The Controlled Release of Bioactive Compounds from Polymeric Systems

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The ability to effect profound changes in the growth and behavior of living systems through the application of minute quantities of biologically active compounds has lead to development of the multibillion dollar pest control industry. Indeed, the introduction of modern chemical pesticides was originally thought to represent the “ultimate weapon” in man's age-old battle with pests [1]. Not until the late fifties and early sixties was it recognized that the continued use of this weapon, in its present form, might well result in a Pyrrhic victory for man. As a consequence of this realization, the concept of efficient pest control has undergone considerable modification in recent years. The undesirable secondary and tertiary effects of the highly successful long-lived pesticides has caused their use to be severely restricted [2]. An additional general concern is the often gross excess of applied pesticide in relation to that necessary to achieve control of the pest in the target area. For example, depending on the method of application and the climatic conditions, as much as 60 to 90% of the applied pesticide never reaches its objective [3]. In addition, the effective concentration of the pesticide is further reduced by leaching and soil erosion after application [4, 5].

This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit: