Determining the key urban pests and top-selling pesticides from the perspective of pesticide sellers in Northeast Iran: A cross-sectional study

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As urbanization and agri-culture expand, the use of pesticides is steadily increasing. Since urban pest control is a primary reason for using these chemicals, this study investigated and identified the best-selling pesticides and the most significant urban pests from the perspective of pes-ticide sellers. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in the cities of Sabzevar and Ney-shabur, located in the northeast of Iran. The primary data collection tool was a question-naire that was designed to evaluate demographic variables, available and best-selling pesticides, pesticide producing countries, and awareness of the most important urban pests. This questionnaire was distributed among 300 pesticide sellers in the study areas. Data collection was carried out by two trained entomologists, and data analysis was per-formed utilizing SPSS version 19 software. ANOVA and Chi-Square tests were employed to analyze the types of variables and assess the percentage of best-selling pesticides and significant urban pests. A significance level of 0.05 was applied in all tests. Results The results indicate that the majority of pesticide sellers in northeastern Iran are men (76%) with upper-middle education (56%). Also, based on the collected information, organophosphorus and Pyrethroids pesticides are the best-selling pesticides, and German cockroach, American cockroach and head lice are the most important urban pests in the studied areas, respectively. Conclusions The expertise of pesticide sellers, along with the production and import of pesticides tailored to the key urban pests in each district, will significantly influence pest control. Urban Pest *Suggested keywords: Pesticide Vendors Pest Control Environ-mental Health Iran Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 1. Introduction The application of pesticides for pest control and eradication in agriculture and public health has a long history both globally and in Iran ( 1 ). Nowadays, there are approximately 500 different types of pesticides utilized worldwide, each falling into various categories based on their chemical structures and intended purposes. The broad classifications in-clude insecticides (for controlling insects), acaricides (for controlling mites and ticks), herbicides (for weed control), rodenticides (for managing rodents), fungicides (fungus killers), and more ( 3 – 6 ).Despite the significant risks these substances pose to human health and their detrimental impact on the environment, the global consumption of these substances, particularly in developing nations such as Iran, continues to rise ( 7 – 9 ). The in-creasing consumption of harmful substances, such as pesticides, in countries like Iran, poses a grave threat to both human health and the environment. It is concerning that sta-tistics indicate that the usage of pesticides in Iran exceeds the recommended limits by a considerable margin. This overuse not only impacts the intended target pests but also negatively affects other living organisms, including humans ( 6 , 10 , 11 ). To address this issue, it is crucial to refine the current approach and take steps towards more sustainable and environmentally-friendly solutions. Urban pests represent a multifaceted issue with considerable implications for humans. These pests, encompassing arthropods, insects, small mammals such as mice, and reptiles like small lizards, can disturb mental tran-quility, induce fear and anxiety, and inflict damage on tools and equipment. They can also contaminate food sources, making them undesirable and posing a risk of disease trans-mission ( 12 – 14 ). By employing targeted control methods and fostering familiarity with pesticide usage, urban pest management can be enhanced in both efficiency and effectiveness. Conse-quently, contributes to creating healthier and safer human environments. Insects, such as mosquitoes, sand flies, house flies, cockroaches, and others, are known to transmit a range of infectious diseases that pose a significant threat to human health. To control these ur-ban pests, it is common to use pesticides in human environments. Hence, it is crucial to comprehend and remain informed about the commonly used pesticides, as well as to ac-quire knowledge regarding the most significant urban pests in a particular region ( 15 , 16 ). To effectively control urban pests, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the pesticides commonly used in such settings. The strategic use of these chemicals can significantly reduce pest populations and prevent the development of resistance. Howev-er, it is vital to implement and adhere to safe practices to minimize the risks of poisoning and environmental damage. This study is designed to identify and examine the pesticides most frequently used in the northeast of Iran. Additionally, the research aims to evaluate the knowledge and awareness among pesticide resellers concerning major urban pests in the area. The findings of this study are expected to provide essential insights that could help mitigate environmental impacts and effectively manage pesticide resistance in urban pests. 2. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study focuses on evaluating the awareness and knowledge of pesti-cide vendors in North East of Iran, located in Khorasan Province. Neyshabur and Sab-zevar Counties were selected to study. The population studied for this research was pesti-cide resellers operating within the province. Through sample size calculation for cross-sectional studies using the formula of one proportion and considering a precision level (d) of 0.025 and a probability (p) of 0.05 based on similar studies ( 17 ), a sample size of 300 pesticide resellers was determined totally for inclusion in this study. The data collection instrument utilized in this study was a questionnaire, structured in a standard format based on prior research with minor modifications. The questionnaire comprised three main sections: the initial section encompassed inquiries regarding per-sonal and contextual details (such as age, gender, marital status, educational level, and work experience), the second section focused on pesticides (including types, application methods, and classification), and the final section addressed urban pests (covering pest types, significance, and distribution). Data collection was carried out by two trained en-tomologists, and data analysis was performed utilizing SPSS version 19 software. To re-port qualitative variables, frequency and percentage were reported, and for quantitative variables, mean and standard deviation were reported, and to check the percentage of fa-miliarity with urban pests and pesticides based on demographic information, ANOVA and Chi-Square tests were used. A significance level of 0.05 was considered in all tests. