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A produces plant health is a product used to look after the vegetable organizations.

It is of an active substance or an association of several chemical substances or Micro-organisme S, of a binder and possibly of a solvent possibly accompanied by Adjuvant S or about a Tensioactif.

The plant health ones belong to the family of the Pesticide S, it even included in the family of the Biocide S.

The expression “produces plant health” is usually employed in a direction close to Produit phytopharmacological, definite by Community legislation, or of Produit pest-destroying against the enemies of the cultures defined by the French regulation, or of Pesticide.

The active substances are mineral (ex: Copper sulfate) or organics (ex: Carbamate S).

They are of natural origin (ex: LT), or resulting from the chemistry of synthesis (ex: Glyphosate).

In this case it can naturally be a question of the reproduction by the chemical industry of molecules biocides isolated in nature (Ex: the Pyrethrin S of synthesis, inspired by molecules produced by plants of the family of the Chrysanthemum S and having acaricide, pest-destroying, anthelminthic virtues and especially insecticides).

The plant health product is intended to protect from the cultivated plant species (including trees), to improve the outputs of them.

It acts by killing or pushing back their pathogenic (animals, plants, bacteria, virus.), parasites, concurrent plants (vegetable or of the parts of plants considered to be undesirable), or consuming animals which one calls devastating or sometimes harmful organizations,

It is approved and authorized for one or more uses, which can vary according to the times or the countries.

It is also used for the control of living organisms nondesired on zones not cultivated (In this case the plant health word does not seem always adequate. One can prefer to him the word of Pesticide).

It can limit the growth of certain plants (inhibiters of growth or raccourcisseurs of stem allow a less frequent maintenance or a limitation of the Verse),

It can finally ensure a better conservation of the Graine S and Fruit S.

Plant health categories

One speaks about:

Acaricide S: against the Acarina S,
Anti-russeting S: against the roughness of the Apple S,
Bactericidal S: against the bacteria,
Corvicide S and Corvifuge S: against the corbels,
Fungicidal S: for the inhibition or the prevention of the development of the Mushroom S (example, the QoI),
Weedkiller S, Weeding S, Phytocide S or Brushwood killer S: for the destruction of undesirable plants (also called bad Adventitious grasses or S),
Insecticidal S: for the destruction or the prevention of the development of the Insect S,
Molluscicide S: against the Slug S, the Snail S,
Nématicide S: against the Nematode S,
Parasiticide S: against the parasite S,
Repulsive S:

repulsive against game and the birds,

Rodenticide S: against the Rodent S (coypus, field voles, rats, mouse, surmulots…),
Growth regulator: for the prevention of the excessive growth of a plant (fight against pours at corn), the antiones, products supporting the resistance of the plants, the propagation by cutting, the fruit setting,
Taupicide S: against the Mole S,
Virucide S: against the viruses,

The plant health term excludes the nutritive substances from the type Engrais or Oligoélément S except when they are mixtures of manure and plant health products.

Design of a pesticide

A pesticide is composed of a whole of molecules including/understanding:

one (or several) active matter to which is due, in all or partly, the toxic effect.
a thinner which is a solid matter or a liquid (solvent) incorporated in a preparation and intended has to lower the active matter concentration of it. They are generally plant oils in the case of the liquids, clay or talc in the case of the solids. In this last case the thinner is called charges.
Of the additives which are substances deprived of biological activity, but likely to modify qualities of the pesticide and to facilitate its use of it.

There exists of share the world nearly 100 ' 000 commercial specialities authorized with the sale, composed starting from 800 different active matters. 15 to 20 new active matters are added there every year.

The properties of a pesticide rise essentially from the structure of its active matter. This one presents 3 parts (this cutting is artificial, no part not being able to be literally separate):

an active structure, which ensures the capacity pesticide.
of the chemical functions ensuring more or less great solubility in water.
a support part for the two others conditioning solubility in oil.

