2
Historical and Current Uses of Pesticides
2.1 Introduction
A well-known song by Huddie Ledbetter in 1940 chronicles the cotton bolls
too rotten to allow harvest—very appropriate lyrics to the saga of pesticide
use on cotton, a major use over many years in the southern United States and
other parts of the world.
Pesticides are single chemicals or mixtures used by humans to restrict or
repel pests such as bacteria, nematodes, insects, mites, mollusks, birds, rodents,
weeds, and other organisms that affect food production or human health. They
disrupt some component of the pest’s life processes to kill or inactivate it.
2.2 Early Pesticides
Before the 1880s, very few chemicals were used for pest control. Most of these
early pest control substances were inorganics or botanicals. Some examples
include sulfur, copper sulfate, and pyrethrin extracts. Lead arsenate was heavily used on apples to control codling moths; the common practice was to wash it
off before eating. We still fnd elevated lead and arsenic residues in agricultural
felds, playground, and subdivision soils—places where they are not expected.
Following are some of the early discoveries, toxic symptoms, and applications of pesticides (Ware, 1983):
• 1882—White arsenic
Widespread use as a contact herbicide from 1900 to 1910
Ingestion causes vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrhea, and bleeding.
Sublethal doses can lead to convulsions, cardiovascular distress,
liver and kidney infammation, and abnormal blood coagulation.
It can be lethal.
• 1891—Lead arsenate
Very effective insecticide that clings to the plant longer
DOI: 10.1201/9781003217602-2
7
Historical and Current Uses of Pesticides
2.1 Introduction
A well-known song by Huddie Ledbetter in 1940 chronicles the cotton bolls
too rotten to allow harvest—very appropriate lyrics to the saga of pesticide
use on cotton, a major use over many years in the southern United States and
other parts of the world.
Pesticides are single chemicals or mixtures used by humans to restrict or
repel pests such as bacteria, nematodes, insects, mites, mollusks, birds, rodents,
weeds, and other organisms that affect food production or human health. They
disrupt some component of the pest’s life processes to kill or inactivate it.
2.2 Early Pesticides
Before the 1880s, very few chemicals were used for pest control. Most of these
early pest control substances were inorganics or botanicals. Some examples
include sulfur, copper sulfate, and pyrethrin extracts. Lead arsenate was heavily used on apples to control codling moths; the common practice was to wash it
off before eating. We still fnd elevated lead and arsenic residues in agricultural
felds, playground, and subdivision soils—places where they are not expected.
Following are some of the early discoveries, toxic symptoms, and applications of pesticides (Ware, 1983):
• 1882—White arsenic
Widespread use as a contact herbicide from 1900 to 1910
Ingestion causes vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrhea, and bleeding.
Sublethal doses can lead to convulsions, cardiovascular distress,
liver and kidney infammation, and abnormal blood coagulation.
It can be lethal.
• 1891—Lead arsenate
Very effective insecticide that clings to the plant longer
DOI: 10.1201/9781003217602-2
7