Good pest management strategies allow for continuous monitoring and analysis of pest problems, which promotes more efficient use of inputs. This fact sheet explains the impact of pesticides on water quality and how an integrated pest management plan can help improve your bottom line and reduce environmental risk.
How do pesticides affect the environment?
When pesticides are used to control a particular insect or weed species, beneficial insects and plants may also be adversely affected if they come into direct contact with these pesticides. Additionally, pesticides can harm beneficial organisms through a process called biomagnification. It is the increase in the concentration of a chemical in an organism over time, compared to the concentration of the chemical in the environment.
Biomagnification occurs when a pesticide does not dissolve quickly. As insects, birds and animals eat contaminated food, the chemical builds up in their body. At each step of the food chain, increasing amounts of pesticides are ingested. This process continues, so that the animals are adversely affected or are unfit for consumption.