This concept of solubility is important because it is the affinity of a pesticide for the water or the greasy substances which will condition its penetration in the target organization.

Other components: the formulation of a pesticide

The formulation of a pesticide aims has to present the active matter in a form allowing its application by adding substances intended to him to improve and facilitate its action. They are the additives. They include/understand the surface-active ones, adhesives, emulsifiers, stabilizing, of the antitranspirants, the dyes, the repulsive matters, hemetic (vomitories) and sometimes of the antidotes.

The formulation of a pesticide must answer 3 key objectives:

to ensure an optimal effectiveness the active matter: the active matter must reach under the best conditions with its biochemical target, i.e. to reach that point as soon as possible with the minimum of loss. One thus limits his dispersion in the environment (cost ecological) and proportioning to the hectare necessary (economic costs). To this end one improves the contact with the target organization by the addition of dampener. The dampeners are substances whose presence improves spreading out of the pesticide on treated surface. They decrease the contact angle of the droplets with the vegetable support (or animal), with two consequences: a better adhesion and more a large surface of contact. For the systemic products, one seeks to improve the speed and balances of penetration as well as transport of the products in the plant.

The formulation can also improve the biological effectiveness of the active molecule by effects of synergy, additives which delay its degradation, thus prolonging its duration of action. Conversely, of the additives can cause to accelerate its elimination by the plants to be protected or in the ground.

to limit the risks of intoxication for the manipulator: by seeking a minimal toxicity by contact and inhalation, by preventing accidental ingestions by the addition of dye, repulsive, antidote or vomitory (case of the paraquat in Japan which are of color blue and equipped with a vomitory). In the case of the liquids, the least toxic solvents are retained. The dilution of the active matter is all the more strong as the latter is highly toxic.
to make profitable the active matter: the solvent employed by the user is generally inexpensive and easily available. The additives ensure a good conservation storage by avoiding phenomena of corrosion for the material of spreading.

An international code of 2 capital letters, placed following trade name indicates the type of formulation. The principal types of formulation are the following:

Solid presentations:

the powders mouillables (WP): the active matter finely is crushed (solid) or is fixed (liquid) on a support adsorbing or porous (silica). Surface-active agents (dodecylbenzene, lignosulfonate of Ca, Al or Na) and loads of dilution (kaolin, talc, chalk, silicate of aluminum and Ca magnesium or carbonate) are added thus that agents anti-redepositions, anti-static or anti-foamer. Stabilizers (anti-oxygen and plug pH) are included to make them compatible with other preparations. These powders must be dispersed in water at the time of employment.
pellets to be dispersed (WG): granulated obtained by the agglomeration with a little water of active matter, load and flexible and dispersing agents, followed by a drying. These powders must be dispersed in water at the time of employment.
microgranulés (MG): identical to the WG but of a smaller size (0,1 to 0,6 mm).

Liquid presentations:

soluble concentrates (SL): it is an active matter solution to be diluted in the water, added with surface-active agents.
concentrated suspensions (SC): the solid, insoluble active matters in water are maintained in suspension concentrated in water, in the presence of dampeners, of dispersants, thickeners (bentonite, silica) or of agent anti-redeposition, antifreeze (ethylene glycol, urea) of defoamers and sometimes of bactericides (méthanal or formol). These preparations are diluted in water at the time of employment.
the concentrated emulsible ones (EC.): the active matters are put in solution concentrated in a solvent organic and added with emulsifiers charged to stabilize the emulsions obtained at the time of employment by dilution in water.
concentrated emulsions (EW): the active matter is dissolved in an organic solvent. The solution added with emulsifying agents is dispersed in an minor amount of water. This presentation is less toxic and less flammable than the emulsible concentrates.

Toxicity of the plant health products

They are specifically conceived to kill out of the organizations entering in competition with the crop plants or harming their growth or their reproduction (competitor foams, mushrooms, bacteria, plants, insects, rodents, acarina, molluscs, towards, nematodes, virus, etc).

