Three major standards for the quality of pesticides
September 28 10:25:14, 2025
Pesticides play a critical role in modern agriculture, and ensuring their quality is essential for both crop protection and environmental safety. The China Pesticide Network shares key quality standards that help determine the effectiveness and safety of these agricultural chemicals.
**1. Purity: A Key Indicator of Quality**
Purity refers to the percentage of the active ingredient in the original pesticide formulation. It is one of the most important indicators of a pesticide’s quality. The higher the purity, the better the performance and safety of the product. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the minimum purity for raw materials should be over 90%. In China, most pesticide formulations meet or exceed this standard.
However, low-purity pesticides can cause serious problems. For example, impurities may lead to phytotoxicity in crops. In 2000, an incident in Meihekou City, Jilin Province, saw rice seedlings die after using bensulfuron-methyl. Although the active ingredient is generally safe, excessive impurities like JP-003 and JP-004 were found to be responsible.
Impurities can also increase the toxicity of pesticides to humans. Take methamidophos as an example—its pure form has an LD50 of 30 mg/kg in rats, but a 50% emulsifiable concentrate from some domestic manufacturers had an LD50 of just 13.6 mg/kg. This indicates that impurities can significantly raise the risk.
Moreover, impurities can interfere with chemical analysis, leading to inaccurate measurements of the active ingredient. They may also reduce the stability of the pesticide, causing it to degrade faster and potentially pollute the environment. Therefore, increasing the purity of the original drug is crucial for safer and more effective pesticide use.
**2. pH: A Critical Quality Parameter**
The pH level of a pesticide formulation reflects the presence of free acids or bases, which can affect the stability of the active ingredients. Controlling the pH helps prevent decomposition during storage and ensures that the product remains effective when applied.
FAO standards often express pH in terms of acidity (as Hâ‚‚SOâ‚„) or alkalinity (as NaOH). The typical range for the original powder is less than 0.1% to 0.2%. In China, many formulations are labeled with a pH value rather than acidity or alkalinity. Proper pH management not only maintains product stability but also reduces the risk of corrosion to packaging materials.
**3. Moisture Content: A Factor in Performance**
Moisture content is another important quality parameter for both the original pesticide and its formulations. Excessive moisture can cause the active ingredients to break down, reducing the product's shelf life and effectiveness.
For powders and wettable powders, controlling moisture helps maintain good dispersibility, ensuring even coverage on plant surfaces when sprayed. FAO guidelines include moisture content limits for certain types of formulations, such as emulsifiable concentrates and soluble powders. However, powders and wettable powders do not always have strict moisture requirements.
In China, the maximum moisture content for powders is typically no more than 1.5%. But since different fillers used in processing have varying water absorption properties, moisture content alone may not fully reflect the product's performance. Some fillers can absorb more moisture without affecting dispersibility, while others may impact it even at lower moisture levels. As a result, measuring the powder’s fluidity is often a more reliable indicator of quality than simply checking moisture content. Unfortunately, this method is not yet widely used in China’s pesticide standards.
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