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Introduction
The worldwide population is projected to increase to 9 billion by 2050. To accommodate this increase, food production will necessarily need to increase as well.
However, new agricultural land is limited, so sustainable production and increasing
productivity of existing agricultural land is an important aspect to addressing global
food security [1]. The food production per capita can be increased by enhancing the
yield of crops through proper management of soil and water and with the usage of
agrochemicals. Agrochemicals include two types of compounds; fertilizers and pesticides. However, with the increased production of food through immense use of
fertilizers has contaminated the aqua life and also caused serious consumption problems in humans [2].
In the last few decades pesticides also have provided great assistance by reducing
significant lose, enhancing food production as well as the protection of cattle and
protect human from numerous contagions. Lots of chemical are operated in the
modern society; some of these recalcitrants accidently harm humans as well as our
environment. A Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller received Nobel on discovery
of 1,1′-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene) bis (4-chlorobenzene) (DDT), highly efficient
poison active against numerous arthropods in 1948. Due to potential harm to human
and on the basis of various ecological considerations, the use of this potent pesticide
was banned by Sweden in 1970, and subsequently in 1972 followed by many other
countries. A number of pesticides used in agricultural areas have contributed to serious environmental pollution leading to toxicity in human. In few years the growth
in pesticides usage has increased dramatically that acted as poisons in killing not
only targeted species but also causing serious damage to non-targeted species.
These poisons mostly reside in food or water and can also be found in our surrounding environments such as in lawn sprays, households bugs sprays, leading to direct
exposure to humans that cause toxic effects by accumulating in tissues [3]. Pesticides
have great magnitude of translocation even in areas where these pesticides are used
in very minute amount. Pesticides have dangerous concern not only in chemical
industry, forestry and agricultural applications, wildlife and domestic uses but also
toxic to every person who wants to get food at reasonable price [4].
In last few years knowledge about pesticides as endocrine-disrupting chemicals
(EDCs) has been increasing speedily. There is growing data of literature about these
chemicals that act as EDCs by putting toxic effects on human health. EDCs are that
class of chemicals that targets the hormonal controls of body by interfering the production, release, action, metabolism, and transport of naturally occurring chemicals.
Mostly pesticides target the hormonal signaling pathways and neuroendocrine system also causing oxidative stress leading to various metabolic diseases [5].
The current chapter aims to highlight the role of pesticides as endocrinedisrupting chemicals (EDCs) as well as metabolic disorder chemicals (MDCs). This
chapter also focuses on the major chronic health effects associated with the exposure of pesticides; given the fact that adverse health effects are extensively analyzed
with respect to the latest literature. Emphasis is also given to precautionary measures.
S. Kamal et al.
Introduction
The worldwide population is projected to increase to 9 billion by 2050. To accommodate this increase, food production will necessarily need to increase as well.
However, new agricultural land is limited, so sustainable production and increasing
productivity of existing agricultural land is an important aspect to addressing global
food security [1]. The food production per capita can be increased by enhancing the
yield of crops through proper management of soil and water and with the usage of
agrochemicals. Agrochemicals include two types of compounds; fertilizers and pesticides. However, with the increased production of food through immense use of
fertilizers has contaminated the aqua life and also caused serious consumption problems in humans [2].
In the last few decades pesticides also have provided great assistance by reducing
significant lose, enhancing food production as well as the protection of cattle and
protect human from numerous contagions. Lots of chemical are operated in the
modern society; some of these recalcitrants accidently harm humans as well as our
environment. A Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller received Nobel on discovery
of 1,1′-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene) bis (4-chlorobenzene) (DDT), highly efficient
poison active against numerous arthropods in 1948. Due to potential harm to human
and on the basis of various ecological considerations, the use of this potent pesticide
was banned by Sweden in 1970, and subsequently in 1972 followed by many other
countries. A number of pesticides used in agricultural areas have contributed to serious environmental pollution leading to toxicity in human. In few years the growth
in pesticides usage has increased dramatically that acted as poisons in killing not
only targeted species but also causing serious damage to non-targeted species.
These poisons mostly reside in food or water and can also be found in our surrounding environments such as in lawn sprays, households bugs sprays, leading to direct
exposure to humans that cause toxic effects by accumulating in tissues [3]. Pesticides
have great magnitude of translocation even in areas where these pesticides are used
in very minute amount. Pesticides have dangerous concern not only in chemical
industry, forestry and agricultural applications, wildlife and domestic uses but also
toxic to every person who wants to get food at reasonable price [4].
In last few years knowledge about pesticides as endocrine-disrupting chemicals
(EDCs) has been increasing speedily. There is growing data of literature about these
chemicals that act as EDCs by putting toxic effects on human health. EDCs are that
class of chemicals that targets the hormonal controls of body by interfering the production, release, action, metabolism, and transport of naturally occurring chemicals.
Mostly pesticides target the hormonal signaling pathways and neuroendocrine system also causing oxidative stress leading to various metabolic diseases [5].
The current chapter aims to highlight the role of pesticides as endocrinedisrupting chemicals (EDCs) as well as metabolic disorder chemicals (MDCs). This
chapter also focuses on the major chronic health effects associated with the exposure of pesticides; given the fact that adverse health effects are extensively analyzed
with respect to the latest literature. Emphasis is also given to precautionary measures.
S. Kamal et al.