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ilam University of Medical Sciences with the number IR.MEDILAM.REC.1403.273. No personally identifiable information was included in the dataset used for analysis 3. Results Demographic Information The demographic analysis of pesticide resellers in the northeast region of Iran reveals a diverse educational background and varying levels of work experience. The average age of the resellers surveyed is 36.08 years, with a standard deviation of 6.18, indicating a rela-tively young workforce. The work experience of these individuals averages 9.20 years, with a standard deviation of 4.70, suggesting a moderate level of industry experience among the participants. Gender distribution among the pesticide resellers shows a pre-dominance of males, who represent 76% (n = 228) of the sample, compared to 24% (n = 76) who are females. This gender disparity highlights a male-dominated industry within the urban pest control sector in this region. Education levels among the resellers vary signifi-cantly, with the majority holding advanced degrees. Notably, 56% (n = 168) of the resellers possess a Master of Science degree, followed by 36% (n = 108) with a Bachelor's degree. Both Associate and Ph.D. degrees are held by 4% (n = 12) of the resellers, respectively (Table A 1). Table 1 Demographic information of pesticide resellers Age (Mean ± SD) 36.08 ± 6.18 Work Experience (Mean ± SD) 9.20 ± 4.70 Gender Male 228 (76.0%) Female 72 (24.0%) Education Associate degree 12 (4.0%) Bachelor`s degree 108 (36.0%) Master of Science 168 (56.0%) Ph.D degree 12 (4.0%) Pesticide Manufacturing and Import Origins The distribution of pesticide production by country is presented in Fig. 1 A, with Iran accounting for the largest share at 40%, followed by China at 31%. Figure 1 B illustrates the sources of pesticide import, with China being the primary supplier at 63%, followed by Turkey at 21%. Participants' Familiarity with Urban Pests and Pesticides The participants' level of familiarity with urban pests and pesticides is shown in Fig. 2 A, indicating that a majority of participants exhibited a high and very high level of familiarity (40 + 32%). German cockroaches were identified as the primary concern by 31% of participants, followed by American cockroaches at 23%. Conversely, the incidence of scorpions was reported to be minimal at 1% (Fig. 2 B). Furthermore, the sales rate of new pesticides, including herbal and low-risk products, and the acceptance rate of these products by buyers were notably low, with only 35% of participants indicating willingness to purchase such products. The survey data examining the familiarity with urban pests and pesticides among pesticide vendors indicates diverse levels of knowledge across demographic categories, with the analysis revealing no statistically significant differences in terms of age, work experience, or education as demonstrated by the respective p-values (Age: p = 0.279, Work Experience: p = 0.976, Education: p = 0.148) (Table 2 ). For age, the range of familiarity tends to fluctuate slightly, with the youngest group (mean age 34.25 ± 6.18) exhibiting the lowest familiarity, and a higher mean age (37.35 ± 5.83) corresponding to a moderate familiarity level. This variability, however, does not reach statistical significance, suggesting that age alone is not a reliable predictor of knowledge level in this context. Gender differences were also analyzed, and although more men than women were surveyed, the distribution of familiarity levels across gender revealed a nuanced pattern. Men showed an even distribution across the familiarity spectrum, from very low (5.3%) to very high (30.3%), while women tended to report higher levels of familiarity, predominantly in the moderate to very high categories. Despite this, the Chi-Square test indicated that these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.633), pointing towards a potential uniformity in knowledge dissemination regardless of gender. Educational attainment showed some influence on familiarity levels, where individuals with higher degrees appeared more frequently in the moderate to very high familiarity categories. Particularly, those with a Master of Science degree exhibited broader knowledge (42.9% moderate, 28.6% very high). The Associate degree holders, while fewer, predominantly reported a very high familiarity (75.0%). Nonetheless, the overall statistical analysis (p = 0.148) suggests that these educational disparities in familiarity do not constitute a significant trend, indicating that other factors might be influencing the knowledge levels among pesticide vendors, which could include the quality and relevance of their educational curricula and professional training in pest management (Table 2 ) Table 2. Percentage of familiarity with urban pests and pesticides based on demographic information Variable Familiarity P.value Very low Low Moderate Height Very height Age, Mean ± SD 36.50 ± 6.80 - 34.25 ± 6.18 37.35 ± 5.83 35.81 ± 6.46 0.279 a Work Experience, Mean ± SD 10.25 ± 5.18 - 9.21 ± 4.75 9.15 ± 4.43 9.13 ± 5.14 0.976 a Gender (%) Male 4 (5.3) - 19 (25.0) 30 (39.5) 23 (30.3) 0.633 b Female 0 (0.0) - 5 (20.8) 10 (41.7) 9 (37.5) Education (%) Associate degree 1 (25.0) - 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 3 (75.0) 0.148 b Bachelor`s degree 1 (2.8) - 8 (22.2) 16 (44.4) 11 (30.6) Master of Science 2 (3.6) - 14 (25.0) 24 (42.9) 16 (28.6) Ph.D. degree 0 (0.0) - 2 (50.0) 0 (0.0) 2 (50.0) a: ANOVA b: Chi-Square Diazinon, Chlorpyrifos, and Ethion are among the most commonly recommended and utilized pesticides for controlling agricultural pests. For health-related pest control, Cypermethrin and Permethrin are widely employed pesticides. In the realm of fungicides, Mancozeb, Bordeaux Fix, and Carbendazim are frequently used. Abamectin and Omite (Propargite) are commonly used acaricides. Paraquat and Glyphosate are popular herbicides, while Brodifacoum and Zinc phosphide are commonly used rodenticides. Molluscicides such as Metaldehyde and Diazinon are also frequently utilized in pest management practices (Table 3 ). a : Pesticides which are also recommended in other class b : Most recommended pesticide in its Class Table 3 Recommended and available pesticides in Northeast Iran Insecticides recommended in agriculture Insecticides recommended in health Fungicides Acaricide Herbicide Rodenticide Molluscicides Permethrin a Permethrin a, b Bordeaux Fix a, b Fenpyroximate a Treflan a Brodifacoum b Diazinon a, b Deltamethrin a Cypermethrin a, b Fenpyroximate a Cypermethrin a Glyphosate b Bromadiolone Malathion a Diazinon a, b Deltamethrin a Copper Oxychloride a MAC-TOMIL a Gallant Super Zinc phosphide b Metaldehyde b Malathion a Chlorpyrifos a Thiophanate-methyl (Topsin-M) Chlorpyrifos a Paraquat b Chlorate Bordeaux Fix a Lambdacyhalothrin a Mancozeb b FujiMite Linuron Difenacoum Chlorpyrifos a, b MAC-TOMIL a Carboxy tiram Fenpropathrin 2,4-D Treflan a Pyrethrin Metalaxyl OMITE b Triflumuron Lambdacyhalothrin a ELITE Abamectin b Tribenuron methyl MAC-TOMIL a Carbendazim b Bromopropylate Cypermethrin Tilt (Propiconazole) Omite (Propargite) Abamectin Iprodione Ethion Ethion b Penconazole Phoxim Acetamiprid Sulfur Volk Oil Tabuconazole Dichlorvos Dimethoate