Definition

Substances to control pests including insecticides for insects and herbicides for weeds. Typically, this refers to use in crops for agriculture, but pesticides can also be used in gardens, forestry, and pest control in buildings. Pesticides can have negative environmental impacts, including harming non-target organisms, contaminating soil and water, and negatively affecting human health.

Further reading
Chemical safety: Pesticides - World Health Organization (WHO) [website]
Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) - UN Environment Programme (UNEP) [website]
Related

agricultural pesticides; bactericides; biopesticides; chemical pesticides; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT); fungicides; Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs); Integrated Pest Control (IPC); Integrated Pest Management (IPM); invasive species; nematicides; Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); pest control; pesticidal chemicals; pesticide exposure; pesticide poisoning; pesticide residues; pesticide resistance; Plant Protection Products (PPP); repellent; rodenticides; water pollution; virucides

See also
Agriculture
Biological Control Agents (BCAs)
Environmental toxins
Pollinators
Pollution
Water quality
Explore by theme
Challenges
Food & Farming
Health Impacts
Drafted by
Chris Graham
Reviewed by
TBC