Insecticides are extensively utilized in modern agriculture to control pests and enhance crop yields; however, their pervasive application has emerged as a primary driver of global soil contamination. Following a systematic literature search strategy across major academic databases, this review critically examines the environmental fate, sources, transport mechanisms, and persistence of these agrochemicals within the dynamic soil matrix. Current estimates reveal a staggering inefficiency, with less than 0.1% of applied insecticides reaching target pests, causing over 99.9% to disperse and transform agricultural soils into long-term xenobiotic sinks. We analyze how multifactorial parameters-specifically soil organic matter, pH, and clay-driven cation exchange capacity-govern sorption kinetics (Kd/Koc) and degradation processes. Crucially, the review highlights that degradation does not strictly equate to detoxification, emphasizing the emerging risks posed by persistent, mobile, and polar (PMP) transformation by-products. The ecotoxicological assessment differentiates the threats of persistent legacy compounds from mobile alternatives (e.g., neonicotinoids). These residues severely compromise soil functional integrity by inducing microbial dysbiosis and inhibiting taxa-specific extracellular enzymes such as cellulase, invertase, and urease from specific taxa like Proteus vulgaris essential for carbon and nitrogen cycling. Furthermore, they inflict severe physiological damage on beneficial ecosystem engineers, notably earthworms. The dual risks of trophic transfer and biomagnification are analyzed concerning human health, highlighting chronic links to carcinogenicity and endocrine disruption. Ultimately, this study advocates for a strategic transition to Integrated Pest Management (IPM), positioning it as a fundamental environmental remediation strategy. By enforcing economic thresholds, prioritizing biological tactics, and integrating nature-based solutions like vermicomposting, IPM proactively minimizes the anthropogenic chemical load, restoring the biological buffering capacity crucial for future agricultural sustainability.
Isler et al. (Wed,) studied this question.