Crop protection continues to be an important component of modern farming to maintain food production to feed an expanding human population, but considerable changes have occurred in the regulation of pesticides in Europe in the last decade. The aim has been to reduce their impact on people and the environment. This has resulted in a major reduction in the number of chemicals approved for application on crops. In other parts of the world, a continuing expansion in the growing of genetically modified crops has also changed the pattern of pesticide use. In this second edition, Graham Matthews, updates how pesticides are registered and applied and the techniques used to mitigate their effects in the environment. Information on operator safety, protection of workers in crops treated with pesticides and spray drift affecting those who live in farming areas is also discussed. By bringing together the most recent research on pesticides in a single volume, this book provides a vital up to date resource for agricultural scientists, agronomists, plant scientists, plant pathologists, entomologists, environmental scientists, public health personnel, toxicologists and others working in the agrochemical industry and governments. It should assist development of improvements in harmonising regulation of pesticides in countries with limited resources for registration of pesticides.

Crop protection continues to be an important component of modern farming to maintain food production to feed an expanding human population, but considerable changes have occurred in the regulation of pesticides in Europe in the last decade. The aim has been to reduce their impact on people and the environment. This has resulted in a major reduction in the number of chemicals approved for application on crops. In other parts of the world, a continuing expansion in the growing of genetically modified crops has also changed the pattern of pesticide use.In this second edition, Graham Matthews, updates how pesticides are registered and applied and the techniques used to mitigate their effects in the environment. Information on operator safety, protection of workers in crops treated with pesticides and spray drift affecting those who live in farming areas is also discussed.By bringing together the most recent research on pesticides in a single volume, this book provides a vital up to date resource for agricultural scientists, agronomists, plant scientists, plant pathologists, entomologists, environmental scientists, public health personnel, toxicologists and others working in the agrochemical industry and governments. It should assist development of improvements in harmonising regulation of pesticides in countries with limited resources for registration of pesticides.

Preface to the first edition viiPreface to second edition ixAcknowledgements x1 Pesticides and agricultural development 1Principal pesticides 5Insecticides 6Herbicides 9Fungicides 11Rodenticides 12Crop distribution 12Major crops 132 Approval of pesticides 33Retrospective assessment 43Environmental aspects 44Endocrine disrupters 48Approval in relation to efficacy 49Operator proficiency 50Storage and waste management 513 Application of pesticides 57Hydraulic sprayers 57Hydraulic nozzles 65Sprayer testing 73Rotary atomisers 73Compression sprayers 75Knapsack sprayers 77Home and garden use 80Weed wipers 80Space treatment equipment 81Granule application 84Seed treatment 85Storage of pesticides and equipment 86Timing and number of spray applications 874 Operator exposure 92Methodology of measuring exposure 102Exposure of hands 107Inhalation exposure 108Biomonitoring 110First aid 112Periods of exposure 1145 Spray drift, bystander, resident and worker exposure 129What is drift? 131How is drift measured? 132Bystander exposure 137Residential exposure 143Worker exposure 1506 Environmental aspects of spray drift 159Protecting water 159Protecting vegetation 174Overall environmental impact assessments 184Pesticide misuse affecting wildlife 1907 Residues in food 2018 The future of pesticides 225Weed management 227Disease management 229Insect management 229IPM 232Traditional plant breeding 234Present day pesticides 236Herbicides 236Fungicides 236Insecticides 237Other insecticides 239Biopesticides 240More selective applications 242Pheromones 243GM crops 244Perceptions and hopes for the future 246Appendix 1 - Standard terms and abbreviations 253Appendix 2 - Checklist of important actions for pesticide users 264Index 266