Use of Pesticides for Vegetable Crops in Mexico

The objective of this research was to analyze and compare the use of pesticides in Mexican horticulture, taking into account: the current Mexican regulation established by the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Feeding (SAGARPA), Environment, Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and Health (SSA); the generalized recommendations according to different institutions linked to agricultural sector; farmers’ organizations and companies; in correlation with the production and management practices of the farmers. It must also be considered that an important number of farmers have a limited knowledge of the regulations and lack training in the proper management of conventional and alternative products. Justification is based on the insufficient correspondence between the existing regulations and the emerging problems, registered in later years. Given its geographic location and its diversity of climates, Mexico has the conditions for growing a great diversity of crops, and thus its agricultural activity is very dynamic. According to data from the INEGI (2007), the agricultural area of the country was 30,2 million hectares, of which 13,9 million were used for annual crops, 8,8 million for perennial crops, and 7,5 million hectares were not cultivated. Among the agricultural activities, vegetable crop production is one of the most dynamic, due to their short cycle (1 to 5 months), which allows obtaining several harvests per year, and a great combination of them, or maintaining the same crop all year long. Some regions of the country have specialized on the production of certain vegetable crops, such as broccoli in Guanajuato, tomato in Sinaloa, chili pepper in Chihuahua, among others. This has allowed destining their products to the domestic as well as the international market. Albert (2005) mentions that in the northeast and central zones (Sinaloa, Sonora, Chihuahua, Baja California, Guanajuato, and Jalisco) important amounts of all kinds of pesticides are used to produce grains and a great variety of vegetable crops for exportation, among them, tomato, Curcubitaceaes (squash, cucumber, etc), and chili pepper. Cortina (2000) documented the states and zones with the greatest use of pesticides in Mexico: Sinaloa, Chiapas, Veracruz, Jalisco-Nayarit-Colima, Sonora-Baja California, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Tabasco, State of Mexico, and Puebla-Oaxaca, being the greatest consumer of pesticides Sinaloa with 30% and the other states with 70% The products destined to the export market are monitored for safe consumption, being very important the evaluation of the content of pesticide residues, in which case should not exceed the maximum permitted levels (LMRs), as well as of heavy metals and microbiological quality, so that there is no threat to human health. It is also important to monitor these parameters in the water used in the production of these products.


Regulations on pesticides
Pesticides are regulated in Mexico by the Ministries of environmental, health, plant health, animal health, labor, and regulation for transportation.Also, indirectly, there are diverse customs and foreign trade regulations that must be observed in their handling (Table 1).The laws involved are: The General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection, through its regulations on environmental impact regarding dangerous residues; The Federal Law of Plant Health; The Federal Law of Animal Health, Customs Law, General Health Law, through its regulations regarding health control of activities, establishment, products, and services; Federal Labor Law, through its regulations on safety and hygiene at workplaces; and the Law of Roads, Bridges, and Terrestrial Transportation.Specifically, the use of pesticides in Mexico is regulated by CICOPLAFEST (Inter-secretarial Commission for the Control and Use of Pesticides, Fertilizers, and Toxic Substances), constituted in 1987.This Commission includes the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Health, and Commerce and Industrial Foment (currently the Secretary of Economy), through a catalogue of registered products and their authorized uses.Its function is to carry out a uniform and integral procedure for the solution of registry requests, authorizations regarding pesticides, fertilizers, and toxic substances, as far as: exploitation, fabrication, formulation, mixing, conditioning, packaging, handling, transportation, distribution, application, storage, commercialization, keeping, use, and final disposal.Moreover, it contains the list of prohibited and restricted products in the country.In the Official Catalogue of Pesticides, the chemical products are listed, per crop, the pesticides approved for control of plant health problems, safety intervals (days after application before to harvest), and maximum limits of residues authorized for each product (maximum amount of the active ingredient legally allowed in or on the agricultural product obtained, expressed in ppm).It also contains Technical information such as: Chemical name, synonyms, commercial name, formula (%), presentation, chemical structure, molecular weight, type of pesticide, classification, use, physical and chemical properties, hazard, and persistence.The official catalogue of pesticides constitutes an important reference to achieve a good use and management of pesticides.In conclusion, the only pesticides allowed to be imported, commercialized, and used in Mexico are those that have been registered by the CICOPLAFEST.

