Let’s Explore Controversial Organophosphate: Chlorpyrifos

  • Admin
  • 22 July 2024

The candidate organophosphate insecticide Chlorpyrifos has recently attracted a lot of concern and investigation resulting from alterations in use, susceptibilities and legislations. This blog looks at the past, present, and future of Chlorpyrifos, its global market size and effects on the industry in the present and in the future.

History 

Chlorpyrifos was first synthesized in the 1960s at The Dow Chemical Company popularly known as Corteva Agriscience today, and it is used in chemical agriculture today to guard crops. It is used against most agricultural pests, for example on corn, soybeans, citrus fruits, vegetables and many others. They inhibit insect herbivores’ nervous system, and in this way they function.

Industry and Market Size

1. Industry Players: The following are the key manufacturers of formulations that contain Chlorpyrifos; Corteva Agriscience, Syngenta, and BASF.

2. Global Market Size: Chlorpyrifos was the most used organophosphate pesticide in the US measuring an approximate 5 million kg of AI per year in 2007. (Source: Nature.com)

3. Application Sector: It can be noted that Chlorpyrifos is gaining preference among the other insecticides because of its extensive usage in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems, with the crop varieties.

4. Types of Agricultural Chemicals: Chlorpyrifos acting as an insecticide that controls some insects that are nuisances to man or to crops such as flies, caterpillars, and some important agricultural pests.

Health and Environmental Concerns

Despite Chlorpyrifos' effectiveness, the following environmental and health concerns need to be taken into consideration:

  • Public Health: Research has associated neurodevelopmental effects and developmental disabilities with Chlorpyrifos early life exposure and for this reason legislation has been passed that restrict chlorpyrifos exposure.
  • Environmental Effects: Although there are instances that Chlorpyrifos will be toxic to Aquatic life and non-target beneficial insects, birds and other species if not used based on guidelines.

Global Scenario

1. The US: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to reverse the previous decision concerning the complete ban of Chlorpyrifos in agricultural zones in 2021, as the decision could pose a threat to human health.

2. Global Overview: Due to rising concern and transition to safer method of agriculture, many countries have placed restrictions or in some cases banned Chlorpyrifos.

Previous Scenario

Previously farmers used to spray Chlorpyrifos as their pesticide more than other pesticides because it was competent and cheap. It has been used greatly in so many kinds of foods and there are instances where it has been used even to deal with pests in homes. However, its frequent utilization brings concerns as to the impacts of the compound on the surrounding environment and people’s wellbeing.

Present Landscape

Concerns in the past few years have been drawn to Chlorpyrifos though it has been used for many years. Due to these possible ill effects especially for the health of the people particularly children, some nations have either completely prohibited or limited the application of this material. Consequently, usage for the same has reduced and other pest management strategies have assumed the position.

Database Containing Chlorpyrifos Information

A pharmaceutical database service provider, Chemxpert Database presents the profound information regarding Chlorpyrifos containing the details of the global supplier and customer, key market information and trends, price level, and other essential aspects present in the current market. Further, it provides the regulatory data such as the certificate, alert, and compliance specification.

Conclusion

Chlorpyrifos remains one of the most significant and at the same time, the most debatable pesticides in world agriculture to this day because of its efficiency, the existing problems with the regulation of its use, and the evolving concerns with chemical safety and environmental friendliness. Thus, the prospect of Chlorpyrifos will depend on further changes of the industry both to the regulatory system and consumers’ requirements and the development of new methods and approaches to pest control and more safe agricultural practices. In future, getting the right balance between agricultural produce and concerns for the environment and human health will be key in defining the horizon for the Chlorpyrifos and the future of agricultural industry.