ABSTRACT

Today, environmental contamination is a problem recognized worldwide. A signifi cant portion of environmental pollution is caused by the application of pesticides in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. Pesticide is a term used in a broad sense for a chemical, synthetic or natural, which is used for the control of insects, fungi, bacteria, weeds, nematodes, rodents, and other pests. A large number of these compounds and/or their degradation products are highly toxic, and they have negative effects not only on the ecosystem but also on human health. Surveillance of the environment and food for pesticide residues has become essential in recent years for the prevention of risks to the population. It is necessary to control the presence of pesticides in the environment and at the same time to assess the risk to human health due to the presence of these chemicals in workplaces and in food in order to prevent adverse effects.