Fenvalerate Imidacloprid Profenofos Hexaflumuron a : Pesticides which are also recommended in other class b : Most recommended pesticide in its Class 4. Discussion The research findings reveal a significant predominance of educated males in the pesti-cide retail sector, with 76% of respondents being male and 56% holding a Master of Sci-ence degree. This demographic profile suggests a relatively high level of academic quali-fications among pesticide sellers. In contrast, global studies present varying perspectives on the educational backgrounds of pesticide retailers. For example, in Kerala, India, a sig-nificant number of pesticide vendors demonstrated a lack of formal education regarding pesticide safety and alternative methods. Specifically, only 63% of the vendors were knowledgeable about non-chemical pest control techniques, and merely 52% were ac-quainted with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. ( 18 ). Similarly, in Uganda, despite 97% of agro-input dealers acknowledging the responsibility to advise customers on pesticide use, only 26.6% provided such advice during shopping exercises ( 19 ). This gap in knowledge and practice underscores a deficiency of formal training and education among pesticide sellers in these areas. The contrast in the demo-graphic and educational backgrounds of pesticide sellers between our study and others globally indicates diverse approaches to pesticide retailing. In regions like India and Uganda, where formal education among pesticide sellers is limited, there appears to be a reliance on experience or informal learning. In contrast, the high educational attainment in our study suggests a more structured approach to pesticide knowledge and its dissem-ination. This disparity in educational levels could be attributed to various factors, including the availability and accessibility of educational and training programs, the regulatory envi-ronment, and the socio-economic status of the region. For instance, regions with more stringent regulations and greater access to educational resources might naturally have a more educated pesticide-selling workforce. The high level of education among pesticide sellers in our study could positively impact the quality of advice and service provided to customers. Educated sellers are likely to have a better understanding of pesticide proper-ties, safety protocols, and environmental impacts. This might contribute to more respon-sible and informed pesticide use in Khorasan Razavi Province, potentially leading to bet-ter pest control outcomes and reduced health risks. Our study highlights local production of 40% from Iran, import origins from China 63%, and Turkey 21% of pesticides. This is different from the study in South Africa, where a significant amount of pesticide trade occurs in the informal sector ( 20 ). In our study, 40% of participants had a high familiarity with urban pests and pesticides. This level of familiarity is noteworthy compared to studies in other countries. For exam-ple, in Cameroon, about 93% of producers do not respect the pre-harvest interval, indicat-ing a lack of proper application knowledge and safety awareness ( 21 ). In Pakistan, 65.9% of participants had limited knowledge of using the recommended amounts of pesticides ( 22 ). Our findings show that the main health problem is Kitchen cockroaches aligns with the global trend where household pests like cockroaches are common concerns. However, un-like our study, where new pesticides like herbal and low-risk pesticides have low sales (35%), studies in other regions did not specifically address the sales trends of such alter-native pesticides. In our study, age, work experience, gender, and education did not significantly affect the level of familiarity with urban pests and pesticides. This is in contrast to the study in Uganda, where demographic factors like age and education level significantly impacted knowledge and practices related to pesticides ( 19 ). The comparison of our study's results with global findings emphasizes the diversity in pesticide usage, knowledge, and practices across different regions ( 4 , 7 , 18 , 23 – 25 ). While our study participants appear to be more educated and familiar with pests and pesticides, this is not a common trend globally. The diversity in the origin of pesticides, as indicated in our study, also highlights the global nature of the pesticide market and the varying reg-ulatory environments in different countries. Moreover, the specific health problems identi-fied in our study reflect the localized nature of pest-related challenges. Given the low acceptance of new pesticides, educational programs can be implemented to inform participants about the benefits and safety of these products. Older participants with higher work experience may benefit from targeted awareness campaigns to enhance their familiarity with urban pests and safe pesticide use. Understanding the primary sources of pesticide production and import can guide policymakers in ensuring the safety and quality of pesticides entering the region. The identified health problems, especially the prevalence of kitchen cockroaches, highlight the need for public health interventions tar-geting pest control in the region. 5. Conclusions In conclusion, our study's findings contribute to the broader understanding of pesti-cide usage and knowledge, offering a unique perspective of the Khorasan Razavi province that can be valuable in developing tailored strategies for urban pest control. This comparison also highlights the importance of considering local contexts and demographics when developing policies and educational programs related to pesticide use and safety. The study reveals a generally high level of familiarity with urban pests and pesticides among participants, with notable trends in pesticide sources and health concerns. Educa-tional efforts and targeted interventions can further enhance awareness, especially among specific demographic groups. Policymakers may consider regulating and monitoring pes-ticide imports for better public health outcomes. Abbreviations SUMS Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Declarations Author Contributions: Conceptualization, M.M. and M.V6.; methodology, P.F. and A.B ; soft-ware, M.V2.and A.D; validation, Z.D., M.V6. and A.D.; formal analysis, M.V2.; investigation, M.M. and S.O ; resources, A.H.; data curation, M.V6.; writing—original draft preparation, M.M. and S.O. and M.V6 ; writing—review and editing, F.M.; visualization, A.B.; supervision, Z.D. and A.H; project administration, M.V2.and M.V6; funding acquisition, F.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Funding: This study was an approved research project funded by the Shiraz University of Medi-cal Sciences. Institutional Review Board Statement: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declara-tion of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of Ilam University of Medical Sciences with the number IR.MEDILAM.REC.1403.273. Informed Consent Statement: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. Data Availability Statement: All data supporting the findings of this study can be obtained from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request. Acknowledgments: The authors are thankful for the assistance of the vice-chancellorship for re-search and technology at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. 