What is a common consequence of using excessive pesticides?

Using excessive pesticides often leads to pest resistance as a common consequence. This occurs because when pests are repeatedly exposed to these chemicals, a number of them may survive due to genetic variations that confer resistance to the pesticides. Over time, these resistant pests breed, resulting in a population of pests that no longer respond to the pesticides that were previously effective, thus necessitating the use of even stronger or more toxic chemicals to manage them.

This cycle can create a greater cycle of reliance on pesticides, making pest management increasingly challenging and potentially leading to further negative environmental impacts. The initial intention of pesticides—to control pest populations and protect crops—can ultimately be undermined by this process, leading to a decline in effective pest control measures.