Kinds Of Pesticides

There are several kinds of Pesticides available at present. But before going in their details, let’s discuss Pest and what pesticide is?

Pest:
Pest can be referred to organisms that cause plague and outbreak diseases. It can be said that those living organisms which are detrimental or troublesome, to people concerns, livestock, farms, ecosystems or humans itself are called pest. There is a chance that one organism that is supposed to be pest in one setting can act as a domesticated, valuable or suitable in another.

Pesticide:
The ‘-cide’ of pesticide is a Latin term which means ‘to kill’. Pesticides are mixtures or substances that are used to kill, destroy, resist or prevent any pest. It is generally a biological agent or chemical (Bacterium, disinfectant, virus etc) that kills the pest or otherwise prevents the pest from attacking.
Some kinds of pesticides are discussed below:

Organophosphate Pesticides:
Organophosphate is one of the kinds of pesticides that were developed in 19th Century, but in 1932, it was discovered as equally threatening to humans as well along with the insects. It falls in the insecticide category and is very toxic. Due to their poisonous attribute they were widely used in World War 2. These kinds of pesticides attack the nervous system and disrupt the enzymes that control acetylcholine. Today, they are the most frequently used pesticides.

Carbamate Pesticides:
This kind of pesticide includes several subgroups and acts very similar as the above mentioned pesticide (Organophosphate Pesticide). It falls in the insecticide category and attacks the nervous system of the pest. It was first commenced in the 1950. Such kinds of pesticides are normally used in Parks, gardens etc.

Organochlorine Pesticides:
Organochlorine is one of the kinds of pesticides that is very dangerous, and that’s why most of the countries have removed this pesticide from the market. However, it was widely used in the past but due to the reason that it’s a long lasting pesticide, many countries abandoned its use. It was generally used as the insecticide in the past. This kind of pesticide has tremendously strong bonding between its carbon and chlorine components, and they are highly insoluble in H20 (water), due to these reasons they stay for a longer period in soil or water and in animals or human bodies. For instance, if a bird eats an insect which is infected by the Organochlorine pesticide, then that pesticide will move into the eater, hence making the eater contaminated as well. It can be moved through liquids like beverages, cow milk as well as from the solid edibles like fishes etc. If you take the example of DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane), then this pesticide was banned in 1972-73, but it is so strong and dangerous that it is constantly showing up in the bodies of several people.

Pyrethroid Pesticides:
These kinds of Pesticides are commonly used on livestock and pets. It was developed in 1970s. It comprises of Pyrethrin which generally acts as a repellent and keeps the pest away from attacking. In addition, it can also be used in parks and gardens. Pyrethroid Pesticides are supposed to be less poisonous and are less dangerous to mammals (that includes humans as well).