Biopesticides May Not Be Entirely Safe for the Environment

Blind trust in botanical pesticides can jeopardize soil health, its inhabitants, and some terrestrial organisms. A new study has revealed information about the environmental impact of plant-derived compounds, which are often viewed as a safe alternative to synthetic pesticides. A study led by Veronica Pereira from the University of Madeira (Portugal) analyzed the impact of several biopesticides on soil chemistry and biology. The results indicate a more complex scenario than previously thought, reports the Brazilian agricultural portal Revista Cultivar. Natural compounds such as rotenone, nicotine, and pyrethrins, although extracted from plants, accumulate in soil, affect microbial and enzymatic activity, and in some cases retain significant toxicity for non-target organisms. In laboratory conditions, many of these compounds have been shown to have a long half-life. For example, rotenone, besides being associated in animal studies with symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, ...