Plant Health
NOM- 0320FITO-1995 Health requirements and specifications to carry out studies on biological effectiveness of agricultural pesticides and their technical judgment.
NOM-033- FITO-1995 Health requirements and specifications to notify start of operations that physical or moral persons interested in commercializing agricultural pesticides must fulfill.
NOM-034- FITO-1995 Health requirements and specifications to notify start of operations that physical or moral person interested in making, formulating, and or working, or importing agricultural pesticides must fulfill. NOM-052-FITO-1995.
Health requirements and specifications to notify start of operations those physical or moral persons that are dedicated to aerial application of agricultural pesticides must fulfill.
NOM-057- FITO-1995 Health requirements and specification to emit judgment on pesticide residue analysis.Table 1.Health, Plant Health, Animal Health, and Industrial Safety regulations regarding pesticides

Ecological
The Federal Law of Plant Health confers to the ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Alimentation the responsibility of regulating and promoting plant health through plant health regulations among which are included the vigilance of biological effectiveness, maximum residue limits, application, use, and management of pesticides.
Table 2 show the lists of prohibited and restricted products in Mexico as well as products prohibited in other countries but allowed in Mexico.It stands out that products such as Endosulfan, Methamidophos, Monocrotophos, among others, less frequent, are commonly used on vegetable crops in Mexico; therefore these products could present restrictions for the export market, depending on the plant health regulations in use.
There would be no restrictions for the domestic market, as long as the registry and authorization regulations are respected for a specific crop, and most of all, not going over the PML of the products.and asparagus (Asparagus officinalis).From these, the first six were selected (chili pepper, tomato, green tomato, onion, squash, and broccoli), with areas ranging from 140439 and 24396 hectares, for chili pepper and broccoli, respectively.The total national area of the selected vegetable crops is 330487 hectares (Table 3), equivalent to 73,3%.

Technological management for pest control in the main vegetable crops
The most important vegetable crops in Mexico, according to registries of cultivated surface and production values are: chili pepper, tomato, onion, green tomato, squash and broccoli.Information on other vegetable crops is very disperse, limited, and incomplete.

Global analysis
The products used for pest control have been characterized into two great categories: 1) chemical groups.There is a variety of active ingredients within most of them, through which is commercialized a great diversity of "brands" in the national market, and 2) biological insecticides.Among the 6 main vegetable crops, grown and selected to illustrate the use of pesticides, a total of 97 active ingredients were identified, while only 6 (6,2%) biological insecticides were used.
With regard to registries of insect pests among the main vegetable crops, an important variability was registered, considering the greatest number in the chili pepper crop (19 pests) and the lowest for onion (8).The remaining crops registered: tomato 16 pests, squash 15, green tomato 11, and broccoli 10.On the other hand, the active ingredients used registered the highest number in squash (71), and the lowest in onion (11).Variability between these two crops registered the following totals: green tomato 33, tomato 24, chili pepper 23, and broccoli 22 active ingredients.The biological insecticides were used in all the crops, the greatest number of which was registered for squash, with a total of 4, and only one was registered for onion ( According to information from the Pesticide Action Network (2009), the 97 active ingredients used to control pests in the reference vegetable crops were classified.The results show that 60,8% were classified as highly dangerous.Considering the total of highly dangerous active ingredients, the active ingredients used in all the crops were 3 (Diazinon, Malathion, and Methomyl).A biological insecticide (Bacillus thuringiensis) was registered for the same group of 6 crops.The use of 5 highly dangerous active ingredients (Abamectin, Chlorpyrifos, Endosulfan, Metamide, and Parathion Methyl), one unclassified ingredient (Azinphos-methyl), and no biological insecticides were reported for 5 vegetable crops.The use of 8 highly dangerous ingredients (Carbaryl, Cyromazine, Esfenvalerate, Fenvalerate, Imidacloprid, Lambda-cyhalothrin, Permethrin, and Trichlorfon) was identified in 4 crops.6 highly dangerous ingredients were registered in 3 crops.In 2 crops, the registry showed, similarly, 6 highly dangerous ingredients, and two unclassified ingredients.In this group was registered the greatest number of biological insecticides (4).Finally for only one crop, 31 highly dangerous ingredients were registered, 33 unclassified ingredients, and 1 biological insecticide (Table 6).

