What are pesticides and herbicides? Explain giving examples. (2024)

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What are pesticides and herbicides? Explain giving examples.? ›

Pesticides are a mixture of two or more substances. They are used for killing pests. Pests include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, etc., that destroy the plant crop and spread diseases. Aldrin and dieldrin are the names of some common pesticides Herbicides are pesticides specially meant for killing weeds.

Herbicides are the pesticides which are most commonly used to kill unwanted plants like weeds in farms or crops are. Examples of herbicides - Acetochlor, Atrazine, Amitrole, Dinosep. Herbicides are harmful for living beings. These are weed killers, e.g., sodium chlorate and sodium arsenite .

Pesticides kill, repel, or control forms of animal and plant life considered to damage or be a nuisance in agriculture and domestic life. Used broadly, the term includes these types of chemicals: Herbicides destroy or control weeds and other unwanted vegetation. They are commonly used on lawns.

Contact herbicides (e.g., sulfuric acid, diquat, paraquat) kill only the plant organs with which they are in contact. Translocated herbicides (e.g., amitrole, picloram, and 2,4-D) are effective against roots or other organs to which they are transported from aboveground treated surfaces (i.e., soil).

Pesticides can contaminate soil, water, turf, and other vegetation. In addition to killing insects or weeds, pesticides can be toxic to a host of other organisms including birds, fish, beneficial insects, and non-target plants.

Pesticides are a mixture of two or more substances. They are used for killing pests. Pests include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, etc., that destroy the plant crop and spread diseases. Aldrin and dieldrin are the names of some common pesticides Herbicides are pesticides specially meant for killing weeds.

Pesticides are used to control various pests and disease carriers, such as mosquitoes, ticks, rats and mice. Pesticides are used in agriculture to control weeds, insect infestation and diseases. There are many different types of pesticides; each is meant to be effective against specific pests.

Pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds). Over 1000 different pesticides are used around the world. Pesticides are used in public health to kill vectors of disease, such as mosquitoes, and in agriculture to kill pests that damage crops.

Herbicides can act by inhibiting cell division, photosynthesis or amino acid production or by mimicking natural plant growth hormones, causing deformities (Ross and Childs 1996). Application methods include spraying onto foliage, applying to soils and applying directly to aquatic systems.

Some, such as the organophosphates and carbamates, affect the nervous system. Others may irritate the skin or eyes. Some pesticides may be carcinogens. Others may affect the hormone or endocrine system in the body.

How do herbicides affect humans? ›

Herbicide exposure could also result in long-term health effects, including DNA abnormalities leading to mutations. Herbicide produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are responsible for the oxidation of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other cellular components, resulting in DNA damage.

Some pesticides can percolate with water through soil and leach downward into underground aquifers. This contaminates groundwater that may be used for drinking water by residents with wells and can eventually enter surface waters.

Classification of Herbicides

There is another type of classification by their action that is selective and non selective. The non selective herbicides will kill all the plants without any selection where as selective herbicides specific for specific species and in certain crops.

Herbicides are phytotoxic chemicals used for controlling various weeds. They have variable degrees of specificity. For example, paraquat kills all green plants, whereas phenoxy compounds are specific for certain groups of broadleaf plants.

Toxic effects by pesticide exposure can range from mild symptoms, like minor skin irritation or other allergic symptoms, to more severe symptoms, like strong headache, dizziness, or nausea. Some pesticides, e.g., the organophosphates, can cause severe symptoms, like convulsions, coma, and possibly even death.

Pesticides and Insecticides, what's the difference? 'Pesticide' is the general term for a chemical that kills pests. Pests can be weeds, insects, nuisance rodents, diseases, etc. An insecticide is a type of pesticide. Insecticides kill insects.