Pesticides are substances or mixtures of substances that are used to kill, repel, or control pests, including insects, rodents, fungi, and unwanted plants (weeds)
. They are designed to be harmful to a target pest and are purposely introduced into the environment to manage pests
. Pesticides include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and various other substances used to control pests
. They can be harmful to other organisms, including humans, and need to be used safely and disposed of properly
. Pesticides can be found in public health to kill vectors of disease, such as mosquitoes, and in agriculture to kill pests that damage crops
. Over 1000 different pesticides are used around the world
