Chemistry
Designing Safer Pesticides with Green Chemistry Principles
Quick fact
The green chemistry principle 'design less hazardous chemical syntheses' doesn't just apply to making pesticides; it applies to pesticide molecules themselves. In fact, one of the most successful green pesticides, spinosad, is produced by a soil bacterium and breaks down rapidly in sunlight, yet it is highly toxic to specific insects while showing low toxicity to mammals.
Why this is interesting
You’ve seen warnings about pesticide residues on food, but did you know that the way a pesticide is designed—its molecular structure—is the key to being both effective and safe? What if we could design a pesticide that harms pests but not people or bees?