pesticides
Crop protection chemicals
Pesticides are chemicals used to kill or control organisms considered pests—insects, weeds, fungi, rodents.
The term covers insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides.
Pesticides protect crops and control disease vectors but raise concerns about environmental contamination, effects on beneficial species, and human health risks from residues in food and water: organic farms avoid synthetic pesticides.
Cultivating land for food
- cropsCultivated plants for harvest
- sprayingDispersing liquid as mist
- harvestGathering mature crops
- yieldProduce or relinquish
cultivation · horticulture · monoculture · planting · fertilizer · irrigation · tillage · soil
Capable of causing death
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- harmfulCausing damage or injury
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
noxious · bioaccumulation · acute · chronic · exposure · ingestion · inhalation · dermal
Matter left behind
- runoffExcess water drainage
- leachingDissolving out by liquid
- driftGradual movement, no direction
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
pollution · bioaccumulation · persistence · degradation · halflife · metabolite · trace · detection
Phosphorus compound, often toxic
- neonicotinoidNicotine-like synthetic bug killer
- glyphosateBroad-spectrum systemic herbicide
- DDTBanned chlorinated insecticide
- paraquatToxic methyl viologen herbicide
synthetic · formulation · compound · concentrate · emulsion · granular · powder · solution
Federal environmental regulator
- registrationFormal recording of participation
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
standards · restrictions · bans · licensing · permits · labeling · approval · recall
Agent destroying tiny arachnids
- algaecideSubstance destroying aquatic growth
- fumigantAirborne pest poison
- weedkillerChemical destroying unwanted plants
- defoliantAgent removing plant leaves
desiccant · selective · nonselective · systemic · contact · residual · preemergent
Pollen-transferring organism
- honeybeeNectar-gathering social insect
- butterflyWinged insect from caterpillar
- beneficial insectsArthropods aiding agriculture
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
aquatic · ecosystem · biodiversity · resistance · biological control · organic · sustainable · environmental
farming
Cultivating land for food
yield · cultivation · horticulture · monoculture · planting · fertilizer · irrigation · tillage · soil · tractor
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- harmfulCausing damage or injury
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
mutagenic · noxious · bioaccumulation · acute · chronic · exposure · ingestion · inhalation · dermal · LD50
residue
Matter left behind
groundwater · pollution · bioaccumulation · persistence · degradation · halflife · metabolite · trace · detection · testing
organophosphate
Phosphorus compound, often toxic
- neonicotinoidNicotine-like synthetic bug killer
- glyphosateBroad-spectrum systemic herbicide
- DDTBanned chlorinated insecticide
paraquat · synthetic · formulation · compound · concentrate · emulsion · granular · powder · solution · suspension
EPA
Federal environmental regulator
- registrationFormal recording of participation
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
monitoring · standards · restrictions · bans · licensing · permits · labeling · approval · recall · moratorium
miticide
Agent destroying tiny arachnids
- algaecideSubstance destroying aquatic growth
- fumigantAirborne pest poison
- weedkillerChemical destroying unwanted plants
defoliant · desiccant · selective · nonselective · systemic · contact · residual · preemergent
pollinator
Pollen-transferring organism
- honeybeeNectar-gathering social insect
- butterflyWinged insect from caterpillar
- beneficial insectsArthropods aiding agriculture
wildlife · aquatic · ecosystem · biodiversity · resistance · biological control · organic · sustainable · environmental · persistence
- agriculturefarms, crops, farm, farmers, farming
- Contaminantspollutants, pollutant, heavy metals, toxin, carcinogen
- food issuesfood additives, food labeling, food waste, factory farming, GMOs
- ocean pollutionoil spills, plastic pollution, marine debris, plastic waste, toxic waste
- Toxicspoison, poisons, toxins, toxicity, carcinogens
- Agrochemicalsfertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers
pesticidesfertilizers
Substances enriching soil
nutrients · plant food · compost · mulch · manure
pesticidesorganic farming
Cultivation without synthetic chemicals
biological control · natural pest control · beneficial insects · companion planting · permaculture
- natural pesticidesPest control from organic sources
- pesticide exposureContact with bug-killing agents
- pesticide residueChemicals left on sprayed plants
- organic pesticidesNature-derived crop protection chemicals
- synthetic pesticidesMan-made agricultural poisons
- pesticide banProhibition on pest-killing chemicals