Main vegetable crops in Mexico
Chili pepper: In the great diversity of regions and production systems destined to growing chili pepper, the existing report shows that 19 pest are controlled with 23 active ingredients and 3 with biological insecticides.The information corresponds to states: Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and Baja California Sur.
According to the diversity of insect pests, the number of active ingredients used for their control, and the states where the production systems are registered, the use of 7 active ingredients or products is reported to control the pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii Cano), registered in the production systems of 3 states.To control whitefly (Bemisia argentifoliia B&P and B. tabaci Genn), as well as flea beetles (Epitrix spp.), 6 active ingredients are reported for each, and which are registered in the production systems of 3 and 2 states, respectively.The diversity of insecticide products, considering the active and biological ingredients, for t h e c o n t r o l o f d i f f e r e n t p e s t i s p r e s e n t e d i n F i g u r e 1 .T h e i d e n t i f i e d p r o d u c t s w e r e : Methamidophos is used to control 8 insect pests and its cover extends to 3 states.Endosulfan is used to control 7 pests and is reported in diverse production systems in 6 states.Permethrin is registered for the control of 6 pests and it is used in 3 states.Azinphosmethyl, Carbaryl, Chlorpyrifos, and Spinosad make up a group of active ingredients, each one for the control of 4 pests, in a diverse number of states.The greatest spatial cover (equal to or greater than 3 states) is seen in: Endosulfan: 6 states.Chlorpyrifos: 4 states.Cyromacyne, Methamidophos and Parathion are used in 3 states.The biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis was used for the control of two pests (false inchworm and armyworm -Spodoptera exigua-in Baja California Sur and San Luis Potosí states; Trichogramma sp, registered to control hornworm in San Luis Potosí, and Phaecilomyces fumoroseus. The toxicological classification of the ingredients and products used on chili pepper registers 4 toxicological classes, within which 9 chemical groups were registered.Also, the use of 3 biological insecticides (Bacillus thuringiensis, Phaecilomyces fumosoroseus, and Trichogramma) was identified.The predominant classes correspond to moderately and extremely toxic, which concentrate, respectively, on 31% of the total active ingredients.On the other hand, slightly and highly toxic classes were each 19% of the total.The Extremely toxic chemical groups are: Avermectin, Carbamate, Organophosphorus and insect growth regulator.The Moderately toxic chemical groups are: Carbamate, Macrocyclic lactone (Spinosad), Nicotinoid, Organophosphorus, and Pyrethroid.Three biological insecticides, one organophosphorus ingredient, and one antifeedants were registered in the Slightly toxic class.
Fig. 1.Active ingredients and biological insecticides, number of pests controlled and total number of states where they are used in the chili pepper crop.
Tomato: There are 16 pests reported in tomato crops, where 24 active ingredients and 2 biological insecticides are used, in 5 main states: Sinaloa, Nayarit, Morelos, San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas.Among the most important insect pests are: the leaf miner (Liriomyza spp.) which is controlled with 12 active ingredients, in production systems of 4 states; secondly is the fruit worm (Heliothis zea and H. virescens), which are controlled with 11 active ingredients-products, in production systems in 5 states.Of similar importance is the whitefly (Bemicia tabaci), which is controlled with 9 active ingredients in production systems of 3 states.The active ingredient with the most widespread use for pest control is Endosulfan, which is used against 9 pests in the production systems of 4 states.The active ingredients: Abamectin, Indoxacarb, Methamidophos, Permethrin, and Spinosad are used to control 4 different pests each one, with a cover varying from 1 to 3 states.With regard to biological insecticides, the cover is: B. thuringiensis is used to control 5 pests in two states, and Paecilomyces fumoroseu is used to control whitefly (Bemicia tabaci) in one state.Among the wide diversity of 37 products, there are 34 active ingredients and 3 biological insecticides.Among the most common is: Diazinon, with a wide spectrum of control and is used against 7 pests.On the other hand Monocrotophos, Methamidophos, and Fenvalerate make up a group of active ingredients with a cover of 5 pests controlled.Third in importance are Azinphos methyl, Dimethoate, Endosulfan, and Phosphamidon, which control 3 pests in different states (Figure 2).The biological insecticides used were: Bacillus thuringiensis to control fruit worm (Heliothis suflexa Genée); Bauveria bassiana to control whitefly (Bemicia sp), and Trichoderma spp.+Bacillus subtilis used for plant production.
The toxicological classification of the ingredients and products used on green tomato registers all 4 toxicological classes, within which 14 chemical groups were identified.

