ABSTRACT
Herbicides are chemicals that are placed into the environment to control unwanted plants. Over the past several decades they have been widely used for weed control in both developed and developing countries because they are highly efficacious, easy to use and relatively cheap (Gianessi and Reigner 2007; Gianessi 2013). However, one of the problems that they pose is the effects they may have on the environment other than their intended action of controlling weeds (Freemark and Boutin 1995; McLaughlin and Mineau 1995; Stoate et al. 2001). The extent of adverse effects depends on numerous factors including: the chemistry and environmental behaviour of the herbicide molecule, soil type, rainfall pattern, temperature at the time of application, topography of the site, and the susceptibility, level of exposure and timing of exposure of organisms in the environment.
