Keywords:

Food safety, Pesticide residue, Organophosphates, Organic farming

Introduction
Pesticide residues are the type of chemical hazards according to critical control points and hazard
analysis. The intensive application of pesticides and their bad impact on various life forms can have very
alarming results in significant issues with food safety regarding human health. With the passage of time,
the usage of different plant protection products like fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides in
agriculture is increasing day by day which is estimated to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, The increase in usage
of pesticides is because of the application of pesticides are numerous since they are starting from
solving agronomic problems that have not been solved or kept under consideration so far and the
emergence of new or resistant pests as well as the reduction of economic damages affecting food
producers.

One of the prominent reasons for the use of chemical substances in agricultural farmlands is for the
protection of crops from various pests, thereby boosting the overall agricultural yield and productivity.
The essence of pesticides application is for the control of varieties of weeds, disease-causing organisms,
and pests that are capable of causing damage to plants. Pesticides are therefore biocidal in nature and
when applied to plants they eventually come in contact with the man through crops. Pesticides are also
of concern due to their potential of being carried across the various components of the environment.

High concentrations of pesticide residues can adversely affect human health. In assessing health
hazards, it is important to take into account the path of entry into the body (respiratory system,
digestive tract or skin), exposure time, the toxicity of the compounds, and the mechanism of toxic
action, of acute and chronic poisoning. In recent years, attention to pesticides has been increasing,
knowing that they may be triggers of sterility, neurological and renal diseases, tumors, teratogenic
effects, and behavioral disorders (Maroni and Fait, 1993). Consuming food with pesticide residue can
have negative health effects on the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the
respiratory system. The consumption of apples and their health effects on cancer, cardiovascular
disease, asthma, and diabetes has been investigated by the author’s Boyer and Liu, 2004.

Consumers are directly put at risk if they consume unsafe food. Considering the potential health risk of
pesticide residues in food and the high consumption rate of fruit and vegetables in many countries,
attention has been focused on the possible presence of residues in food.

Various analytical strategies had been used to evaluate the ability dangers of insecticides to human
fitness and the surroundings. Reducing using insecticides for useful functions and minimizing the
dangers to human fitness and the surroundings is a project and an intention really well worth pursuing it
is important to see the correlation of reducing pesticides with the reduction of the possible adverse
effects of pesticides on human’s health and the environment.

The need to resolve problems associated with the global challenge of food security has resulted in the
current shift in emphasis to organic-based farming. However, the general acceptance of this new trend
in developing nations has been largely on the poor side due to several reasons organisms. The variation
in the number of pesticides applied during farming calls for the need to continually assess their presence
in food.

Pesticide residue

Pesticide residue is defined as any chemical substance or an amalgam of substances found in food as
hazardous disease causing agents that originate from frequent application of pesticides on plants which
are then converted into different degraded products and metabolites that are absorbed into fruits and
vegetables and becomes toxic for consumer health like herbivores and omnivores, in these two
categories we can enlist a massive range of animals as well as human beings that feed on those plants.

Pesticides are defined as the chemicals either natural or synthetic that are implicated widely in modern
agriculture in order to control various pests and to prevent plant from a variety of diseases caused by
them. There is a range of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, avicides, nematicides that are
considered when we discuss the word pesticides as pesticides are not meant for killing insects they also
regulate plant growth, inhibit the process of sprouting as well as protecting plant during transportation
and storage from insects, microbes or rodents attack. Now a days in advanced agriculture practices, use
of pesticides is considered as foremost important tool for enhancing the crop yield by protecting the
plant from pest infestation. About 45% of crop loss annually as a result of pest attack therefore effective
pest management is needed. But agriculture production show a significant increase because of
pesticides application on crops at different stages of development. For maintaining high agriculture
yields and to earn maximum profit extensive use of pesticides becomes necessary. And because of this
the pesticides use is increasing at the rapid rate in developing countries of Southeast Asia. A report of
WHO based on worldwide survey stated that approximately 20% pesticides are used in developing
countries and this rate is increasing with time.

As pesticides have remarkable impact on growth and development of crop they are applied at different
stages of crop development usually before the onset of growing, production and after crop harvest
during early storage, distribution and feed processing. The amount and types of pesticides required by
certain crops required continue examination of crop and focusing on types of pest normally attacking
the crop and the extant of damage caused by them. Pesticides are also used for the protection of farm
animals which are being reared for dairy and meat like goat, cow buffalo etc. by protecting them from
different types of ecto parasites like lice, bugs, bed bugs etc.

