Metabolic system inhibitors Metabolism is the transfer of energy within the cells of organisms, which is essential for the growth and survival of all living things. Sometimes a pesticide has to be metabolised into the toxic form before it becomes toxic to the target pest. This happens when the animal eats the bait containing the 1080. Proteins are the basic building blocks of all cells. Proteins such as enzymes control many important cell functions.
Many pesticides aim to disrupt enzyme processes or denature proteins.
Examples include inorganic copper compounds, dithiocarbamate fungicides, phosphono amino acid herbicides such as glyphosate, and organophosphate insecticides. Hormonal system interference Hormones are biochemical messengers that control many of the biological functions of organisms, including the growth and reproductive cycles. Several pesticides simulate or otherwise interfere with hormones to disrupt these cycles. Examples are the phenoxy herbicides that interfere with plant growth hormones and insect growth regulators that interfere with cuticle formation in insects during moulting. Nervous system disruptors These pesticides affect mainly animal groups such as insects, nematodes and rodents.