The Ecotoxicology of Microbial Insecticides and Their Toxins in Genetically Modified Crops: An Overview

The use of microbial insecticides and their toxins in biological control and transgenic plants has increased their presence in the environment. Although they are natural products, the main concerns are related to the potential impacts on the environment and human health. Several assays have been performed worldwide to investigate the toxicity or adverse effects of these microbial products or their individual toxins. This overview examines the published data concerning the knowledge obtained about the ecotoxicity and environmental risks of these natural pesticides. The data presented show that many results are difficult to compare due to the diversity of measurement units used in the different research data. Even so, the products and toxins tested present low toxicity and low risk when compared to the concentrations used for pesticide purposes. Complementary studies should be carried out to assess possible effects on human health.

Automated summary

The use of microbial insecticides and their toxins has raised concerns about their potential impacts on the environment and human health. Global assays have been conducted to investigate their toxicity and adverse effects. The data indicates that these products and toxins have low toxicity and risk compared to pesticide concentrations, but further research is needed to assess their effects on human health.