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Derakhshan","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABDElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACAyBOSGCQgPDkQMSBB6RoMQZrSSBFS2IDiMSnRb6BeePjipq0PPnZzc8efNxRmz4/7PBDoC12croN2LUwNrAVG545llNscOeYueHMM8dzN95OMwBqSTY2O4BdCzMDj5lkA1tF4gaJBDNp3rZjuRtnJ4C0HEjchkMLGwOP+c+GfxWJ82ekf5P+23Ys3XB2+ge8WniAtjA2tuUkNtzIMZNmbKtJkJfOwW+LBDNbsWRjX1rihhs5ZZK9bQcMN0jnFBxIMMDtF/n25o0fG74lgxy2TeJnW528/Oz0zR8+VNjJ4dIC9D8KOMxgAFZpgEM5FlAHjCniVY+CUTAKRsHIAADufGQci5bVIQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Shiraz University of Medical Sciences","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zahra","middleName":"","lastName":"Derakhshan","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-03-21 20:38:13","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6280184/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6280184/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":80511919,"identity":"a75d5dde-7eae-4051-9fa4-0278c68676cb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-14 07:13:49","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":48030,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePesticide Manufacturing Countries, and Geographical origins of imported Pesticides\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6280184/v1/757e10e1ebd6102ccdaef614.jpg"},{"id":80511909,"identity":"78761883-80d3-41df-870d-bf29c6672551","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-14 07:13:49","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":47029,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA: \u003c/strong\u003eParticipants' familiarity with urban pests and pesticides; \u003cstrong\u003eB:\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe\u003c/em\u003e main health problem\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6280184/v1/c0491835fffdc8b84d2fc811.jpg"},{"id":80512261,"identity":"de311a37-707a-4aa6-917f-0111ae1f8daf","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-14 07:21:54","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":930095,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6280184/v1/09d90814-60f8-4ef7-b0c7-a403a6ad5641.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Determining the key urban pests and top-selling pesticides from the perspective of pesticide sellers in Northeast Iran: A cross-sectional study","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe application of pesticides for pest control and eradication in agriculture and public health has a long history both globally and in Iran (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Nowadays, there are approximately 500 different types of pesticides utilized worldwide, each falling into various categories based on their chemical structures and intended purposes. The broad classifications in-clude insecticides (for controlling insects), acaricides (for controlling mites and ticks), herbicides (for weed control), rodenticides (for managing rodents), fungicides (fungus killers), and more (\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR4 CR5\" citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e).Despite the significant risks these substances pose to human health and their detrimental impact on the environment, the global consumption of these substances, particularly in developing nations such as Iran, continues to rise (\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR8\" citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e). The in-creasing consumption of harmful substances, such as pesticides, in countries like Iran, poses a grave threat to both human health and the environment. It is concerning that sta-tistics indicate that the usage of pesticides in Iran exceeds the recommended limits by a considerable margin. This overuse not only impacts the intended target pests but also negatively affects other living organisms, including humans (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e). To address this issue, it is crucial to refine the current approach and take steps towards more sustainable and environmentally-friendly solutions. Urban pests represent a multifaceted issue with considerable implications for humans. These pests, encompassing arthropods, insects, small mammals such as mice, and reptiles like small lizards, can disturb mental tran-quility, induce fear and anxiety, and inflict damage on tools and equipment. They can also contaminate food sources, making them undesirable and posing a risk of disease trans-mission (\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR13\" citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBy employing targeted control methods and fostering familiarity with pesticide usage, urban pest management can be enhanced in both efficiency and effectiveness. Conse-quently, contributes to creating healthier and safer human environments. Insects, such as mosquitoes, sand flies, house flies, cockroaches, and others, are known to transmit a range of infectious diseases that pose a significant threat to human health. To control these ur-ban pests, it is common to use pesticides in human environments. Hence, it is crucial to comprehend and remain informed about the commonly used pesticides, as well as to ac-quire knowledge regarding the most significant urban pests in a particular region (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo effectively control urban pests, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the pesticides commonly used in such settings. The strategic use of these chemicals can significantly reduce pest populations and prevent the development of resistance. Howev-er, it is vital to implement and adhere to safe practices to minimize the risks of poisoning and environmental damage. This study is designed to identify and examine the pesticides most frequently used in the northeast of Iran. Additionally, the research aims to evaluate the knowledge and awareness among pesticide resellers concerning major urban pests in the area. The findings of this study are expected to provide essential insights that could help mitigate environmental impacts and effectively manage pesticide resistance in urban pests.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis cross-sectional study focuses on evaluating the awareness and knowledge of pesti-cide vendors in North East of Iran, located in Khorasan Province. Neyshabur and Sab-zevar Counties were selected to study. The population studied for this research was pesti-cide resellers operating within the province. Through sample size calculation for cross-sectional studies using the formula of one proportion and considering a precision level (d) of 0.025 and a probability (p) of 0.05 based on similar studies (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e), a sample size of 300 pesticide resellers was determined totally for inclusion in this study.