Pesticides have negative effects on non-target organisms

Wan, Nian-Feng ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9486-9150; Fu, Liwan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7851-6379; Dainese, Matteo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7052-5572; Kiær, Lars Pødenphant ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1501-8831; Hu, Yue-Qing ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5730-0317; Xin, Fengfei ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6718-8250; Goulson, Dave ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4421-2876; Woodcock, Ben A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0300-9951; Vanbergen, Adam J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8320-5535; Spurgeon, David J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-8760; Shen, Siyuan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4131-3607; Scherber, Christoph ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7924-8911. 2025 Pesticides have negative effects on non-target organisms. Nature Communications, 16, 1360. 16, pp. 10.1038/s41467-025-56732-x

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Abstract/Summary

Pesticides affect a diverse range of non-target species and may be linked to global biodiversity loss. The magnitude of this hazard remains only partially understood. We present a synthesis of pesticide (insecticide, herbicide and fungicide) impacts on multiple non-target organisms across trophic levels based on 20,212 effect sizes from 1,705 studies. For non-target plants, animals (invertebrate and vertebrates) and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi), we show negative responses of the growth, reproduction, behaviour and other physiological biomarkers within terrestrial and aquatic systems. Pesticides formulated for specific taxa negatively affected non-target groups, e.g. insecticidal neonicotinoids affecting amphibians. Negative effects were more pronounced in temperate than tropical regions but were consistent between aquatic and terrestrial environments, even after correcting for field-realistic terrestrial and environmentally relevant exposure scenarios. Our results question the sustainability of current pesticide use and support the need for enhanced risk assessments to reduce risks to biodiversity and ecosystems.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s41467-025-56732-x
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity and Land Use (2025-) Environmental Pressures and Responses (2025-)
ISSN:	2041-1723
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	agroecology, biodiversity, ecosystem services
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Agriculture and Soil Science Biology and Microbiology
Related URLs:	Dataset
Date made live:	18 Feb 2025 14:21 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538925

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