pesticides

• Pesticides increase food yields and productivity.
• Pesticides kill non-target species and can biomagnify. They can be toxic to humans and contaminate drinking water. They can also pollute aquatic habitats. The severity of the impact depends on the type of pesticide used. 
• Groups:

  • Organochlorines 
  • Organophosphates 
  • Pyrethroids 
  • Neonicotinoids 
• organochlorines are contact, liposoluble pesticides. they bioaccumulate and biomagnify due to their toxicity to insects. however they do not leach into rivers but last 30 years and are very persistence.
• Organophosphates are highly effective against insects but less so against fungi and bacteria. They break down quickly and do not accumulate in organisms or soil. However, they may cause adverse health effects if ingested by humans. Examples include malathion and parathion.
• neonicotinoids are systemic pesticides that are taken up by plants. they are highly effective against insects and are less toxic to mammals and birds compared to other groups. however they are highly toxic to bees and butterflies.
• pyrethroids are contact and liposoluble but do not bioaccumulate. they do not leach into rivers and are very toxic to insects, mammals and fish. they degrade within a few days and have a low persistence.
• neonicitinoids are systemic and water soluble, they do not biomagnify and leach into rivers. they are toxic to insects and have a high persistence lasting a month to 3 years.
• Is DDT systemic or contact?

  Contact
• Is DDT liposoluble or water soluble?

  Liposoluble
• Does DDT bioaccumulate or biomagnify?

  Yes
• Does DDT leach into rivers?

  No
• What is DDT toxic to?

  All insects
• What is DDT’s degradability?

  30 years
• What is DDT’s persistence?

  High
• Is Malathion systemic or contact?

  Contact
• Is Malathion liposoluble or water soluble?

  Water soluble
• Does Malathion bioaccumulate or biomagnify?

  No
• Does Malathion leach into rivers?

  Yes
• What is Malathion toxic to?

  Highly toxic to insects and mammals
• What is Malathion’s degradability?

  Within a few weeks
• What is Malathion’s persistence?

  Low
• Is Cypermethrin systemic or contact?

  Contact
• Is Cypermethrin liposoluble or water soluble?

  Liposoluble, but does not bioaccumulate
• Does Cypermethrin bioaccumulate or biomagnify?

  No
• Does Cypermethrin leach into rivers?

  No
• What is Cypermethrin toxic to?

  Insects and mammals, very toxic to fish
• What is Cypermethrin’s degradability?

  Few days
• What is Cypermethrin’s persistence?

  Low
• Is Imidacloprid systemic or contact?

  Systemic
• Is Imidacloprid liposoluble or water soluble?

  Water soluble
• Does Imidacloprid bioaccumulate or biomagnify?

  No
• Does Imidacloprid leach into rivers?

  Yes
• What is Imidacloprid toxic to?

  Insects
• What is Imidacloprid’s degradability?

  1 month to 3 years
• What is Imidacloprid’s persistence?

  High
• organochloride

  DDT
• organophosphate

  malathion
• pyrethroids

  cypermethrin
• neonicotinoids

  imidacloprid