Pesticide residues in crops
In Mexico, there are no official antecedents on the monitoring of unauthorized pesticides in agricultural products.At institutional level, there were only studies, and the information generated came from countries importing agricultural products, which rejected shipments containing residues from pesticides without a LMR, or when these were greater than the allowed levels (CNRPyC, 2011).The National Center for Reference of Pesticides and Contaminants (CNRPyC) was established in 1991 as a normative reference center, for the development of training methods regarding pesticide residue analysis.It is part of the General Direction of Water and Fishing Agroalimentary Health (DGIAAP), which was created in 2003 with the responsibility of working on health safety of foodstuffs from land and sea, through health standards required by the domestic and international market.
The CNRPyC carries out an annual follow-through and evaluation program at national level in zones where there have been malpractices regarding the use and application of pesticides.This program has focused on establishing strategies that will allow designing operational plans, though which can be achieved awareness of the producers through training and assistance programs by the personnel from the State Delegations of the SAGARPA, where the good use and management of pesticides will be promoted.This will reflect on the production of harmless products, free of pesticide residues, which in turn will be reflected on the health of the consumers and farmers producers.The role of the CNRPyC is to help in the coordination and application of the program with the State Delegations.The regions and crops to be considered in the monitoring were taken into account based on the presence of unauthorized pesticide residues detected and reported in the analyzed samples.Currently, there are results of pesticide residues from the samples analyzed from 2005-2007, and programming data from the 2008 monitoring.

National monitoring 2005-2007
The pesticides products not authorized for some crops were detected by the CNRPyC, ( 2011 The results of the analysis of the 335 samples in 2005, in which 424 determinations were made, showed that 93 samples were free of pesticide residues, however 248 samples were found with the presence of at least one residue, 33 samples with two and 25 with 3 residues.Only a small proportion submitted more 3 pesticides residues.The most frequently product residues found were: Methamidophos, Endosulfan, Chlorpyrifos, Omethoate, Dimethoate and Acephate, Permethrin, Monocrotophos (Figure 3).An important part to achieve a correct use and management of these products is to maintain the users and plant health professionals informed on the authorized pesticides, whose biological effectiveness has been positively evaluated in the field, as well as what the doses, time and number of applications, and safety intervals (days elapsed between the last application and harvest) that have to be observed in the use of pesticides.Likewise, the technicians from the SAGARPA must be updated in the knowledge of the products whose effectiveness in pest control has been proven, so they can carry out an adequate vigilance on their use and application.

National sampling for the main vegetable crops
The National Reference Center of Pesticides and Contaminants (CNRPyC), has carried out during 2005, 2006, and 2007 several samplings of pesticide residues in different agricultural systems and states in Mexico.Among the crops of economic interest for Mexican agriculture were selected: chili pepper, tomato, squash, and broccoli.

Global multiannual analysis
During 2005-2007, 406 samples of vegetable crops of interest were analyzed, in which a total of 665 determinations were identified in the three years.The analysis indicates that in 156 determinations of the 4 crops analyzed (23,5%) no residues were detected; in 391 (58,8%) residues from authorized active ingredients were detected; in 113 (17%) residues from unauthorized active ingredients were detected; in 5 of the determinations the active ingredients are over the LMR, established for the products; in 2 determinations residues were identified as restricted active ingredients, and in one of them a prohibited active ingredient was identified ( The authorized active ingredients that were detected most frequently were: Methamidophos (extremely toxic organophosphorus) with 114 registries, representing 34%; Endosulfan (highly toxic organochlorine) with 99 registries (29,6%), and Chlorpyrifos (highly toxic organophosphorus) with 74 registries, equivalent to 22,1% of the total.In general, it can be seen that these three active ingredients make up 85,7% of the determinations of authorized ingredients.).These four made up 82,3% of the total unauthorized ingredients In squash, residues from 5 active ingredients were found, among which the most frequent were: Endosulfan with a total 7 samples in the states of Baja California, Puebla, and an unidentified site; Metamidophos with a total 5 samples in the states of Baja California, Oaxaca, and Puebla; and the group made up of Acephate, Dimethoate in different states.

