ClimateAugust 16, 2026
agrochemicals
AG-roh-kem-ih-kulz
Definition
Chemical products used in large-scale agriculture, such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, that are intended to control pests or improve crop yields.
Etymology
The word is a blend of the prefix 'agro-' (derived from the Latin 'ager' for field or land) and 'chemical'. It emerged in the 20th century to describe the specialized chemical substances developed for modern industrial farming.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the various substances, like herbicides, that drift from farms into schools and residential areas, highlighting the lack of routine monitoring for these compounds in the air.
As study shows pesticides drifting onto Illinois schools and parks, residents push for better tracking
Read the full article ↗Chicago Tribune