Pesticide Regulations And Their Malpractice Implications On Food And Environment Safety

Abstract: Although pesticides have a positive effect on plant health in terms of

insect pests and diseases control, increased productivity and improved crop storage,

their malpractice impacts on food safety negatively. Pesticide residues and corresponding

metabolites are left as runoff to the environment affecting non-targeted

organisms like fish, bees, butterflies, birds and other beneficial organisms in soil and

water bodies. Moreover, the application of pesticides in non-agriculture activities

goes unnoticed, such as spraying for anopheles mosquito to control malaria. Human

health effects caused by pesticide residues in food include headache, vomiting,

itching and skin irritation, restlessness, dizziness, breathing difficulties, neurotoxicity

and chronic poisoning-related diseases such as cancer and death incidences.

Maximum residue limits are the maximum pesticide residues limit in food considered

safe to human as set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the joint

Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization meeting on pesticide

residues. The residues of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and chlorpyrifos are

reported in various foods globally. Additionally, food safety is largely obstructed by

illegal use of pesticides and the presence of counterfeit pesticides in the market.

This review provides detail on pesticide control and regulations, residues in food

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