Detection and Evalutaion of Potential Hazards to Human Health (Second Session) Chairman’s Comments

Abstract

Earlier in the Symposium the perspectives on agricultural imperatives were presented. The world population continues to increase. The food providers and associated technology must respond. Included in the technology is the use of chemical substances to modify the agricultural environment. Under discussion are the implications for human, animal and plant welfare with the use of substances to curtail unwanted competing plant growth and to control pests of a wide variety. In order to move beyond empiricism or to capitalize on the fruits of empiricism, attempts are made to explain the mechanisms of the biological effects induced by the chemicals. Continuing studies relating chemical structure to activity - wanted or unwanted - allow the design of second, third and succeeding generations of chemicals to maximize effectiveness against specific targets while sparing or reducing the consequences to the user or producer populations.