Therefore, pesticides and residues (also nitrates and phosphates) can be quickly transported to contaminate ground water and freshwater supplies over a large geographical area.

Water from excessive rainfall and irrigation cannot always be held within the soil structure. Each pesticide has different properties and toxicological effects ( and the toxicological effects of multiple pesticides can be greater than the sum of their parts).įactors Affecting Pesticide Pollution of Waterĭrainage: Farmland is often well drained and natural drainage is often enhanced by land drains. There are more than 1,000 pesticides used around the world to ensure food is not damaged or destroyed by pests. They have been banned in developed countries for agricultural use but are still used in many developing countries. Some of the older, cheaper pesticides can remain in the soil and water for years. Pesticides are potentially toxic to humans and can have both acute and chronic health effects, depending on the quantity and the ways in which a person is exposed.

In agriculture, this includes herbicides (weeds), insecticides (insects), fungicides (fungi), nematocides (nematodes), and rodenticides (vertebrate poisons). They protect or increase yields, and the number of times per year a crop can be grown on the same land. They also play a significant role in food production. Pesticides are used to protect crops against insects, weeds, fungi, and other pests. The term 'pesticide' is a composite term that includes all chemicals that are used to kill or control pests. PESTICIDES AND WATER POLLUTION FACT SHEET

Insecticides and pesticides