Description
Pesticide Use
Pesticides are substances that are used to control organisms considered undesirable or harmful. They are generally classified into broad categories depending on what they are used for:
- Insecticides (harmful insect control)
- Rodenticides (rodent control)
- Herbicides (weed control)
- Fungicides (control of plant disease caused by fungi), etc
Pesticides are used mainly in the following sectors:
- In agriculture, to protect animal and plant production
- In pest control (extermination), to control harmful organisms inside or outside buildings, for example :
- Wasp nests
- Rodents
- Cockroaches
- Bed bugs
- In ornamental horticulture and landscape maintenance, to protect trees, shrubs, flowers, lawns, etc
Pesticides can also be useful in the public health sector. They are used, for example, to control mosquitoes that spread West Nile Virus (WNV) or ticks passing on Lyme disease.
Pesticides have toxic effects on living organisms. If they are highly toxic, these products can involve certain risks for health and the environment. They are, however, generally considered safe if they are used judiciously and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
For more details about what pesticides are made of and what they are used for, go to the About pesticides page on the site of the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC).
Useful sites
- About pesticides
Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques - Pesticides And Food
Health Canada - Résidus de pesticides dans les fruits et légumes frais vendus au Québec 2007-2011
Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (in French only)
Last update: December 20, 2018
Notice
The information on this website by no means replaces the advice of a health professional. If you have questions regarding your health, contact Info-Santé 811 or see a health professional.
