Pesticides are widely used in agriculture mainly to increase crop yields to cater huge supply of food products for increasing world population, as well as to protect crops from pests and control insect-borne diseases. Increased use of pesticides (especially Organochlorine pestides) results in contamination of the environment and the excess accumulation of pesticide residues in food products and severe health impact, which has always been a matter of serious concern. Pesticide residues in food and crops are directly related to the irrational application of pesticides to the growing crops. Accumulated oganochlorine pesticide residues in food products have been associated with a broad variety of human health hazards, ranging from short-term effects to long-term toxic effects. The preventive measures for pesticide residues in the developing countries are limited due to a shortage of funds and lack of defined government regulations. The impact of pesticide residues can be minimized by taking certain measures such as the rational use of pesticides, promoting organic farming, exploit natural and bio pesticides, and proper implementation and amendment of pesticide-related laws. The present article has been planned to review various aspects of organochlorine pesticide residues including their accumulation in air, soil, water and food products, impact on human health, and the preventive measures to counter their toxic effects.

Key words: Agriculture, OC pesticides residues, hazards, human health, pesticides, environment.