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe data collection instrument utilized in this study was a questionnaire, structured in a standard format based on prior research with minor modifications. The questionnaire comprised three main sections: the initial section encompassed inquiries regarding per-sonal and contextual details (such as age, gender, marital status, educational level, and work experience), the second section focused on pesticides (including types, application methods, and classification), and the final section addressed urban pests (covering pest types, significance, and distribution). Data collection was carried out by two trained en-tomologists, and data analysis was performed utilizing SPSS version 19 software. To re-port qualitative variables, frequency and percentage were reported, and for quantitative variables, mean and standard deviation were reported, and to check the percentage of fa-miliarity with urban pests and pesticides based on demographic information, ANOVA and Chi-Square tests were used. A significance level of 0.05 was considered in all tests.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ilam University of Medical Sciences with the number IR.MEDILAM.REC.1403.273. No personally identifiable information was included in the dataset used for analysis\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eDemographic Information\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe demographic analysis of pesticide resellers in the northeast region of Iran reveals a diverse educational background and varying levels of work experience. The average age of the resellers surveyed is 36.08 years, with a standard deviation of 6.18, indicating a rela-tively young workforce. The work experience of these individuals averages 9.20 years, with a standard deviation of 4.70, suggesting a moderate level of industry experience among the participants. Gender distribution among the pesticide resellers shows a pre-dominance of males, who represent 76% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;228) of the sample, compared to 24% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;76) who are females. This gender disparity highlights a male-dominated industry within the urban pest control sector in this region. Education levels among the resellers vary signifi-cantly, with the majority holding advanced degrees. Notably, 56% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;168) of the resellers possess a Master of Science degree, followed by 36% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;108) with a Bachelor's degree. Both Associate and Ph.D. degrees are held by 4% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12) of the resellers, respectively (Table A 1).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDemographic information of pesticide resellers\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge (Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWork Experience (Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.70\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMale\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e228 (76.0%)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFemale\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e72 (24.0%)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAssociate degree\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12 (4.0%)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBachelor`s degree\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e108 (36.0%)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaster of Science\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e168 (56.0%)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePh.D degree\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12 (4.0%)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePesticide Manufacturing and Import Origins\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe distribution of pesticide production by country is presented in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003eA, with Iran accounting for the largest share at 40%, followed by China at 31%. Figure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003eB illustrates the sources of pesticide import, with China being the primary supplier at 63%, followed by Turkey at 21%.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eParticipants' Familiarity with Urban Pests and Pesticides\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe participants' level of familiarity with urban pests and pesticides is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eA, indicating that a majority of participants exhibited a high and very high level of familiarity (40\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;32%). German cockroaches were identified as the primary concern by 31% of participants, followed by American cockroaches at 23%. Conversely, the incidence of scorpions was reported to be minimal at 1% (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eB). Furthermore, the sales rate of new pesticides, including herbal and low-risk products, and the acceptance rate of these products by buyers were notably low, with only 35% of participants indicating willingness to purchase such products.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe survey data examining the familiarity with urban pests and pesticides among pesticide vendors indicates diverse levels of knowledge across demographic categories, with the analysis revealing no statistically significant differences in terms of age, work experience, or education as demonstrated by the respective p-values (Age: p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.279, Work Experience: p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.976, Education: p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.148) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). For age, the range of familiarity tends to fluctuate slightly, with the youngest group (mean age 34.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.18) exhibiting the lowest familiarity, and a higher mean age (37.