The wide application of pesticides is to enhance crop production but with time they accumulate in
water, soil, air and biota and its excessive use polute them, and then they gain entry in food chain and
become a great threat to human health. Pesticides when used in agriculture their vapors pollute the air
and their release in air based on effectiveness of active compounds, the procedure used for their
application and varying environmental conditions. These organic chemicals or pesticides when deposit in
soil they induce adverse effect on soil ecosystem, various water bodies and from where they absorb in
plant bodies and cause danger to human health and other higher animals that consume those plants or
use that water.

Factors enhancing the Presence of Pesticide Residues:

many studies focused on pollution of different natural bodies like air, water and soil that makes
our environment, due to residual pesticides such as organic phosphate and organic chlorine etc.
various factors contribute to the increased level of these residues in the environment are
following:

 One of the most important factor is improper dose of these pesticides and insufficient
acquiescence with the standards that are used for these pesticides usage.
 Most of the farmers show ignorant behavior and continue using banned pesticides for
pest control and to obtain maximum agriculture produce, hexachlorocyclohexane and
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) are commonly used pesticides of banned
categories that are being used in most countries.
 Communication at the international level of agriculture professionals and concerned
authorities are required on globally accepted parasites and best parasitic management
as people in the whole world continue using hazardous pesticides because of lack of
knowledge.
 Because of diverse agro industrial and agricultural activities in different countries of the
world pesticides use become compulsory as when we apply best conditions and
fertilizers for the growth and development of crops we also provide best host to the
pests. And these pests removal is done by pesticides application which along with pest
also put consumer’s health at risk.
 It has been reported that occupational exposure to pesticides becomes a great factor in
Nigeria and other countries of the world because of the reduced protection among
workers.
 Lack of disposal facilities, poor technical skills, faulty applicators and unsafe storage of
practices are some other factors that contribute to the increased exposure of pesticides.
 As stated in the document by WHO (World Health Organization) some important factors
of pesticides exposure are the techniques that are being used for maximum absorption
of pesticides, the route and amount of pesticides exposure, nature of pesticide being
used for pest management and metabolites present in it, extent of chemicals applied,
bioaccumulation, permanence and the health condition of the exposed person.
  Pesticide residue concentration in food also effected by the environmental conditions
like rainfall, sunlight, wind direction and the treatments applied to the food after
harvesting.

Pesticides and human health:

Toxic effects of pesticide residues on human health

Most of the pesticides perform their specific role of pest management by attacking on nervous system of
various pests or disrupting the nervous tissues and because of the extreme similarity in nervous system
of various animals and humans. Experts also stated that these chemicals also have some negative
impacts on nervous system of humans. Epidemiological studies proved that certain pesticide residues
can cause certain types of cancers.

There are several factors that influence the adverse effect of certain pesticides on humans like
toxicological characteristics of certain pests, residual level and the exposure of human beings to these
residues. In case of pesticides residues there quantity is much responsible for being toxic. As a certain
amount of their presence may not be dangerous but if they present in quantities above the safe level
their presence can be tragic. As they can cause several health related issue including diarrhea,
diaphoresis, lacrimation, salivation and excitation of central nervous system. Chronic exposure to these
residues may cause behavioral changes, damage lungs, cancer, allergies and hypersensitive reproductive
disorders. The main parts or systems of our body that are being effected by pesticides are nervous
system both central and peripheral as well as digestive system.

Oxidative stress:

Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen radicals that produced much toxic species like hydrogen
peroxide is induced by chronic or sub chronic exposure of organophosphate in humans and
experimental animals. Organophosphate are toxic for our nervous system as they inhibit the enzymatic
action of acetylcholinestrase that break down neuron transmitter acetylcholine into acetyl and choline
resulting in extra stimulation of nicotine receptors, prominent symptoms in case of chronic situation are
agitation, muscle weakness, muscle fascinations, oxidative stress etc. long term neurological
impairment, seizers and death are also caused by acute exposure.

Hyperglycemia

Project of Agriculture Health Study in USA, after doing survey on 33,457 pesticide applicators stated
that there is an existed association between diabetes and seven organochlorine pesticides, including
aldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, dichlorvos, trichlorfon, alachlor, and cyanazine. Studies show that long
term exposure to carbamate insecticides can also cause toxicity results in hyperglycemia.
Cancer:

Studies also explain that cancer causing agents are also present in certain pesticides and their
consumption can increase the risk of cancer. These residues of pesticides reaches from soil to crops and
various water bodies like sea, river, lakes etc. and when human consume different type of seafood,
fishes, milk or other dairy products they enhance the cancer risk. Some specified pesticide residues that
increase cancer risk are dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.
Specifically presence of polychlorinated biphenyls subjected to higher risk of development of cancerous
cells in consumers. It is reported that Organochlorine pesticide residue levels is much higher in cancer
patients.

