Agrochemical pollution: A serious threat to environmental health

Highlights

• Over the past two decades, global consumption of agrochemicals has risen rapidly.
• Majority emissions of nitrous oxide, nitric oxide, ammonia from nitrogen fertilizers.
• Organochlorine, organophosphate, neonicotinoid pesticides are major environmental threaten compounds.
• Agrochemicals had severe impact on air, soil, water, human health and climatic changes.

Over the past two decades, global consumption of agrochemicals has risen considerably. These chemicals are hazardous to air, soil, freshwater, marine microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans. This review examines worldwide agrochemical consumption trends from 2001 to 2021. It discusses environmental emissions of nitrous oxide, nitric oxide, and ammonia from nitrogen fertilizers. The review highlights the impact of various pesticide residues on air, soil, water, animals, and human health. This review also explores the influence of agrochemical pollution on climatic change, including its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and its effects on temperature and rainfall patterns. Finally, we outline the global actions undertaken by organizations such as UNFAO, UNEP, WHO, and EC to address agrochemical pollution and promote control strategies. This review underscores the negative effects of agrochemical pollution on ecosystems and suggests that reducing agrochemical usage, implementing integrated pest management, and promoting organic farming can help mitigate its environmental impact.