Ridgway R L, Tinney J C, MacGregor J T, Starler N J
Environ Health Perspect. 1978 Dec;27:103-12. doi: 10.1289/ehp.7827103.
During the last three decades, the use of modern organic synthetic pesticides has increased about 40-fold. Total U.S. production, for domestic and expert use, in 1976 was about 1.4 million pounds. Crops receiving the most intensive application of various pesticides were cotton for insecticides, corn for herbicides, and fruits and vegetables for fungicides. Examination of use trends of pesticides indicates that the volume in pounds of herbicides used on crops is increasing, whereas the quantities of insecticides and fungicides remain stable. New chemical classes of compounds such as the synthetic pyrethroid insecticides are being introduced, but are not yet significant in terms of their share of the market. The increased usage of pesticides, together with knowledge of some of their adverse effects, has alerted the public to the need for regulation. To assist in the regulatory decision-making process, emphasis is being placed on benefit-cost analyses. Additional and improved biological inputs and methodologies are needed to provide accurate analyses.
在过去三十年中，现代有机合成农药的使用量增长了约40倍。1976年，美国国内和出口用途的农药总产量约为140万磅。各类农药使用最为密集的作物分别是用于杀虫剂的棉花、用于除草剂的玉米以及用于杀菌剂的水果和蔬菜。对农药使用趋势的研究表明，用于作物的除草剂用量在以磅为单位增加，而杀虫剂和杀菌剂的用量保持稳定。诸如合成拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂等新的化合物化学类别正在被引入，但就其在市场中的份额而言尚不显著。农药使用量的增加，以及对其一些不良影响的了解，使公众意识到需要进行监管。为协助监管决策过程，重点在于效益成本分析。需要更多且改进的生物投入和方法来进行准确分析。
