What is one of the risks of secondary poisoning following pesticide use?

One of the significant risks of secondary poisoning following pesticide use is predators consuming contaminated prey. This occurs when primary pests or animals that have been exposed to pesticides serve as a food source for higher-level predators. If these predators consume prey that has residual pesticide on its body or has been affected by the pesticide, it can lead to toxicity in the predators as well. This transfer of chemicals through the food chain can have detrimental effects on wildlife populations, including raptors and other carnivorous species, ultimately causing declines in their numbers and potential disruption of the ecosystem.

In contrast, direct human exposure to pesticides typically refers to instances where humans are in contact with pesticide applications, which, while a risk, is not classified as secondary poisoning. Pests developing resistance to pesticides is a common concern in pesticide management, but it highlights an adaptive issue rather than a poisoning risk. Finally, loss of crop yield due to pesticide mismanagement pertains to agricultural outputs and economic consequences rather than ecological interactions involving poisoning.