Unauthorized active ingredients
In tomato, residues from 9 active ingredients were identified.The most frequent of these were: Endosulfan in 12 determinations in the states of Baja California, Oaxaca, Sonora, and the Laguna region, besides 3 unidentified sites; Metamidophos with 11 determinations in the states of Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, and Sonora, besides 5 unidentified sites; Chlorpyrifos with 6 determinations in the states of Michoacan, Sinaloa, and the Laguna region.A group made up of Acephate and Omethoate, with 4 determinations each.The first of these was unidentified in 4 sites and the latter in the states of Michoacan and Sinaloa and Omethoate, each of which was reported in two different samples.
In chili pepper crops, residues from 11 active ingredients were registered, among which the most frequent were: Chlorpyrifos (slightly toxic organophosphorus) with a total 17 determinations in the stated of Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and the Laguna region besides 5 unidentified sites; Methamidophos (extremely toxic organophosphorus) with a total 16 positive results in the states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Michoacan, San Luis Potosi, and the Laguna region; and a group made up of Endosulfan (highly toxic Organochlorine) and Omethoate (highly toxic Organochlorine), each one reported on 9 determinations; the first of these in the states of Baja California and San Luis Potosi, and the latter in three states: Guanajuato, Michoacan, and Zacatecas.

Final reflection
Bolognesi (2003) and Mansour (2004) mention that pesticides are the most common products used to control agricultural pests, specifying that a correct application is the most accepted and effective measure to achieve maximum production and best quality in the crops.However, in Mexico, the tendency to the specialization of certain crops in specific zones and/or states generates a predominance of monocrops growing and an increase in the frequency of incidence of typical pests.Consequently, there is a greater number of applications of agrochemicals to control the pests, an increase in the recommended doses, use of products successful in controlling a certain pest on crops on which they are not authorized, and there are even reports where the trust interval for the products is not respected.Such evidences converge to explain, as the main causes, the presence of pesticide residues in agricultural products, especially in vegetable crops.However, in most cases, the pesticides residue in the samples analyzed do not exceed the permitted maximum limits.Moreover, the CICOPLAFEST (1998) and Bolognesi (2003) mention that there is a great diversity of products in the market, given that the industry of agrochemicals in the XX century has developed a great number of new compounds that are highly aggressive to human health, and which have caused noxious effects that have broken the balance of the ecosystem.The Pesticide Action Network (PAN, International, 2009), on classifying pesticides according to their level of danger, even proposing the elimination of some of the more dangerous ones, has been the organization that has identified and integrated the factors that are dangerous to the ecosystem, and to human health in the long term, among others.It is necessary the use of agricultural practices to reduce the use of pesticides.Some options are: incorporation of biological control measurement, the use of integrated pest management, respecting authorized products, doses, and trust intervals per crop, being among the most important (Martinez and Gomez, 2007;Perez et al., 2009).Is also of important to intensify efforts in training and permanent updating of the technical personnel, laborers, and farmers, as well as fortifying actions to prevent and educate the community (Martinez and Gomez, 2007).Moreover, the production processes of the producers or zones where products have been obtained free of pesticide residues must be valued and taken into account, in order to integrate proposals of technological packages that can be upgraded to regional levels.

www.intechopen.com
Pesticides in the Modern World -Pesticides Use and Management 114 Monitoring of agricultural products must be permanent, especially in the horticulture sector, which has the most intensive use of pesticides (Perez et al., 2009) and monitoring of laborers and pesticide users must be considered as an integral part of a good medical vigilance in people, since it allows to take the necessary actions on early identification of genetic risk (Martinez and Gomez, 2007).

