Pesticide Use, Unsafe

The unsafe use (for example, include inaccurate application, poor handling, mixing, disposal or storage) of pesticides can create serious problems and risks to the environment, humans and wildlife. Examples of these include:
• Users and other people, such as neighbours, passers-by: contamination resulting in illness or sickness, to skin irritation or burns, to breathing problems, and also death.
• Adjacent properties and land: Soil, water, air contamination from spray drift or spillage, as well as illness to humans and animals, e.g. pets, reducing soil quality of micro-organisms.
• Wildlife: Birds, bees, butterflies, insects, mammals, etc. affecting their lifecycle, reproduction, general health, toxin build-up in predator chain.
• Plants: reducing growth, scorching vegetation, killing plants, preventing regrowth, distorted growth.
• Crops / Farm animals: Reduced productivity, illness, death, unsaleable produce, soil accumulated toxins.
• Water courses: Contamination, death of fish, increased treatment and costs by water authorities, inability to water crops, plants or for drinking.