Ochoa-Acuña and Carbajo have pointed out the connection between birth defects, such as prematurity and congenital abnormalities, and the extensive use of pesticides. Several studies have linked a higher occurrence of cancer within the farmers’ communities that have been exposed to pesticides. One of the biggest concerns regarding the effects of synthetic pesticides is the influence upon human and animal health. This can be attributed to a misuse of the pesticides, meaning that the shortcoming of specific substances for certain pests will increase their adaptability and make the resistance traits to be passed on to the next pest generations. The worldwide usage of synthetic pesticides has presented the research community with the rise of several issues, such as the continuous development of pesticide resistance. Although the introduction of synthetic pesticides in the agricultural practice contributed to an increase in the agricultural output, the continuing need of a more performant crop production led to the overuse of these types of compounds in such extent that they become a major pollutant for both soils and water, with a high toxicity towards humans and animals. Under the general term pesticides, a wide range of compounds with very different actions can be found (such as herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, rodenticides, avicides, algicides, fungicides, bactericides, and others). (A) Pesticide use per cropland (world level) (B) pesticide trade (world level) – data collected from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The review is concluded with a chapter containing the main conclusions of the literature study and the future perspectives, regarding the application of essential oils as next-generation pesticides. From the identified articles within the time period, only those dealing with essential oils obtained by the authors (not commercially available) were selected to be inserted in the review, characterized using established analytical techniques and employed for the envisaged applications. This review aims to present the main applications of the essential oils as insecticides, herbicides, acaricides, and nematicides, as they emerged from the scientific literature published in the last 5 years (2015 to present). In this context, the use of essential oils, a complex and unique mixture of compounds, can be considered for the next-generation pesticides. In the last period, the researches were directed towards finding new solutions with a lower toxicity, less damaging behaviour towards the environment, and a better specificity of action.
The overuse of synthetic pesticide, a consequence of the rush to increase crop production, led to tremendous adverse effects, as they constitute a major pollutant for both soils and water, with a high toxicity towards humans and animals and, at the same time, led to development of pest resistance.
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