The role of UV absorbers in preventing photodegradation and increasing lifespan of pesticides

Pesticides applied on the plant surface are initially exposed to sunlight after their treatment on crops and before they have had time to diffuse inside the plant bodies. Many pesticides degrade upon exposure to sunlight through photochemical reactions, forming photoproducts that can be harmful to living organisms if ingested. This can lead to reduced effectiveness, more frequent applications, and increased environmental pollution. One promising approach to prevent pesticides from photodegrading is to incorporate UV light absorbers in their formulations. Prevention of photodegradation of pesticides can subsequently result in cost savings. Significant advancements have occurred to protect both bio- as well as synthetic pesticides from UV irradiation. In this review, we aim to discuss the photo-stabilization strategy for protection of pesticides using UV absorbers.