Agrochemicals: Safety Evaluation and Characterization for Humans and Biodiversity

Abstract

Agrochemicals are used globally to enhance plant productivity and protect the ecosystem from miscellaneous damages. The current chapter focuses on the definition and classification of agrochemicals as well as recent trends and challenges in the usage of agrochemicals (i.e., pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, acidifiers, growth regulators hormones, and soil conditioners) besides their effects on nontargeted organisms. Although the pros and cons of using agrochemicals are numerous, this chapter focused on enumerating some of the implications of these chemical substances on humans and biodiversity. Despite ongoing efforts to assess the environmental risks, there is huge uncertainty in the scientific community over the suitability of existing approaches because the detrimental One Health effects of some agrochemicals are still unpredictable. The safety evaluation included in the present work covers toxicity, ecological safety, health risks, and exposure (level) assessments, along with the most appropriate control strategies and safe alternatives. In addition, agrochemicals were characterized to test the amounts of agrochemical residues in plants, soil, water, etc., which was used to present the exposure profile of some agrochemicals and their degradation (biological, physicochemical, field dissipation, and environmental approaches). Controlling the overuse of some agrochemicals has become a critical issue due to their genotoxicity and potential hereditary effects. Moreover, the complex and multidimensional relationship between agrochemicals and agrobiodiversity is ill understood but has legacy effects on livestock, cultivated crops, soil organisms, and other organisms that inhibit or move through agricultural lands. However, this chapter documents recent advances and provides recommendations for preserving agrobiodiversity and the controlled use of agrochemicals.