To make matters worse, consumers get mixed messages from government, consumer advocates, and the media. On one side, consumer advocates claim the government is too lax in its regulation of pesticides, some of which are known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Regulatory agencies, however, point out that cancer risks from pesticide residues on food are very small when compared to many other environmental and personal risks consumers take. These agencies further claim that any major reduction in pesticide use would result in higher food costs and reduced selection. The word pesticide is an umbrella term for many types of products-insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, nematicides, etc.
Pesticides are, by definition, poisonous to the pests at which they are directed.
They are used to control insects, weeds, and other nuisances that otherwise would compete with humans or their food and fiber. There are approximately 35,000 pesticide formulations currently registered for use in the United States. Although consumers normally think of agriculture as the major pesticide user, hospitals, restaurants, water treatment plants, termite control companies and home gardeners also account for substantial pesticide use. Today, more than 50 companies manufacture approximately 250 basic chemicals registered for use in food and feed production. Of these, about 20 make up the bulk of those formulated for agricultural production.