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.83) corresponding to a moderate familiarity level. This variability, however, does not reach statistical significance, suggesting that age alone is not a reliable predictor of knowledge level in this context. Gender differences were also analyzed, and although more men than women were surveyed, the distribution of familiarity levels across gender revealed a nuanced pattern. Men showed an even distribution across the familiarity spectrum, from very low (5.3%) to very high (30.3%), while women tended to report higher levels of familiarity, predominantly in the moderate to very high categories. Despite this, the Chi-Square test indicated that these differences were not statistically significant (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.633), pointing towards a potential uniformity in knowledge dissemination regardless of gender. Educational attainment showed some influence on familiarity levels, where individuals with higher degrees appeared more frequently in the moderate to very high familiarity categories. Particularly, those with a Master of Science degree exhibited broader knowledge (42.9% moderate, 28.6% very high). The Associate degree holders, while fewer, predominantly reported a very high familiarity (75.0%). Nonetheless, the overall statistical analysis (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.148) suggests that these educational disparities in familiarity do not constitute a significant trend, indicating that other factors might be influencing the knowledge levels among pesticide vendors, which could include the quality and relevance of their educational curricula and professional training in pest management (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable 2. Percentage of familiarity with urban pests and pesticides based on demographic information\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"No\" id=\"Taba\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" morerows=\"1\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"5\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFamiliarity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP.value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVery low\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLow\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eModerate\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHeight\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVery height\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge, Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.81\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.279\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWork Experience, Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.976\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMale\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (5.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (25.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 (39.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (30.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.633\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFemale\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (20.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (41.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (37.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAssociate degree\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (25.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (75.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.148\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBachelor`s degree\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (2.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (22.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (44.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (30.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaster of Science\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (3.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 (25.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 (42.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (28.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePh.D. degree\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003ea: ANOVA\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003eb: Chi-Square\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiazinon, Chlorpyrifos, and Ethion are among the most commonly recommended and utilized pesticides for controlling agricultural pests. For health-related pest control, Cypermethrin and Permethrin are widely employed pesticides. In the realm of fungicides, Mancozeb, Bordeaux Fix, and Carbendazim are frequently used. Abamectin and Omite (Propargite) are commonly used acaricides. Paraquat and Glyphosate are popular herbicides, while Brodifacoum and Zinc phosphide are commonly used rodenticides. Molluscicides such as Metaldehyde and Diazinon are also frequently utilized in pest management practices (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e: Pesticides which are also recommended in other class\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e: Most recommended pesticide in its Class\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecommended and available pesticides in Northeast Iran\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInsecticides recommended in agriculture\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInsecticides recommended in health\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFungicides\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcaricide\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHerbicide\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRodenticide\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMolluscicides\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePermethrin \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePermethrin \u003csup\u003ea, b\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBordeaux Fix \u003csup\u003ea, b\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFenpyroximate \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTreflan\u0026nbsp;\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBrodifacoum \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiazinon \u003csup\u003ea, b\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDeltamethrin \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCypermethrin \u003csup\u003ea, b\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFenpyroximate \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCypermethrin \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlyphosate\u0026nbsp;\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBromadiolone\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMalathion \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiazinon \u003csup\u003ea, b\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDeltamethrin \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCopper Oxychloride \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMAC-TOMIL \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGallant Super\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZinc phosphide \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetaldehyde \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMalathion \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChlorpyrifos \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThiophanate-methyl (Topsin-M)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChlorpyrifos \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eParaquat\u0026nbsp;\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChlorate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBordeaux Fix \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLambdacyhalothrin \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMancozeb\u0026nbsp;\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFujiMite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLinuron\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDifenacoum\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChlorpyrifos \u003csup\u003ea, b\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMAC-TOMIL \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCarboxy tiram\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFenpropathrin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2,4-D\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTreflan \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePyrethrin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetalaxyl\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOMITE\u0026nbsp;\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTriflumuron\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLambdacyhalothrin \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eELITE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbamectin\u0026nbsp;\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTribenuron methyl\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMAC-TOMIL\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCarbendazim \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBromopropylate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCypermethrin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTilt (Propiconazole)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOmite\u0026nbsp;(Propargite)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbamectin\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIprodione\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEthion\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEthion\u0026nbsp;\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePenconazole\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhoxim\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcetamiprid\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSulfur\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVolk Oil\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTabuconazole\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDichlorvos\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDimethoate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFenvalerate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eImidacloprid\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eProfenofos\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHexaflumuron\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e: Pesticides which are also recommended in other class\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e: Most recommended pesticide in its Class\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe research findings reveal a significant predominance of educated males in the pesti-cide retail sector, with 76% of respondents being male and 56% holding a Master of Sci-ence degree. This demographic profile suggests a relatively high level of academic quali-fications among pesticide sellers. In contrast, global studies present varying perspectives on the educational backgrounds of pesticide retailers. For example, in Kerala, India, a sig-nificant number of pesticide vendors demonstrated a lack of formal education regarding pesticide safety and alternative methods. Specifically, only 63% of the vendors were knowledgeable about non-chemical pest control techniques, and merely 52% were ac-quainted with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimilarly, in Uganda, despite 97% of agro-input dealers acknowledging the responsibility to advise customers on pesticide use, only 26.6% provided such advice during shopping exercises (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e). This gap in knowledge and practice underscores a deficiency of formal training and education among pesticide sellers in these areas. The contrast in the demo-graphic and educational backgrounds of pesticide sellers between our study and others globally indicates diverse approaches to pesticide retailing. In regions like India and Uganda, where formal education among pesticide sellers is limited, there appears to be a reliance on experience or informal learning. In contrast, the high educational attainment in our study suggests a more structured approach to pesticide knowledge and its dissem-ination.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis disparity in educational levels could be attributed to various factors, including the availability and accessibility of educational and training programs, the regulatory envi-ronment, and the socio-economic status of the region. For instance, regions with more stringent regulations and greater access to educational resources might naturally have a more educated pesticide-selling workforce. The high level of education among pesticide sellers in our study could positively impact the quality of advice and service provided to customers. Educated sellers are likely to have a better understanding of pesticide proper-ties, safety protocols, and environmental impacts. This might contribute to more respon-sible and informed pesticide use in Khorasan Razavi Province, potentially leading to bet-ter pest control outcomes and reduced health risks.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur study highlights local production of 40% from Iran, import origins from China 63%, and Turkey 21% of pesticides. This is different from the study in South Africa, where a significant amount of pesticide trade occurs in the informal sector (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn our study, 40% of participants had a high familiarity with urban pests and pesticides. This level of familiarity is noteworthy compared to studies in other countries. For exam-ple, in Cameroon, about 93% of producers do not respect the pre-harvest interval, indicat-ing a lack of proper application knowledge and safety awareness (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e). In Pakistan, 65.9% of participants had limited knowledge of using the recommended amounts of pesticides (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur findings show that the main health problem is Kitchen cockroaches aligns with the global trend where household pests like cockroaches are common concerns. However, un-like our study, where new pesticides like herbal and low-risk pesticides have low sales (35%), studies in other regions did not specifically address the sales trends of such alter-native pesticides.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn our study, age, work experience, gender, and education did not significantly affect the level of familiarity with urban pests and pesticides. This is in contrast to the study in Uganda, where demographic factors like age and education level significantly impacted knowledge and practices related to pesticides (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe comparison of our study's results with global findings emphasizes the diversity in pesticide usage, knowledge, and practices across different regions (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR24\" citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e). While our study participants appear to be more educated and familiar with pests and pesticides, this is not a common trend globally. The diversity in the origin of pesticides, as indicated in our study, also highlights the global nature of the pesticide market and the varying reg-ulatory environments in different countries. Moreover, the specific health problems identi-fied in our study reflect the localized nature of pest-related challenges.