Biofunctionalized Nanostructured Materials for Sensing of Pesticides

Pesticides constitute to be an integral part of modern agriculture. It has been estimated that approximately 35–45% of crop produce is lost due to infection by different pests, diseases, and growth of weeds. The application of these agrochemicals drastically reduces the effects of pests, weeds, and vector-borne diseases leading to enhanced crop productivity. It has become necessary to use pesticides on crops so as to provide food security to the growing population of the world. However, the indiscriminate utilization of pesticides has led to the persistence of their alarmingly high levels of residues in the environment. The toxicity of these agrochemicals extends largely to nontarget organisms such as humans, birds, and animals. The accurate sensing and efficient removal of these agrochemicals have become crucial due to the presence of their residues in environment and serious health hazards.