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Biopesticides and Human Health Risks: A Critical Review
Sandra Petrović1, Andreja Leskovac1
1Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, M. Petrovića Alasa 12-14, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia.
Toxics
|March 27, 2026
Summary
Botanical biopesticides offer safer crop protection but pose human health risks due to complex compositions. Current regulations need strengthening with more toxicological data and harmonized approaches for better risk assessment and communication.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Toxicology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- The European Green Deal promotes sustainable crop protection, increasing botanical biopesticide use.
- Botanical biopesticides are natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides in agriculture.
- Concerns exist regarding human health risks associated with complex botanical biopesticide mixtures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review the toxicology of botanical biopesticides.
- To evaluate their regulatory assessment within the European Union (EU) framework.
- To identify scientific uncertainties and data gaps in human health risk assessment.
Main Methods:
- Integration of experimental toxicology studies.
- Analysis of EU risk assessment documents.
- Examination of agricultural use patterns and exposure data.
Main Results:
- Botanical biopesticides contain complex mixtures with variable toxicological profiles.
- Current EU regulatory assessment faces challenges in hazard characterization and exposure assessment.
- Scientific uncertainties and data gaps hinder comprehensive human health risk evaluation.
Conclusions:
- Strengthened toxicological evidence is crucial for botanical biopesticides.
- Harmonized regulatory approaches and improved risk communication are needed.
- Ensuring botanical biopesticide safety requires alignment with good agricultural practices and human health protection.
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