The herbicides used to control weeds in agricultural production adversely affect human life in multiple ways . However , these chemicals should be used carefully in a proper dosage , so that they will act just like medicines.If we do not use these chemicals then we will lose 30% crop production then problem of hunger will arise globally. So we have to chose either feed pest or human being as per Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug

Dear Madhukar Baburao Deshmukh Thank you for suggesting the judicious use of herbicides in agricultural production to deal with the ensuing problem of hunger.

Non availability of farm labour and uncertainty in weather conditions restrict the timely use of non chemical methods of weed control. Weeds have been reported to cause 30-70 reduction in yield of field crops. This reduction depends upon crop, season of planting, nature and type of weeds and crop production technologies followed in that area. If we do not apply the herbicides, more than 30% reduction in total output of agricultural production is expected and problem of sufficient availability of food may arise. Herbicide dose and time of application are more important in deciding their residue in produce. Herbicides recommendations are done in different crops after thorough investigation on residue in produce, soil, and their effect on soil microflora and fauna and aquatic animals. So there is no harm in judicious use of herbicides.

Dear Mehar Chand , uncertainty of weather conditions has always been there in agricultural production system. I think that the decreasing availability of farm labour is perhaps the major constraint. However, do you think whether it is not possible to alleviate the weed problem through farm mechanization (eg., mechanical weeders, etc), or through used plastic materials as mulches?

Article Used plastic materials as mulches: An alternative to convent...

As you have mentioned "herbicides recommendations are done in different crops after thorough investigation on residue in produce, soil, and their effect on soil microflora and fauna and aquatic animals", kindly share valued publications on these aspects.

Thanks with personal regards,

Arbind

herbicides do affect humans in multiple ways (positive negative). its the only way to alleviate labour shortages whilst increasing environmental pollution ,hence there is need to make use of reduced herbicide dosages plus bioherbicides to reduce health risks and increase crop productivity at the same time.

Dear Nyasha Sakadzo I partially agree with you to reduce the dosage of chemical herbicides and increase the use of bioherbicides to mitigate the problems of labor shortage and health hazzards. Besides, adoption of proper mechanization with power drawn small tools (eg., power weeder), organic mulches, ground cover, crop rotation, etc has the potential to alleviate the weed problem, scarcity of labor, and the like.

https://greensideup.ie/guest-post-organic-mulching-whats-that-all-about/

There are other alternative methods in weed management to the use of chemical herbicides:

https://www.pan-europe.info/sites/pan-europe.info/files/public/resources/reports/Alternative%20methods%20in%20weed%20managment%20to%20glyphosate_PAN%20Europe_III.pdf

Regards,

Arbind

Dear Arbind!

There is no question about the danger of herbicides used to control weeds in agricultural production adversely affecting human life in multiple ways. Some of them are more dangerous for those who are involved in the production system, especially in developing countries where there is no enough awareness about safety regulations and lack of proper protective devices during spray. Since there is accumulation thorough time the danger is also recognized at individual level, very late. The 2nd way is their direct danger to consumers from agricultural produces. This also depends on how cautious and knowledgeable are the farmers/growers in terms of minimum number of days that the produce should not be consumed (safety periods), especially for horticultural crops. Even if we use selective herbicides to kill weeds, we need to be cautious if the crop plants that we protect them can totally degrade the herbicide. Some of the plants may sequester part of the herbicide and residual effects could be dangerous. The degree of biodegradability/persistence, minimum allowable limit etc..... could also factors. Since crop residues are used as animal feed, in developing countries, there could unnoticed danger.

However, agricultural production and productivity, especially in the tropics is practically very difficult. Banning the herbicides without making weed resistant/tolerant plants is also dangerous as the world population is increasing. In addition, the effectiveness of bio-control and/organic farming is limited and expensive for the consumers.

In my opinion, the use of other effective alternatives like acceptable environmentally friendly and safe to human health biotechnology tools will be indispensable before banning herbicides. If we achieve these goals and be able to challenge the influence of the multi-billion dollar industry of pesticides production and...., banning them will be a must to do!!!

