IUPAC-endorsed international conference on “Pesticides and related emerging organic pollutants: impact on the environment and human health and remediation strategies” 7–9 November 2024, Bangalore, India

Pesticides and related emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), metals, and microplastics, are increasingly polluting the environment due to human activities.Pesticides are extensively used in agriculture to control pests and enhance food production in India and worldwide.They are also applied in domestic settings, forestry, and public health programmes.India is one of the largest producers of pesticides, and their consumption continues to rise each year.However, indiscriminate use of these chemicals not only affects target pests but also impacts non-target organisms and contaminates environmental compartments such as water, soil, air, and vegetation, as well as food products including vegetables, fruits, fish, and prawns.Humans are continuously exposed to pesticides through the food chain across the globe.Recent studies have detected pesticide residues in human milk, tissues, and blood, highlighting the magnitude of their impact on environmental and human health.Exposure to certain pesticides has been linked to diseases such as cancer, neurotoxicity, and neurodegenerative disorders.Neurotoxic effects are often associated with interactions between pesticides and biomolecules; for example, organophosphorus pesticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) through covalent modification of the enzyme.The scientific programme covered a broad spectrum of themes spanning analytical and environmental chemistry, toxicology, biomolecular interactions,