to
colonies during the past several years as a protect the environment and human
result of widespread pesticide use on health by regulating global trade in
agricultural crops. The excessive use of

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 Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No. 1: 114-126

dangerous chemicals (the majority of consequently protect human

which are pesticides). health (Dubey, 2013).

 The Stockholm Convention is an  Managing the irrigation in

international environmental treaty, appropriate manner to avoids
signed in 2001 and effective from water stress (wasting or
May 2004 that aims to restrict or reducing water) that reduces
eliminate the production and use of proliferation of weeds, and
persistent organic pollutants (POPs), makes crops vulnerable to
some of them are pesticides. diseases and pests.

 The FAO Members have endorsed  Rotating crops stopes the spread
the International Code of Conduct of pathogens, pests, and weeds
for Pesticide Management, which is into the following season.
supported by key pesticide industry
associations and civil society Using gene technology to create resistant
organizations (FAO and WHO, crop types, this can be achieved using
2014). conventional breeding techniques such as
selection and crossing through genetic
 The Strategic Approach for engineering. In both situations, an identified
International Chemical Management resistance is combined into a plant with high
(SAICM) is a voluntary policy yield potential and other desired agronomic
framework and approach that UNEP traits. Conventional breeding considered a
has helped to implement in order to main role to improvement the crop, but their
improve chemical safety globally its disadvantage requires a long time in the
objective by 2020 “that chemicals growing and testing of large samples of
are used and produced in ways that crops over multiple generations. Genetic
minimize adverse effects on human engineering and marker assisted breeding
health and the environment”. can make this process faster (Jiang, 2013).
Genetic engineering, which refers to the
 The Joint Meeting of Pesticide direct modification of an organism’s genetic
Residues (JMPR) is a specialized material using biotechnology. Gene editing
entity that is jointly run by FAO and is based on the CRISPR (clustered regularly
WHO which recommends the interspaced short palindromic repeats)
maximum levels of pesticide mechanism, which enables highly precise
residuals in food and feed products introduction of particular genes into types
and offers recommendations on the (Christou, 2013).
quality standards for pesticide
products (Eyhorn et al., 2015). Conclusion
While the society couldn't live without
In contrast, the efforts directed towered
using pesticides to enhance agricultural crop
changing the agronomic practices. Some of
production, even though their disadvantages
these steps that recommended to be
to humankind and the environment. DDT is
following are: a major contributor to many cancers in
 Increasing the organic farming humans, lung damage, reproductive organ
application which is damage, acute and chronic nervous system
injury, endocrine and immune system
environmentally friendly and
dysfunction, and birth defects. The negative
sustainable that leads to
environmental effects of pesticides have
increasing the earth fertility, and
been recognized for decades and are still
being recognized today. To overcome these

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 Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal, 2023, Vol. (15) No. 1: 114-126

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534.
Regarding the publication of this
manuscript, the authors declare that there Bernardes, M. F. F., Pazin, M., Pereira, L.
are no conflicts of interest. C., and Dorta, D. J. (2015). Impact of
pesticides on environmental and human
Acknowledgements health. Toxicology studies-cells, drugs
Great acknowledges to editor in chief of and environment, 195-233.
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