Chlorpyrifos for Pistachio Pest Control and its Effects on Human Health

Pistachio (Pistaciavera L.), one of the most significant agricultural products, plays a prominent role in world trade markets [1]. The pre-eminent countries active in the production and export of pistachios include Iran, the United States, China, Turkey, and Syria [2]. Using chemical fertilizers and pesticides in pistachio production and consumption to control pests and increase the productivity of this agricultural product is a matter of grave concern [3, 4]. One of the pests that have very detrimental and damaging effects on the quantity and quality of the pistachio tree is pistachio psylla (psylla pistaciae) (Homoptera: Psyllidae) [5]. As a result, various chemical pesticides are applied to manage this pest. The most widely used group of pesticides is organophosphates (OP) pesticides such as diazinon and chlorpyrifos (with different brands such as Dursban, Lorsban, Empire20, Equity, and Whitmire PT270) [6, 7]. 14,000 tons of agricultural pesticides are used in Iran annually, a number that is increasing as the pests become more and more resistant to these pesticides [8, 9]. Chlorpyrifos is one of the most widely used organophosphate pesticides to control agricultural pests in the world [10, 11]. Chlorpyrifos toxin has toxic effects on humans, and its use is banned for raw agricultural products such as vegetables and fruits. However, due to its wide range of applications and high efficiency, it has not been withdrawn from the market, still being applied by farmers synthesized with other toxins to manage pistachio psyllid pest [6, 12].