Pesticide Residues: Inorganic and Other Metal-Containing Compounds

Inorganic and organometallic compounds have been used as pesticides. At present, in most developed countries, only copper compounds are used in significant amount as fungicides. The others have been banned for either toxicological or environmental reasons. It is believed that some organotins are still used in some developing countries. Copper compounds, if used as directed, do not pose health risks. However, the estimated long-term intake in the European Union is not much below the acceptable daily intake, when other nonpesticidal sources of copper are considered. Organotins have a nonnegligible acute toxicity. Also, triphenyltin has immunotoxic and, possible, carcinogenic effects, and cyhexatin/azocyclotin have embryotoxic properties. However, estimated intakes are below reference values.