Dear Bekele Abebie Thank you so much for your valued opinion.

Yes, some of the herbicides can affect human as well as livestock health adversely. But at the same time, some herbicides are quite safe to use and moreover it also depends on the stage of crop when a herbicide is used. There are very stringent measures to check the residues in plant parts/ produce to be consumed. Any herbicide is recommended only when the residue is below the detectable limit.

Dear Sarvjeet Singh

There are a number of countries where Glyphosate or similar products are either banned or proposed to be banned:

https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/where-is-glyphosate-banned/

When there are concerns and cost for human health, soil health, and ecosystem health, why we should not resort to bio-herbicides, or other alternative measures of weed control? "Such stringent measures to check the residues in plant parts/ produce to be consumed" were initially also claimed by Monsanto for glyphosate; however, recent research findings have disproved the claims made by the company. I argue that when we comprehensively add the cost of human, soil and ecosystem health, we are in fact great looser than getting benefits from the savings made by the use of such chemical herbicides.

Yes Arbind, i know glyphosate is banned in many countries including India, but there are many herbicides which can be used safely.

Sarvjeet Singh Thank you so much. Are you referring to chemical or bio-herbicides? If these are chemical herbicides without any adverse effects on human, soil and ecosystem health, kindly let me know also with suitable references.

We should make aware of the farmers to use recommended herbicides with recommended dose

Banned herbicides should be avoided

Dear Lakhwinder Kaur Thank you so much for solution oriented opinion.

I agree with you, Prof. Arbind K. Choudhary. I was born is a small Andean town, "el Cobre" where the use of herbicides for the potato late bright causes severe diseases.

P Contreras is right. Some times spray of herbicides adversely affect the resistance of plants against particular disease. We also observed similar results in chickpea after herbicide spray that induced susceptibilty to Ascochyta blight.

Since at least 3 decades everyone knows very well the dangers connected with the uses of herbicides for humans, for animals, for plants and more generally for environement with irreversible effects. Despite this, agriculture worldwide is still intensively using these dangerous chemicals to increase productivity. Once and for ever, all kinds of herbicides must be definitely forbiden by United Nations and more particularly by WHO. Increasing productivity must be done through natural and biological ways.

Best regards

@P. Contreras I fully agree with you.

@Sarvjeet Singh I consent to your observation.

@ Abderrahmane Kadri I fully support, and appreciate your views.

The pesticides most frequently detected in drinking water -- the triazines and the acetanilides -- cause a litany of health effects, including cancer, birth defects, and disruption of the endocrine (hormone) system. Alachlor has also been found to disrupt the endocrine system. ... https://www.ewg.org/research/weed-killers-glass/chapter-1-health-effects-herbicides

Herbicides can cause deleterious effects on organisms and human health, both by their direct and indirect action. Among the biological effects of these chemicals, it can be cited genetic damages, diverse physiological alterations and even death of the organisms exposed. https://www.intechopen.com/books/herbicides-current-research-and-case-studies-in-use/toxicity-of-herbicides-impact-on-aquatic-and-soil-biota-and-human-health

Persistent herbicides can remain active in the environment for long periods of time, potentially causing soil and water contamination and adverse effects to nontarget organisms. In some cases, compounds that result from herbicide degradation may continue to be significantly toxic in the environment. https://www.fws.gov/invasives/stafftrainingmodule/methods/chemical/impacts.html

@Chinaza Godswill Awuchi fully agreed with you.

Large scale use of glyphosate (Roundup) in Argentina has been correlated with a higher incidence of cancer by humans and malformation of new-borns. According to Seralini this herbicide causes tumour in experimental rats, however as usual, not everybody agrees with him… According to other scientist it is not glyphosate that is cytotoxic but the surfactants added to the herbicide. In our country it is forbidden to sell and use this herbicide.

Dear @Jean-Pierre Jost Thank you very much for sharing invaluable information to the discussion. I appreciate it.

