Pesticide usage in California and the United States

In recent years, pesticide usage in the United States has increased markedly. As measured in 1980 for the U.S.A., there were: (1) more than 45 000 individually products registered; (2) more than 1500 active ingredients involved; and (3) about 2.5 billion pounds of active ingredients used annually. Pesticide usage in agriculture has probably peaked and will probably level off and may even decrease in the 1980's because of public health concerns, environmental concerns, lower dose levels of newer pesticides, and the introduction and use of integrated pest management programs and bio-control programs.