They are thus necessarily toxic for whole or part of the Environment, with a more or less wide and remanent impact according to the cases.

The products considered to be most dangerous are labelled like such.

Precautions for use

Transport, the preparation and the application of the plant health products often present risks for the user if it does not comply with certain rules and precautions. It is necessary:

to take note of the toxicological risks and the the Councils of prudence mentioned on the label,
to protect the hands, the face, to carry a mask to cartridge and not out of paper and a combination, if recommended and/or if the environment or a personal allergic sensitivity justifies it, to always wash the hands and the face after use,
to avoid drinking, eating or smoking and remaining calm during the application (risk of ingestion, ignition, or increased inhalation),
to respect proportionings, and the use for which the product is approved
to avoid mixing products,
to avoid changing the products of packing,
to use an adequate pulverizer and regulated well,
to observe the conditions and the restrictions of employment mentioned on the label (ex: not to pulverize when there is wind or when the air is too dry).
to stop the activity, to move away from the product and to take the councils of a doctor in the event of allergic, particularly respiratory symptoms.

The plant health products can have detrimental consequences on the manipulator and the Environnement. A way of limiting the risks is:

to remove any useless treatment (treatments of precaution supporting the appearance of resistance to the product),
to reason the treatments according to the development cycles and of the levels of infestation of the parasites (respect of the useful insects). For that, one can profit, when they exist agricultural warnings,
to take into account the climatic conditions (loss by drift in the event of wind or diffusion when the air is too dry, loss by scrubbing in the event of rain…)
to respect the councils of application (period of application, amounts, time before harvest…)
to avoid treating the accesses of the water points, ditches and wetlands to avoid the Pollution of the tablecloths
not treating during flowering (protection of the bees and other pollinating insects, to see Gaucho)
to bury the seed S precoated or treated (limitation of the risks of poisoning of the birds and wild animals)
to bring the packing lost and the funds of products towards a site approved while taking care of an elimination limiting the risks for the environment (in general it is about the incineration in special units) to limit the Décharge S savages or a contamination of the personnel or environment at the time of the sorting of the Waste S)

Quantities

After having reached 120.000 T then 100.000t, France would consume today approximately 76.000 tons of plant health products, which places it at the third rank of the world users behind the United States in absolute quantity. Once brought back to the hectare cultivated (5kg/ha/an) except grass surface, France would be with the fourth European rank (according to report/ratio INRA Pesticides, agriculture and environment, even based to him on the figures given by the manufacturers, which does not take account of the use of possible stocks of the previous years).

Homologation

The plant health product is generally developed by the agro-pharmaceutiques.

In the majority of the countries, its setting on sale and its use are subjected to an prior approval (the Homologation or Marketing authorization) of the qualified national authority (in France the Comité of homologation of the pest-destroying products, and in Belgium the Committee of approval).

To be approved, a product must follow a course aiming at showing its harmlessness (absence of Toxicité) for:

the users (example, the Farmer using the product)
Consuming S
the Environment.

After deposit by a firm of a request for Homologation for a commercial speciality, are established:

a biological file aiming at determining the selectivity for the culture and the agronomic effectiveness, like its absence of unacceptable side effects on the crop products, the processed products, the close and following productions, and the auxiliary fauna.
a toxicological file, aiming at validating its harmlessness on the human health.
an ecotoxicological file, relating to the environmental impacts.

For example, part of the tests relates to the acute Toxicité (effect of an absorption single and massive) or chronic toxicity (effect of a regular absorption of small amounts), the appearance of changes, formation of tumor (effect cancerogenic) malformation in the descent (teratogenic effect)…

The effects on the Environnement are studied by the analysis of their influence on fish, the birds, the insects, the micro-organisms, but also the process of degradation of the product in the air, water and the ground.

The product either is authorized, or deferred, or refused. The product authorized for one or more Usage S precise, is defined by a target plant (for example a corn culture), a target parasite (the plant louse) and a type of treatment (of the air parts for example).

