title: Similarities between the discovery and regulation of pharmaceuticals and pesticides: in support of a better understanding of the risks and benefits of each.
abstract: An argument is presented by which the role of pharmaceuticals and pesticides can both be viewed in terms of contributing to human health. Comparisons are made in terms of discovery and development, regulatory policies and environmental and human impacts. Both technologies target particular biological functions, and in many cases they target similar molecular sites of action. Pharmaceuticals and pesticides undergo a similar registration process; however, both can enter the environment where they can have adverse effects on non-target organisms and, if misused, will have detrimental effects on human health or the environment. It is suggested that the risks associated with the two technologies are similar. The rejection of pesticides by the general public is based primarily on personal value systems and the uncertainty of risk management. It is concluded that plant and animal health are vital to maintaining human health, and that pesticides used in food production are, as with pharmaceuticals, a vital tool used to maintain human health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. cswanton@uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: Clarence J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Swanton
authors.forename: Hamid R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Mashhadi
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Maha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Afifi
authors.forename: Stephen O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Duke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055808:Drug Discovery; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations