Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 5:PESTICIDES AND HEALTH,SAFETY & THE ENVIRONMENTThe term ‘pests’ is used in a broad sense to include animals, plants, fish, aswell as insects and insect-type pests, fungi and micro-organisms. Manyleaflets and books talk of fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and the otherclasses of pesticides as though they were separate categories of chemicalswhen, in fact, they are all types of pesticides. Pesticides are often referred toby other names such as agrochemicals, crop protection products or plantprotection products.The vast majority of pesticides used today are synthetic, manufacturedchemicals specifically developed for their poisonous toxic qualities andproperties to kill unwanted forms of life. A small number of pesticides,referred to as biopesticides, are based on naturally occurringmicro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses and mycoplasmas) and chemicalextracts from plants, such as pyrethrum and derris (rotenone). These canbe used as alternatives to chemical pesticides.Pesticides based on genetically modifying natural micro-organisms(GMOs) are now being rapidly developed along with genetically modifiedcrops and animals. The need for GMO pesticides and their safety tohumans and the environment are surrounded by controversy. In thisILO-IUF Manual, GMO pesticides are not treated as a safer alternative tochemical pesticides.Classificationof pesticidesThe World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Recommended Classification ofPesticides by Hazard is widely recognised and used by governmentsworldwide. It classifies pesticides as follows:AC Acaricide (for mite control)AP AphicideB Bacteriostat (soil)FM FumigantF Fungicide, other than for seed treatmentFST Fungicide, for seed treatmentH HerbicideI InsecticideIGR Insecticide growth regulatorIx Ixodicide (for tick control)L LarvicideM Molluscicide (for slug control)MT MiticideN Nematocide (for eelworm control)O Other use for plant pathogensPGR Plant growth regulatorR RodenticideRP() Repellant (species)-S Applied to soil – not used with herbicides/PGRSSY Synergist203 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers