Pesticide toxicity
Loading...
Date
2018-11-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Pesticides are known for their high persistence and pervasiveness in the environment, and along with products of
their biotransformation, they may remain in and interact with the environment and living organisms in multiple
ways, according to their nature and chemical structure, dose and targets. In this review, the classifications of pesticides
based on their nature, use, physical state, pathophysiological effects, and sources are discussed. The effects
of these xenobiotics on the environment, their biotransformation in terms of bioaccumulation are highlighted
with special focus on the molecular mechanisms deciphered to date. Basing on targeted organisms, most pesticides
are classified as herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Herbicides are known as growth regulators,
seedling growth inhibitors, photosynthesis inhibitors, inhibitors of amino acid and lipid biosynthesis, cell membrane
disrupters, and pigment biosynthesis inhibitors, whereas fungicides include inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis,
protein biosynthesis, and mitochondrial respiration. Insecticides mainly affect nerves and muscle, growth
and development, and energy production. Studying the impact of pesticides and other related chemicals is of
great interest to animal and human health risk assessment processes since potentially everyone can be exposed to
these compounds which may cause many diseases, including metabolic syndrome, malnutrition, atherosclerosis,
inflammation, pathogen invasion, nerve injury, and susceptibility to infectious diseases. Future studies should be
directed to investigate influence of long term effects of low pesticide doses and to minimize or eliminate influence
of pesticides on non-target living organisms, produce more specific pesticides and using modern technologies
to decrease contamination of food and other goods by pesticides.
Description
Table of contents
Keywords
Bioaccumulation, Biotransformation, Pollutants, Mechanisms, Oxidative stress, Xenobiotics