Plant health product withdrawn from the market and controversies

In spite of the long and complex process of the homologations, certain products authorized before are prohibited because of their dangerosity shown later on (remanent pollution of water, appearance of resistance of stocks, influences metabolic in the long run…).

In France, for several years, of many plant health products hitherto authorized (thus regarded as effective and not presenting a unacceptable Risk) have been prohibited with the marketing and the use. These products are called “Produced Plant health NonUsable” (PPNU).

The use of withdrawn plant health products of the market is prohibited and subjected to control. The L.253-17 article of the rural Code lays down sorrows which can go up to 30.000 euros of fine and six months of imprisonment.

The case of the atrazine

A typical example of change of classification is that of the Atrazine, used massively in France and in many other countries like a weedkiller of a great effectiveness for the weeding of the Maïs. The atrazine (as all the family of the Triazine S) is now recognized as at the origin of major pollution of the underground layers and the surface water which are polluted to 50% in France (compared to the standards enacted for triazines). For example, in Brittany, as in South-west and the Ile-de-France, it is current to find, in taking away of drinking water, rates of triazine ten times higher than the authorized threshold of 0,1 microgram by liter.
Until 2002, the family of triazines constituted the plant health products more employed S in France, used to 80% in terms of surface by the conventional corn producers. They had been introduced in 1962 and were characterized by an excellent effectiveness and low costs. Protected from UV solar in the ground, they proved less dégradables which what the manufacturer had announced. 9 years after its prohibition in Germany, the atrazine was still the pesticide quantitatively most present in the rain, and its breakdown products (ex: désisopropyl--atrazine, déséthyl-atrazine) is still very present whereas the molecule-mother starts to disappear.

Because of its toxicity and its remanent pollution in water (not very biodegradable molecule), the atrazine was banished in Germany then after a few years in France in 2001, as the remainder of the family of triazines (application in June 2003 for France) after years of use (1962 - 2003).

This reversal could be related to a progressive awakening of the dangerosity of certain plant health products, or if required with the two judgments of France by the European court of justice to have failed to fulfil its obligations as regards water quality. Many other products are under discussion, the such Arsénite of soda (produced carcinogenic very much used in vine growing). The total European programme of ecological reform of agriculture envisages to prohibit from here 2008 nearly 400 products considered to be dangerous for the health of the man which had been however approved by the directive of 1991. The soda arsenite is henceforth unusable in vine growing. All the residues (empty cans or partially vacuums) were recovered during specific collections organized by the competent authorities. Controls of the Regional Service of the Protection of Plants (SRPV) can be realized in all the farms and of the sanctions are envisaged in the event of detention of prohibited plant health products (=PPNU: Plant health products Not-Usable).

Gaucho

An example of case very discussed at the beginning of XXIe century is that of Gaucho, shown by the bee-keepers to be at the origin of the major reduction in certain populations of insects (Abeille). See the article on the Gaucho for more information.

DDT

Although prohibited for a long time in the Western countries, one still finds of them traces in greases of the animals, but also in our food. See DDT.

Standards and quality

The products appearing on the market at the beginning of the XXI century are famous less persistent than their predecessors, but they are often much more active with amounts sometimes much weaker (0,6 matter Mg active/m ² for one sulfonylurée used for the weeding of corn). The same applies to many biocides.

In Europe, water quality intended for human consumption authorizes a maximum concentration of plant health products (insecticidal, fungicidal, weedkillers) of 0,1 microgramme/l by substance or 0,5 microgrammes/l for all substances (European directive 80/778/CEE, decree of the January 3rd 1989).

See too

Autorisation of a phytopharmacological product
Défense of the cultures
vegetable Pathologie
Pesticide
Pollution water by the plant health products
Produits phytopharmacological
Produces pest-destroying against the enemies of the cultures
active Substance of a phytopharmacological product

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