"A number of chemicals of diverse characteristics have arbitrarily been classed together on the basis of their use and given the descriptive name "pesticides." An unfortunate aura of mystery has developed about these chemicals. However, there is nothing unique or mysterious about the chemicals we refer to as "pesticides." Like other chemicals, they have properties which can be accurately measured; they obey all the laws of physics, chemistry, and biology. Chemical and physical properties of a pesticide and interacting environmental factors determine the behavior of pesticides. Behavior in turn dictates the ultimate fate of the pesticide (16). To predict behavior, we need to measure the chemical and physical properties of the pesticide and the environment. With these data and the laws of physics, chemistry, and biology, we can attack the problem of predicting what happens to a chemical in the environment. Our freedom to continue using pesticides depends on our ability to understand and predict their behavior in the environment. In this paper I will consider the bases of chemical behavior and the behavior of pesticides in plants."

This represents the proceedings of a workshop held at Selwyn College, Cambridge in 1988. Its purpose was to establish European guidelines for acceptable methods of assessing the safety of pesticides to vertebrate wildlife. Papers by 19 experts are included.

Historical perspective. Wildlife values in a Changing World. New patterns on land and water. Influence of land management on wildlife. Special problems of waters and watersheds. Pesticides and wildlife. Wildlife demage and control. Legislation and administration. Evaluation and Conclusions.

More than 20 years after the ban of DDT and other organochlorine pesticides, pesticides continue to be detected in air, rain, soil, surface water, bed sediment, and aquatic and terrestrial biota throughout the world. Recent research suggests that low levels of some of these pesticides may have the potential to affect the development, reproduction,