Measures to reduce pesticide residues in food

Different types of pesticides are used in different countries for different types of crops to prevent pests,
insects, and weeds. Because of the expansion of worldwide trade, more foods that are treated by
pesticides are being imported into different countries. There are a number of strategies that can be used
to minimize pest and disease problems and reduce pesticide residues in foods.

Organic farming: One of the methods used to reduce the effect of pesticide residue in food is to eat
organic foods than non-organic ones. Organic foods are those prepared from organic farming without
being used any chemicals in the form of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. According to statement
given after standard meta-analyses, occurrence frequency of detectable pesticide residues was four
times lesser in organic crops than in non-organic crops. This is the evidence that consumption of
indicated organic have an ability to reduce exposure to pesticide residues in food. Experts also advised
to consume or use foods having high concentration of antioxidants to reduce effects of the chronic
disease by suppressing oxidative activity. An increased dietary intake of antioxidant-rich foods act as
protective agents against chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers (e.g.
prostate cancer), and neurodegenerative diseases that are increasing day by day due to excessive use of
chemicals in various fields as well as in agriculture that contaminate our environment and food.

Washing food products: The second simplest and vary much benefited method reported to reduce the
exposure of pesticides residue in food is washing. Washing may reduce pesticide residue in food
commodities as most of chemicals used in preservation are applied on fruit surface so by washing they
move with runny water. Washing is done not only with water various solutions are also applied at
domestic and commercial level which are necessary to decrease pesticide residues. The efficiency of the
washing treatments on pesticide removal depends on the washing solution being used, the chemical
properties of the pesticide applied on certain fruits and vegetables as some pesticides intact with the
commodity even after washing, concentration of pesticide application, the surface area of fruit exposed
to water, the nature of the food as some fruits are small in size and we cannot wash them thoroughly,
the length of time the pesticide is in contact with the food, and the formulation and application method
of the pesticide.
Processing food products:

As pesticide residues are greatly present in crop, fruits and vegetables even after harvesting so certain
measures are performed to remove these residues from them such as washing, peeling, canning, or
cooking that the majority of foods receive prior to consumption. These operations are performed to
reduce residual level before consumption or using these raw products in processing and manufacturing.

Use of natural pesticides and bio pesticides: Bio-pesticides are defined as those products which are
biodegradable, ecofriendly and do not produce any toxic residues. Some insect repellents can also be
used for the prevention of pesticide residues accumulation in food grains, vegetables, and fruits.

Bio pesticides can fulfill the requirement of pesticides and can sort out the problem of pest control
without being much hazardous to human health. Except being bio degradable and environment friendly,
they are also cheap and work only on specified target. Bio pesticides are defined as the agents used for
pest management build on biochemical that are obtained from insects, plants microbes and other
natural sources that provide a great protection against damaging pests.

Integrated pest management:

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is constructive and environmental friendly approach to control pest
(Kabir and Rainis, 2015). These techniques are destructive for hazardous pests but they protect
beneficial insects. They are also preventive against secondary outbreaks of pests, pest resurgence and
desease spread, moreover their specialty is to keep air, water and soil safe while performing their
function (Mangan and Mangan, 1998; National Pesticides Information Center in USA, 20151). The main
strategies used in integrated pest management are to estimate pest population by careful examination,
recognize plant varieties that are resistant to particular pest and modified cultural, mechanical,
chemical, and biological controls are required to attain production goals (Adams, 1996).

The main focus of IPM is to use predator pray interactions by encouraging natural predators of various
pests. So agriculture experts focus on lifecycle of various pests to design an effective pest control
technique (Naranjo et al., 2015).

Conclusion
The present situation of food safety in Pakistan has become a burning issue adversely affecting the
health of consumers like damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, cancer, allergies and
hypersensitivities, reproductive disorders, and disruption of the immune system it also effect economy
of the state so there is an urgent need for a strong consumer protection society. Taking into
consideration the toxicity of chemical pesticides on humans as well as the hazardous impact on the
environment, there is therefore pressing need for environmental friendly pesticides derived from
biological sources that are green in their functioning without hazardous effect in the environment.