1. Pest Control

2. Outline
Pests
Pesticides
Use and Types
Benefits
Problems
Alternatives
Reducing Exposure
Regulating Use
Organic Farming

3. PESTS AND PESTICIDES
Biological Pests - Organisms that reduce the availability, quality, or value of resources useful to humans.
Only about 100 species of organisms cause 90% of crop damage worldwide.
Insects are most frequent pests.
Make up three-fourths of all species.
Generalists
Compete effectively against specialized endemic species.

4. Pesticides
Pesticide - Chemical that kills (repels) pests.
Biocide - Kills wide range of organisms.
Herbicide - Kills plants.
Insecticide - Kills insects.
Fungicide - Kills fungi.
Acaricide - Kills mites, ticks, and spiders.
Nematicide - Kills nematodes.
Rodenticide - Kills rodents.
Avicide - Kills birds.

5. Conventional Pesticide Use

6. Early Pest Controls
Sumerians controlled insects with sulfur 5,000 years ago.
Chinese describe mercury and arsenic to control pests 2,500 years ago.
People have used organic compounds and biological controls for a long time.
Romans burned fields and rotated crops to reduce crop disease.

7. Current Pesticide Use
EPA estimates total pesticide use in the U.S. amounts to about 5.3 billion pounds annually.
Roughly half is chlorine and hypochlorites used for water purification.
Roughly 80% of all conventional pesticides applied in the U.S. are used in agriculture or food storage and shipping.
Homes and gardens account for only about 8% of total pesticide use in the U.S..

8. Pesticide Types
Inorganic Pesticides - Broad-spectrum, generally highly toxic, and essentially indestructible. (arsenic - copper)
Generally neurotoxins
Natural Organic Pesticides (Botanicals) - Generally plant extracts. (nicotine - phenols)
Fumigants - Small molecules that gasify easily and penetrate materials rapidly. (carbon tetrachloride - ethylene dibromide)

9. Pesticide Types
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons - Fast acting and highly toxic to sensitive organisms. (DDT and mothballs)
Inhibit nerve membrane ion transport and block nerve signal transmission.
Persistent - Tend to biomagnify.
Organophosphates - Extremely toxic to mammals, birds and fish. (Malathion)
Outgrowth of nerve-gas research.
Inhibit neurotransmitter enzyme.

10. Pesticide Types
Carbamates - Similar to organophosphates. (Sevin). - Extremely toxic to bees.
Biological Controls
Microbial agents
Bacteria
Parasitic wasps

11. Pesticide Specifics

12. DDT is the oldest known and best acting
Organochlorines
chlorinated hydrocarbons, chlorinated organics, chlorinated insecticides, and chlorinated synthetics.
The organochlorines are now primarily of historic interest, since few survive in today’s arsenal.
DDT is the oldest known and best acting

13. Silent Spring
Rachel Carson, who you learned about in Chapter 1, is considered the “fountainhead of the environmental movement”.
View the video “About Silent Spring” and answer the questions on the handout of the same title.

14. PESTICIDE BENEFITS
Disease Control
Many insects serve as disease vectors.
Malaria, Yellow Fever
Crop Protection
Using pesticides, pre-harvest losses to diseases and pests are at 30%, with post-harvest losses at an additional 20-30%.
In general, farmers save an average of $3-$5 for every $1 spent on pesticides.

15. PESTICIDE PROBLEMS
Non-Target Species
Up to 90% of pesticides never reach intended target.
Pesticide Resistance and Pest Resurgence
Resistant members of a population survive pesticide treatment and produce more resistant offspring.
Pest Resurgence
Pesticide Treadmill

16. Creation of New Pests
Broadcast spraying is also likely to kill beneficial predators.
Under normal conditions many herbivorous pests are controlled by natural predators.
With advent of chemical pest controls, farmers have tended to abandon traditional methods of pest / pathogen control.
Mixed crops and rotation regimes.

