[Abuse of pesticides: effects on farm animals and birds]

Pesticides are unique toxic compounds, as they have to comply with two requirements: A high degree of toxicity as well as being highly specific. These requirements are difficult to combine. In the past, risk assessment was limited to the danger to human health, but today ecological risks are also taken into account. Consequently, modern pesticides would seem to be relatively safe. However, research in this particular field is scarce. Injurious effects on domestic animals due to pesticides is almost always caused by abuse or accidents, having their origin in human failure. Injury to birds (the only species thoroughly monitored) is also rarely attributable to any type of side-effect of legal pesticide usage. However, cases of deliberate misuse or abuse, intended to kill birds, are very common.