Pesticide
Pesticide (from Latin pestis = scourge, plague and Latin caedere = kill ) is an inherited from the English language to describe chemical substances that kill or inhibit distribute in germination, growth or reproduction annoying or harmful organisms.
Among the pesticides in the field of plant protection include pesticides and pest control in the field of biocides.
Meanings
In a narrower sense are pesticides for controlling animal pests (English: pests ). In this sense, the term was mainly used in English speaking countries. The pesticides were partially equated with the insecticides.
As a pesticide in a broader sense, all pesticides as well as the means of pest control are referred to. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States defined the term in this sense. The EU Directive 2009/128/EC contains a definition of " pesticide", after which both pesticides within the meaning of Regulation ( EC) No 1107/2009 as well as biocidal products as defined in Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing fall of biocidal products below.
If in the public discussion of " pesticide residues " is mentioned, the focus is mostly on the contamination of food with pesticide residues.
In the legal texts of the German states and the German versions of relevant EU regulations, the term " pesticide" is rarely used. The approval of active substances and their limits for the authorizations of plant protection products and biocides are governed by separate regulations. A particular drug may be present in both biocides in various plant protecting agents. Different application methods and rates of application, the effect on the environment or a potential risk to humans can differ.
Subdivision
Pesticides can be classified according to their target organisms continues:
- Bactericides against bacteria
- Fungicides against fungi and fungal diseases
- Virucidal against viruses Acaricides against mites
- Insecticides against insects Ovicidal against ( insect ) eggs
- Algicides against algae
- Graminicides against grasses
- Arborizide against trees