Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a strategy integrating diverse methods and practices to
achieve effective and economic pest controls. According to the US Department of Agriculture,
in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, pesticide will be “applied as a last resort in
suppression systems” and “selected based on least negative effects on environment and
human health” [165].
An IPM strategy has the potential to reduce unnecessary pesticide applications. For example, other than
wearing personal protection equipment, using alternative pesticides with lower volatility and lower
concentrations of active ingredients can significantly reduce occupational pesticide exposures,
especially the exposure related with respiratory outcomes [24]. There has been great reduction
in use of organophosphate insecticides after substituting them with pyrethroids [166,167].
In addition, genetically modified (GM) crops, as well as those naturally-bred crops with pest resistance,have the potential to reduce the use of pesticides [168–170]. Governmental actions through regulations
and policies, another approach of the IPM [171], are also effective in reducing pesticide exposures.
Advocacy and educational programs have been proved as an effective approach in the IPM to
reduce the use of pesticides. A study in India suggested that educating farmers with knowledge of the
IPM and the subsequent practice of IPM by farmers significantly reduced the use of pesticides,
particularly organophosphate insecticides, which in turn was associated with a 50% reduction in the
incidence of acute pesticide poisoning [172]. In addition, an integrated, community-based health promotion
program has been shown to be effective in reducing the pesticide-related risk on small farms [173].