Conclusions
In Mexico, the use of pesticides in horticulture is regulated by the Mexican norms and regulations in use, as established by the Secretaries of: Agriculture and Livestock, Environment, and Natural Resources, which make up the Intersecretarial Commission for Control and Use of Pesticides, Fertilizers, and Toxic Substances.Its coordination and regulations are concreted in a national catalogue, which functions as the global reference framework to orient and achieve the good use and management of pesticides, considering that it integrates a list of pesticides whose importation, commercialization, and use are allowed in Mexico.
In the case of horticultural products, particularly for the exportation market, the importing countries have proven to be very rigorous in their regulations regarding residues from pesticides and other contaminants.Because of this, samplings are done to guarantee the quality of the vegetable crops that go into their countries, considering a zero tolerance in the cases of organic or ecological agriculture, and that the maximum allowed limits established for authorized pesticides for conventional crops are not exceeded.Consequently, the farmers who establish their crops for the exportation market have to use only those products that are authorized in the country where their products are intended to export.In some cases, there is even a contractual agriculture, where the farmer commits himself to applying a technological package that includes the products and technical assistance.
In the six vegetable crops analyzed, there are between 8 and 19 pests.The outlier values correspond to onion and chilli pepper, respectively.For the group of these vegetable crops, 97 active ingredients and 6 biological insecticides were identified.The use of active ingredients was greatest in squash (73,2%), and the lowest was in onion (11,3%).Biological insecticides represent 5,8% of the products used to control pests, with 1 to 4,1% in onions and green tomato, respectively.The toxicological classification of the active ingredients in the corresponding categories is as follows: i/ Slightly toxic with 17 chemical groups and 22 active ingredients, ii/Moderately toxic with 10 chemical groups and 34 active ingredients, ii/Highly toxic with 6 chemical groups and 20 active ingredients, and iv/ Extremely toxic with 5 chemical groups and 15 active ingredients.There were also 6 unclassified active ingredients identified.
According to the classification by the PAN, 2009, the pesticides reported in the group of vegetable crops makes up 60,8% of the total identified active ingredients.Among them, Diazinon, Malathion, and Metomilo were used in all vegetable crops; Abamectina, Chlorpyrifos, Endosulfan, Metamidophos, and Parathion-methyl were used in 5 crops; and Carbarilo, Cyromazina, Esfenvaleranto, Fenvalerato, Imidacloprid, Lambda-cihalotrina, Permetrina, and Triclorfon were all used in three crops.
The results from the national sampling of production systems during 2005, 200, and 2007, in different vegetable producing states, showed for a cover of chili pepper, tomato, squash, and broccoli 4 of the vegetable crops identified as the most important ones-the following data: 406 samples, among which several residue analyses were done, giving off results from 665 analytical laboratory determinations.The total determination analysis proved that: i) in 23,5% of the samples no residues were found, ii) in 58,8% of the samples residues from authorized active ingredients were found, iii) in 17% of the samples residues from unauthorized active ingredients were found, for any of the 4 crops in study, iv) in 5 of the determinations, the active ingredients detected were over the established limit, and v) one of the determinations showed a prohibited active ingredient.
www.intechopen.comPesticides in the Modern World -Pesticides Use and Management 106The toxicological classification of the active ingredients and products used on tomato registers all 4 toxicological classes, within which 9 chemical groups were identified.The Moderately toxic class is the most representative, within which 5 chemical groups were identified (Carbamate, Macrocyclic lactone (Spinosad), Nicotinoid, Organophosphorus and Pyrethroid), among which 12 active ingredients were identified.The next most important class was Highly toxic, where 3 chemical groups were identified (Carbamate, Organochlorates and Organophosphorus), which 6 active ingredients.The Extremely toxic class registered two groups: Abamectin and Organophosphorus, including Methamidophos, Parathion, and Terbufos.Green tomato.In the production of green tomato are reported 11 pests, for which 33 active ingredients and 4 biological insecticides are used, according to 3 management systems reported in the states of Morelos and Puebla.Among the main pests are: the whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporarioum West) which is controlled with 15 different active ingredients, the leaf miner (Liriomyza trifolii Burgess) and flea beetle (Epitrix cucumeris Harris), which are controlled with 12 active ingredients each, in different state production systems.Less important are: whitefly (Bemicia sp) and Diabrotica (Diabrotica balteata Le Conte), which are controlled with 9 and 7 active ingredients, respectively in different state production systems.

Table 2
. Prohibited and restricted pesticides in Mexico, and products prohibited in other countries but authorized in Mexico.Source: INE, 2010 2.

Table 3
. Surface crops of the six principal vegetables in the five most important states producing.Source: Own elaboration with data from the SIAP, 2011.