17. Environmental Persistence and Mobility
Because chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT) are so persistent, they tend to show up far from the point of dispersal.
Stored in fat bodies, and thus tend to bioaccumulate.
High levels detected in upper levels of food chain.
DDT banned from US for over twenty years, but high levels still detected in some areas.

18. Environmental Persistence and Mobility
Many persistent organic pollutants were banned globally in 2001.
Use was banned or restricted in developing countries for years, but between 1994 and 1996, the U.S. shipped more than 100,000 tons of DDT and POP’s annually.
Many returned to U.S. in agricultural products and migrating wildlife.

20. Human Health Problems
WHO estimates 25 million people suffer pesticide poisoning, and 20,000 die each year.
At least two-thirds resulting from occupational hazards in developing countries.
Long-term health effects difficult to conclusively document.
PCB’s have been linked to learning deficiencies in children.
Intake during mother’s pregnancy.

21. ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDE USE
Behavioral Changes
Crop Rotation
Mechanical Cultivation
Flooding Fields
Habitat Diversification
Growing in Pest-Free Zones
Adjusting Planting Times
Plant Mixed Polycultures
Integrated Pest Management

22. Alternatives to Pesticides
Biological Controls
Predatory / Herbivorous Insects
Genetics and Bioengineering
Hormones
Sex Attractants

23. Predatory Bugs
Can be purchased as adults or in larvae or egg form
Released in region of where pests are found
Ladybugs - natural enemies of many insect pests and it has been demonstrated that a single lady beetle may consume as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
Praying mantids - highly predacious and feed on a variety of insects, including moths, crickets, grasshoppers and flies. They lie in wait with the front legs in an upraised position. They intently watch and stalk their prey. They will eat each other.

24. BioControls
Go to to learn more about Biological Controls

25. Integrated Pest Management
Flexible, ecologically-based strategy that uses a combination of techniques applied at specific times aimed at specific pests.
Tries to minimize use of chemical controls and avoids broad spectrum controls.
Employs economic thresholds to determine the point at which potential economic damage justifies pest control expenditures.
Go to to learn more about this very effective way of controlling pests (except yer little siblings!)

26. Generalized pesticides
Kill off both useful AND harmful insects
Must be used with care in gardening
Better to attract predacious insects, the kind that eat other insects, dot your garden with sweet alyssum, asters, daisies, marigolds, sunflowers, yarrow and members of the parsley family, such as parsley, fennel and dill.
These flowers offer the nectars and pollens that predacious bugs need to supplement their insect diet.

27. REDUCING PESTICIDE EXPOSURE
Less than 10% of active pesticide ingredients have been subjected to a full battery of chronic health-effect tests.
Of the 321 pesticides screened, EPA reports 146 are probable human carcinogens.
Since 1972, only 40 pesticides have been banned.

28. Regulating Pesticides
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) all share federal responsibility for regulating pesticides used in food production in the U.S..
EPA regulates sale and use, and sets tolerance levels.
FDA and USDA enforce pesticide use and tolerance levels set by EPA.

29. Regulating Pesticides
1999, EPA banned use of methyl parathion on all fruit and many vegetables, and limited the quantity of azinphos methyl that can be used on foods common in children’s diets.
Studies show children are more susceptible than adults to toxic pesticides because they are still developing and have less natural protection.

30. Important!!!!
Pesticide regulation is very complex, merging science, public policy, and law. Since scientific knowledge constantly changes, as do the needs of society, the pesticide regulatory process is never at a standstill. EPA continuously updates pesticide decisions as knowledge increases and improves.

31. Federal Laws for Various Pesticides
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) [FIFRA)] provides the basis for regulation, sale, distribution and use of pesticides in the U.S. FIFRA authorizes EPA to review and register pesticides for specified uses. EPA also has the authority to suspend or cancel the registration of a pesticide if subsequent information shows that continued use would pose unreasonable risks.