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGiven the low acceptance of new pesticides, educational programs can be implemented to inform participants about the benefits and safety of these products. Older participants with higher work experience may benefit from targeted awareness campaigns to enhance their familiarity with urban pests and safe pesticide use. Understanding the primary sources of pesticide production and import can guide policymakers in ensuring the safety and quality of pesticides entering the region. The identified health problems, especially the prevalence of kitchen cockroaches, highlight the need for public health interventions tar-geting pest control in the region.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusions","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn conclusion, our study's findings contribute to the broader understanding of pesti-cide usage and knowledge, offering a unique perspective of the Khorasan Razavi province that can be valuable in developing tailored strategies for urban pest control. This comparison also highlights the importance of considering local contexts and demographics when developing policies and educational programs related to pesticide use and safety.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study reveals a generally high level of familiarity with urban pests and pesticides among participants, with notable trends in pesticide sources and health concerns. Educa-tional efforts and targeted interventions can further enhance awareness, especially among specific demographic groups. Policymakers may consider regulating and monitoring pes-ticide imports for better public health outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cp\u003eSUMS \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Shiraz University of Medical Sciences\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contributions:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eConceptualization, M.M. and M.V6.; methodology, P.F. and A.B ; soft-ware, M.V2.and A.D; validation, Z.D., M.V6. and A.D.; formal analysis, M.V2.; investigation, M.M. and S.O ; resources, A.H.; data curation, M.V6.; writing\u0026mdash;original draft preparation, M.M. and S.O. and M.V6 ; writing\u0026mdash;review and editing, F.M.; visualization, A.B.; supervision, Z.D. and A.H; project administration, M.V2.and M.V6; funding acquisition, F.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThis study was an approved research project funded by the Shiraz University of Medi-cal Sciences.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstitutional Review Board Statement:\u003c/strong\u003e The study was conducted in accordance with the Declara-tion of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of Ilam University of Medical Sciences with the number IR.MEDILAM.REC.1403.273. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInformed Consent Statement:\u003c/strong\u003e Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability Statement:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eAll data supporting the findings of this study can be obtained from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments: The authors are thankful for the assistance of the vice-chancellorship for re-search and technology at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflicts of Interest:\u003c/strong\u003e The authors declare no conflicts of interest\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDonley N, Bullard RD, Economos J, Figueroa I, Lee J, Liebman AK, et al. 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J Environ Public Health. 2011;2011:230894.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Urban Pest, *Suggested keywords: Pesticide Vendors, Pest Control, Environ-mental Health, Iran","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6280184/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6280184/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe application of pesticides for pest control and eradication in agriculture and public health has a long history both globally and in Iran. As urbanization and agri-culture expand, the use of pesticides is steadily increasing. Since urban pest control is a primary reason for using these chemicals, this study investigated and identified the best-selling pesticides and the most significant urban pests from the perspective of pes-ticide sellers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis cross-sectional study was carried out in the cities of Sabzevar and Ney-shabur, located in the northeast of Iran. The primary data collection tool was a question-naire that was designed to evaluate demographic variables, available and best-selling pesticides, pesticide producing countries, and awareness of the most important urban pests. This questionnaire was distributed among 300 pesticide sellers in the study areas. Data collection was carried out by two trained entomologists, and data analysis was per-formed utilizing SPSS version 19 software. ANOVA and Chi-Square tests were employed to analyze the types of variables and assess the percentage of best-selling pesticides and significant urban pests. A significance level of 0.05 was applied in all tests.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results indicate that the majority of pesticide sellers in northeastern Iran are men (76%) with upper-middle education (56%). Also, based on the collected information, organophosphorus and Pyrethroids pesticides are the best-selling pesticides, and German cockroach, American cockroach and head lice are the most important urban pests in the studied areas, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe expertise of pesticide sellers, along with the production and import of pesticides tailored to the key urban pests in each district, will significantly influence pest control.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Determining the key urban pests and top-selling pesticides from the perspective of pesticide sellers in Northeast Iran: A cross-sectional study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-04-14 07:13:43","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6280184/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"baf0762e-57c0-431a-a858-8ba3342fb798","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 14th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-04-14T07:13:43+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-04-14 07:13:43","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6280184","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6280184","identity":"rs-6280184","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}