Yes! Please see the RG links below.

Article Critical Review of the Effects of Glyphosate Exposure to the...

Article Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases IV: cancer and relat...

Article Evidence that glyphosate is a causative agent in chronic sub...

Please also go through the following RG link.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are-there-any-research-data-on-the-direct-link-between-glyphosate-and-health-issues

Dear @Arvind Singh The links shared by you are indeed eye opener. Your contributions to the discussion are highly appreciated.

When a herbicide is used to control weeds, sometimes a majority of the compound ends up in the environment, whether it is in the soil, water, atmosphere, or in the products harvested. Due to the widespread use of these chemicals over the years, there has been an accumulation of these residues in the environment, which is causing alarming contaminations in the ecosystems and negative damages to the biota. Herbicides represent high toxicity to target species but it can be also toxic, at different levels, to non-target species, such as human beings. Herbicides can cause deleterious effects on organisms and human health, both by their direct and indirect action. Among the biological effects of these chemicals, it can be cited genetic damages, diverse physiological alterations, and even death of the organisms exposed. Some herbicides, when at low concentrations, cannot cause immediate detectable effects in the organisms, but, in long term can reduce their lifespan longevity. When herbicides are applied in agricultural areas they can have different destinations, since being degraded by microorganisms or by non-biological means or even be transported by water, to areas distant from the application site. Thus, the organisms can be then exposed to a great number of these xenobiotics as well as their metabolites.

Chapter Toxicity of Herbicides: Impact on Aquatic and Soil Biota and...

Dear @Manal Hadi Kanaan Thank you for elaborating the damaging effects of herbicides to our ecosystems, human and animal health. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

Chemicals certainly have negative (direct and indirect) effects on human and ecosystem health. A wise, reduced, or no use of them, whenever/wherever possible, is the best way of avoiding those effects. Stricter policies along with education/public awareness seem important. Cheers!

Dear @Subodh Adhikari I fully endorse your views. Public awareness may reduce indiscriminate use of herbicides in agriculture.

Dear @Ali A. Al-Homaidan and @Talal A. Zari Thank you for your assertion that there is need of judicious use of herbicides. I appreciate your individual contribution to the discussion.

Yes, herbicides used to control weeds in agricultural production adversely affect people's lives in many ways. This is how these chemicals end up in food products. Besides, the natural environment is being poisoned. Herbicides and other plant protection products end up in surface and subcutaneous waters, then in rivers, lakes and seas, changing the composition of the ecosystems of these aquatic environments. Mass extinction of pollinating insects, including bees, is also caused by improper and excessive use of herbicides and other plant protection products.

Best regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Dear @Dariusz Prokopowicz I do share your concerns. Manyfold deleterious effects of herbicides on our lives and supporting ecosystems are indeed alarming. Thank you so much for your contribution 😊

Yes...use of heavy dose of Herbicides may influence human health, soil health, and external environment features... persistent herbicides so called residual herbicides may create more problems compared to less persistent herbicides as residual herbicides may leave residues in the soil which may be present or accumulated in soil for a longer period of time, hence may influence succeeding crops and soil health also..toxic residues may be present in Harvested produce( which we consume), soil and environment...so many health issues are being defined resulted from indiscriminate use of herbicides...Some time drift hazards may also cause deleterious effect on other field's crops or Vegetation...there is Diamond diagram of herbicides of different colors like red, blue, yellow and green based on toxic level with guidelines while using.. herbicides with wider lethal doses are safe and vice versa.. Grazing animals in field applied with herbicides may create problems in many ways..

Of course, weed herbicides have toxic effects on humans, but in different proportions according to the composition of the pesticide

Dear @Himanshu Verma and @Dheyaa Aljuburi Yes, heavy dose of herbicides influence human health, soil health, and external environment features through its residual effects. Thank you so much for your contribution 😊

I thing we can't get good production of agriculture without using herbicides, but its application should reduced and be under control.