An Imperative Need for Green Pesticides: A Review

Abstract

Pesticides are basically those chemicals or microbial agents which protect crops. Although pesticides help in combating pests, they also have many harmful effects on the Environment. The objective of this article is to bring forth the harmful effects of chemical pesticides and the possible solutions regarding the same. To this end, many relevant citations were studied and summarized. Pesticides affect the quality of soil, water and other vegetation. In some cases, heavy treatment of these pesticides can also spoil beneficial micro-organisms of soil. On entering aquatic systems, pesticides kill thousands of fishes, turtles, mussels and water birds. When it comes to humans, from acute health problems like abdominal pain, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, eye problems to chronic impacts like cancer, reproductive harm, endocrine disruption, neurological problems, reduced fertility in males, damage to germinal epithelium, Asthma, memory disorders- are some of the many disastrous effects .The rampant use of pesticides under the adage “if a little is good, a lot more will be better” has played a havoc with the environment. Green pesticides can prove to be very helpful in this situation. They are pest control solutions that are less harmful than chemical pesticides and just as effective. Plants like Neem, Nettle, Tansy, Horsetail, Rhubarb may be extremely useful in this regard.