Use of Pesticides For many years, pesticides have been used in conjunction with host plant resistance, cultural, mechanical, and biological tactics in an integrated pest management system to combat the battle against destructive pests. Pesticides can be toxic to man, animals, and plants if improperly used. Several early insecticides and fungicides contained highly toxic, heavy metals such as arsenic, copper, lead, and mercury, or other toxic compounds such as nicotine. Most of these early pesticides are no longer approved for use. Fortunately, advances and developments in the agrichemical industry have provided modern pesticides that are much less toxic to the applicator and environment, but still control the pests that damage crops, livestock, forests, and homes.
Many people are frightened by pesticides and thoughts of pesticide residues in food supplies.
However, there are stringent regulations governing manufacturers and users of pesticides. As with most all facets of life, there is always room for improvement. And, although the registration requirements set forth by the EPA are the most stringent in the world, these requirements must continually be reevaluated and improved. DDT was the first synthetic pesticide widely used for insect control. However, DDT possessed certain chemical characteristics that were not desirable to many organisms in the environment.