32. The Endangered Species Act of 1972 amended FIFRA to define imminent hazard to include situations involving unreasonable hazard to the survival of a species declared by the Secretary of the Interior to be endangered or threatened

33. FIFRA
requires that EPA register all pesticides as well as each use of that pesticide and approves the product label.
requires the classification of all registered pesticides as either "general use" pesticides which can be used by anyone or "restricted use" pesticides if the environment or user could be harmed even if the pesticide is used as directed (state requirements are often stricter).
requires that the users of "restricted use" pesticides must be certified as, or under the direct supervision of either "private" or "commercial" applicators. Certification is to be carried out by the states (except in Colorado and Nebraska which have federal programs).
establishes tolerances for residues that may remain on raw agricultural products or in processed food.

34. FIFRA cont’d
provides penalties for "use inconsistent with the labeling" of a pesticide.
makes it illegal to store or dispose of pesticides or containers other than as directed by regulations and provides penalties for illegal handling of containers.
provides civil penalties when the violation of a regulation is unintentional. Fines can be $1,000 for private applicators and others or as much as $5,000 for each offense by commercial applicators. Before EPA can fine you, you have the right to ask for a hearing in your own city or county.
provides criminal penalties when the law is knowingly violated. The maximum penalty for private applicators and others is $1,000 and/or 30 days in prison. Commercial applicators may be fined up to $25,000 or one year in prison, or both.
permits states to establish stricter standards, but not more permissive standards.

35. Federal Laws
Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) of 2003 establishes pesticide registration service fees for registration actions in three pesticide program divisions: Antimicrobials, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention, and the Registration Divisions.

36. The Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) of 1938
FFDCA governs, among other things, pesticide residue levels in food or feed crops marketed in the U.S.
Under the FFDCA, EPA has the responsibility for setting tolerances, or maximum legal limits for pesticide residues on food commodities marketed in the U.S.
The purpose of the tolerance program is to ensure that U.S. consumers are not exposed to unsafe food-pesticide residue levels.
The Food and Drug Administration has the responsibility for enforcing tolerance levels set by EPA. This law:
provides for monitoring of food crops for pesticide residues and enforces tolerances.
provides for monitoring and enforcement of food additive tolerances and prosecutes violators.
works jointly with EPA to register pesticides used on animals.
provides for monitoring of pesticide residues in animals by the Meat Inspection Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

37. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency to manage all hazardous wastes.
Under this law:
private applicators (farmers) who properly dispose of pesticide wastes, excess pesticides, and triple rinsed empty containers on their own property are in general exempt from the requirements of this law (state requirements are often more strict).
others who accumulate 2.2 pounds per month or more waste containing acute hazardous chemical or 2200 pounds of waste (220 pounds in NYS) containing a hazardous chemical are regulated; must register as a generator of hazardous waste and obtain an ID number from EPA and follow certain disposal requirements.
triple-rinsed used containers can be disposed of in EPA approved sanitary landfills without an ID number or further regulation.
Regulated waste includes unrinsed containers, excess pesticide and pesticide dilutions, rinse water, etc. which contain a listed chemical and cannot be properly used.

38. Is Organic the Answer ?
Numerous studies have shown organic, sustainable agriculture is more eco-friendly and leaves soil healthier than intensive, chemical-based mono-culture cropping.
Currently, less than 1% of all American farmland is devoted to organic growing, but market for such crops is growing.
As of October 21, 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has put in place a set of national standards that food labeled organic must meet, whether it is grown domestically or imported from other countries. To determine whether a food meets the USDA's standards, a U.S. Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the necessary rules. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets distributed to stores or restaurants must be certified as well.

39. Organic Farming and Pest Control
Use the following websites to help you learn more about this intriguing concept
– this site has a lot of info.
this wikipedia actually contains good cited information!

40. Summary
Pests
Pesticides
Use and Types
Benefits
Problems
Alternatives
Reducing Exposure
Regulating Use
Integrated Pest Management
Organic Farming