ASPECTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PESTICIDES AND ENVIRIONMENT

Prof. MIHAI BERCA, Ph.D.
Gheorghe Tanase,Ph.D.
“At first, define the terms and the notions”, states a rhetorics rule.

• Let’s start with the question: WHAT ARE PESTICIDES? According to FAO, the term “PESTICIDE” designates “Any substance or substance mixture used for the prevention or control of diseases, including human or animal disease vectors, as well as the control of unwanted animal or vegetal species which could cause damages during production, processing, storing, transport, sale of agro-food products for humans and animals and of wood and wood production. The term also refers to substances and substance mixtures used for growth regulation, plant defoliation or drying, as well as fruit drying and fruit premature falling control agents”.

• This is a very extensive definition of “PESTICIDES” (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, acaricides, rodenticides, nematocides, soil disinfectants, defoliants, desiccants, molluscocides, repellents, etc), which suggests not only the wide utilization purpose, but also the large impact area (negative or positive) on environment.

• From the agro-ecologic and general ecologic point of view, there are a few important “PESTICIDE” characteristics:

• The above three points of view could be (and are) merged into a well known physicians’ motto that can be also applied in phyto-medicine (plant protection), namely:

• “PRIMUM NON NOCERE“ (Firstly, do not harm)

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