ABSTRACT
Introduction .......................................................................................... 163 Pesticides: Definitions, Classifications, and Use................................. 164
Insecticides ....................................................................................... 165 Herbicides ......................................................................................... 166 Fungicides......................................................................................... 166 Pesticide Use..................................................................................... 167
Pesticide Regulation ............................................................................. 168 Setting Pesticide Tolerances............................................................. 170 From the Delaney Clause to the Food Quality Protection Act....... 172 Pesticide Residue Monitoring and Enforcement ............................ 174
Assessment of the Dietary Risks from Pesticide Residues................. 178 References ............................................................................................. 183
The use of pesticides in agriculture has undoubtedly led to increases in crop yield and reductions in crop loss due to pests such as insects, weeds, and plant diseases. According to one estimate, 40% of the world’s food supply would be at risk without pesticides, and economic benefits from the use of pesticides in developed countries range from $3.50 to $5.00 per every dollar spent on pesticides.
