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Amounts of pesticides reaching target pests: Environmental impacts and ethics

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Abstract

Less than 0.1% of pesticides applied for pest control reach their target pests. Thus, more than 99.9% of pesticides used move into the environment where they adversely affect public health and beneficial biota, and contaminate soil, water, and the atmosphere of the ecosystem. Improved pesticide application technologies can improve pesticide use efficiency and protect public health and the environment.

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Pimentel, D. Amounts of pesticides reaching target pests: Environmental impacts and ethics. J Agric Environ Ethics 8, 17–29 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02286399

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