Pesticides: targets, mechanisms of action, and risk assessment

Abstract

Pesticides (mainly herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) are used to chemically combat certain plants, animals, or microorganisms perceived as harmful to agriculture. Due to the fundamental similarities in all living beings, it is challenging to target unwanted species without affecting others, including humans. In this perspective, precisely identify the molecules or mechanisms targeted by pesticides is of utmost importance for assessing risk and developing efficient pesticide preparations with limited damage to crops, wildlife and humans. This review will briefly present the group of common pesticides, their mechanisms of action as well as their toxic effects on the target and possible side effects on the components of the environment such as insects and plants populations, air, water, or soil biota.