Pesticides have negative effects on non-target organisms

Nian-Feng Wan (), Liwan Fu, Matteo Dainese, Lars Pødenphant Kiær, Yue-Qing Hu, Fengfei Xin, Dave Goulson, Ben A. Woodcock, Adam J. Vanbergen, David J. Spurgeon, Siyuan Shen and Christoph Scherber
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Nian-Feng Wan: East China University of Science and Technology
Liwan Fu: Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health
Matteo Dainese: University of Verona
Lars Pødenphant Kiær: University of Copenhagen
Yue-Qing Hu: Fudan University
Fengfei Xin: Shanghai Wildlife and Protected Natural Areas Research Center
Dave Goulson: University of Sussex
Ben A. Woodcock: UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Adam J. Vanbergen: Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté
David J. Spurgeon: UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Siyuan Shen: Fudan University
Christoph Scherber: Museum Koenig

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Pesticides affect a diverse range of non-target species and may be linked to global biodiversity loss. The magnitude of this hazard remains only partially understood. We present a synthesis of pesticide (insecticide, herbicide and fungicide) impacts on multiple non-target organisms across trophic levels based on 20,212 effect sizes from 1,705 studies. For non-target plants, animals (invertebrate and vertebrates) and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi), we show negative responses of the growth, reproduction, behaviour and other physiological biomarkers within terrestrial and aquatic systems. Pesticides formulated for specific taxa negatively affected non-target groups, e.g. insecticidal neonicotinoids affecting amphibians. Negative effects were more pronounced in temperate than tropical regions but were consistent between aquatic and terrestrial environments, even after correcting for field-realistic terrestrial and environmentally relevant exposure scenarios. Our results question the sustainability of current pesticide use and support the need for enhanced risk assessments to reduce risks to biodiversity and ecosystems.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56732-x

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