Table 6 .
Global classification of active ingredient considering highly dangerous classification products of PAN, 2009, and biological insecticides used in the vegetable crops studied.
The most important class was Moderately toxic, with 5 chemical groups (Nicotinoid, Thiazole fungicides -Thiabendazole, Carbamate, Organophosphorus, and Pyrethroid), among which 12 active ingredients were identified.Secondly, the Extremely toxic class was identified with 4 chemical groups (Macrocyclic lactone -Abamectin-, Carbamate, Organophosphorus, and Pyrethroid), among which 10 active ingredients were registered.Squash.In squash crop, 15 insect pests are reported, for which 71 active ingredients were used, as well as 19 mixtures of them and 2 biological insecticides, in Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Oaxaca.Among the most important insect pests are: Diverse worm types (Spodoptera exigua, Heliothis armigera, Chrysodesis chalcites, and Autographa gamma), which are controlled with 31 active ingredients and their mixtures, indifferent production systems in 2 states; Greenfly (Aphis gossypii Sulzer), against which 28 active ingredients and mixtures were used, in different production systems in 2 states; Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), against which 20 active ingredients and their mixtures are used, in different production systems in one state; Red spider (Tetranychus urticae Koch), against which 16 active ingredients and their mixtures are used, in different production systems in one state; and The toxicological classification of the ingredients and products used in squash registers all 4 toxicological classes, within which 25 chemical groups were identified.The most important class was moderately toxic, which includes 10 chemical groups, among which 29 active ingredients were identified.Secondly was identified the slightly toxic class with 11 chemical groups, among which 17 active ingredients and 4 unclassified products were registered.On the other hand, there were 5 highly toxic groups (Carbamate, Organochlorine, Organophosphorus, Organotin acaricides, and Pyrethroid), among which were 16 active ingredients.Finally, 4 chemical groups were registered from the extremely toxic class (Macrocyclic lactone -Avermectin-, Carbamate, organophosphorus and Pyrethroid), with 9 active ingredients.Onion.In onion crop, 8 insect pests are reported, for which 11 active ingredients and one biological insecticide are used, in 6 states: Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Morelos, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.Among the most important insect pests are: Trips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman), which is controlled with 11 active ingredients in different production systems in 5 states; Leaf miner, against which 7 active ingredients are used in different production systems in 4 states; and armyworm (Spodoptera exigua Hubner), against which 4 active ingredients are used in different production systems in 4 states.Pesticides in the Modern World -Pesticides Use and Management 108 According to the widespread use of the active ingredients to control pests, there are: Trips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande), against which 10 active ingredients and their mixtures are used, in different production systems in one state The active ingredients with the most widespread use for pest control are: Bifenthrin and Deltamethrin, which are used to control 7 insect pests.Second in importance from their cover in controlling 6 pests are: Alpha-cypermethrin, Cypermethrin alone and with sulfur, Fenitrothion, Flucythrinate, Lambda-cyhalothrin, Malathion, and Pirimiphos-methyl.To control 5 pests: Acephate, Chlorpyrifos-methil, Esfenvalerate, Etofenprox, Fenvalerate, Permethrin, Propoxur, and Tralomethrin.The biological insecticides used are: Bacillus thiringiensis 3,2% to control caterpillars (Spodoptera exigua), (Heliothis armigera ), and (Chrysodeisis chalcites ) and (Autographa gamma), false inchworm and armyworm and, Bauveria bassiana to control whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum).www.intechopen.comAguascalientes, Guanajuato, Morelos, and Sinaloa.Among the most important insect pests are: Imported cabbage worm, which is controlled with 11 active ingredients and 1 biological insecticide in different production systems in 3 states; Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), against which 9 active ingredients and 2 biological insecticides are used in different types of production systems in 2 states; Cabbage heart worm, which is controlled with 9 active ingredients and 1 biological insecticide in different types of production systems in 2 states.A group of 3 insect pests: Harlequin cabbage bug (Murgantia histrionic Hahn), False inchworm (Trichoplusia ni), and Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), each controlled with 9 different products (active ingredients and biological insecticides), respectively, in production systems of 1, 2, and 1 states.According to the importance of the cover of the active ingredients to control pests, there are: Methamidophos, used to control 7 insect pests in production systems in one state; secondly important are Azadirachtin, Fenvalerate, Parathion-methyl and Permethrin, registered to control 5 pests each, used in production systems in 1 state; finally in importance to control pests are: Azinphos-methyl, Endosulfan, Naled, and Trichlorfon, used in 1 and 2 states The biological insecticides used were: Bacillus thuringiensis to combat 6 pests, Diadegma and

Table 8 .
Folpet, Iprodione, Ethion, Lamda cyalotrine, Profenophos.From the analyzed samples, approximately 12% of the products are destined to the domestic market.The main commercialization sites are supply depots in: Puebla, Cuautla, Mexico City, Hermosillo, Chihuahua, Monterrey, Torreon, Guadalajara, Tamaulipas, and other local and regional markets.The destinations of the products of the exportation market to the United States (California and Arizona, among others) are equivalent to approximately 87%.Participating states, crops and characteristics of the samples analyzed in the national Monitoring for the quantification of pesticide residues 2005-2007.Source: own elaboration with data available from the CNRPyC; *=programmed

2 Authorized active ingredients in the main vegetables
Table 9).