Few chemical compounds created by man have caused greater controversy than organophosphates. Originally conceived as nerve poisons, they were later to become insecticides. As the toxicity of OPs is non-specific, they have caused ill health, death & adverse ecological effects.
 Written by recognised experts this text primarily covers the health aspects of OPs – history, chemistry & pharmacology, & examines in detail the potential toxic effects to humans, for example on the brain & muscles. It also contains discussions on related social, economic, environmental and agricultural issues. Click here for full review

This UK survey presents information on all aspects of pesticide usage on outdoor vegetable crops. Despite a decline in the total area of vegetable crops grown for human consumption over the past 13 years, the area of land treated has increased. The weight of pesticide active substances applied has decreased, reflecting a move to the use of stronger products with lower rates of application & repeat low dose spray programmes. 

Pesticide Use Practices, Productivity and Farmers’ Health: the Case of Cotton-Rice Systems in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa, Special Issue Publication Series No. 3 Oluyede OC Ajayi,  University of Hannover; Pesticide Policy Project and GTZ, (November 2000)

Detailed studies and policy recommendations on this level are rare, & serious students of pesticides & agricultural development strategies, or those interested in cotton & coffee should get copies. Click here for full reviews

Agrow's latest report is a detailed study of the biopesticide industry, products and markets. (A biopesticide is defined as a micro-organism such as a bacterium, virus, microscopic nematode worm, fungus, or microsporidium, or part of a micro-organism). Includes a detailed examination of the market for Bt products: a discussion of the commercial potential of Brevibacillus brevis as a biocontrol agent, reviews of 48 other new biopesticide products, a case study of the commercialisation of Trichodex & profiles of the leading pesticide manufacturing & development companies. Click here for full review

In 1998 the breakdown of world agrochemical markets by region was: North America 29%, Western Europe 25%, Far East 21%, Latin America 14%, and the Rest of the World 11%.             Agrow’s guide to marketing strategies in the EU discusses the critical issues that may impact on both the size and nature of the market. The report provides detailed overviews of the 15 EU countries. Click here for full review

Chemistry and Specifications of Pesticides, WHO Expert Committee on Vector Biology and Control; WHO Publications Paperback - 72 pages (March 2001)  ISBN: 9241208996 

The conclusions of a WHO Expert Committee commissioned to make recommendations on specifications for pesticides used in public health. 
Addresses analytical methods & quality control in developing countries, the major problem of substandard products, the need to make quality control capacity available in all countries, pesticide containers & packaging, marketing and storage, as well as the problems of disposal and unusable pesticides & their containers. Click here for full review

Generic Pesticides No. 1—The Companies, 202 pages (Feb 1998) Generic Pesticides No. 2—The products and markets, 220 pages (April 1998) Generic Pesticides No.3— Successful Business Strategies for R&D, 114 pages (June 1998). All by Brian Hicks; Agrow Reports. Agrow offers its reports at half price to non-profit-making organisations. www.pjbpubs.co.uk/agrep 

A new series of reports from Agrow provide an important update on the generic pesticide companies, products and markets. A generic producer is defined as a “company whose major activity consists of manufacturing the active ingredients of pesticides, the patents for which have expired, and for which it did not hold the original patent.” With generic producers expanding their production of out-of-patent pesticides, these three reports are a valuable reference point. Click here for full review  Click here for extra information on Volume 3

Managing Pesticide Waste and Packaging, Proceeding No. 70 of a symposium held at the University of Kent; BCPC Publications; 228 pages (1998) Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.

The 1997 Brighton Crop Protection Conference— Weeds, Vols. 1-3, BCPC Sales; 1,202pages (1997)                               See the PAN UK Current Research Monitor 38 for a list of articles presented at the conference with special reference to health and/or environmental issues (contact info@pan-uk.org ).

Conference papers from the 1997 Brighton Crop Protection Conference, many of which discuss assessing the impact of genetically modified organisms. Click here for full review

Environmental and Health Strategies in the EU Crop Protection Industry (DS 127), Katie Shaw Agrow Reports; 151 pages (1997), www.pjbpubs.co.uk/agrep Agrow offers its reports at half price to non-profit-making organisations. 

Produced by the agribusiness publishers, Agrow, this report takes a surprisingly robust attitude to the health and environmental effects of pesticides. It says there is “increasing scientific evidence for, and public awareness of, the adverse effects of pesticide use, as well as a continued negative perception of the industry as a whole.”   Click here for full review

Alternatives to Methyl Bromide—Control of Rodents on Ship and Aircraft  The Stationery Office Agencies; Paperback - 30 pages (1997); ISBN: 9289300000

Produced for the Nordic Council of Ministers, this report describes the current use of methyl bromide in the Nordic countries for ship and aircraft fumigation. It also evaluates the future needs for this pesticide, in light of its strong impact on the ozone layer. Click here for full review