Risk assessment of pesticides to human and the environment

Abstract EN

Chemical pesticides when used properly have been of tremendous benefit to man and his environment especially in developing countries, where they are used to eradicate inset -borne, endemic diseases, to produce adequate food and protect forests, plantation and fibers, On the other hand, when pesticides are excessively used, misused or used carelessly without sufficient knowledge of their toxic effects they may cause serious illness and even death if spilled on the skin or inhaled, In addition, potential future hazard to human health and wildlife can be created by residues from some long-lived pesticides that may build up in the food chain and cause widespread contamination of the environment.

The risk is defined as a measure of the probability that an adverse effect will occur.

This effect depends on dose, frequency and duration of exposure.

On the other hand, risk assessment is the process by which estimates of risk to human from exposure to potentially toxic agents are extrapolated from existing data, usually generated from laboratory animals Risk assessment can be divided into four components : 1) hazard identification, 2) exposure assessment, 3) dose-response assessment and 4) risk characterization.

Because of the lack of legislation and regulations to control pesticides as well as training programs for personnel to inspect and monitor, use and to initiate training programs for pesticide consumers, the goal of this present review is to discuss and focus all the risk assessment component and the adverse effects of pesticides.