They are thought to be safer than organochlorines as they break down more rapidly. Organophosphates are responsible for most acute pesticide related poisonings amongst humans. In 1985, organophosphate poisonings were the second most common reason for Tygerberg Hospital's ICU admissions. These modern insecticides are usually not toxic to mammals, but are extremely toxic to birds. Carbamates are used in termite control and this can reasult in the secondary poisoning of birds that have eaten poisoned termites.
Pesticides play an important role in the control of human and animal diseases, and crop pests.
However, the continued use of organochlorines, for example, could seriously damage fish and wildlife resources as well as pose a health hazard to man. The challenge is to find ever safer and more specific chemicals that have little or no effect on non-target organisms. However, scavenging birds such as vultures, bateleurs and tawny eagles, all of which are very good at finding carrion, come down to baited carcasses and are poisoned. As the farmer never intended this to happen, these animals are called non-target species. A number of scavenging raptors, e.g. Cape and Egyptian vultures, and bateleur eagles, have been driven to extinction over large areas as a result of this practise.