nontargets

Nontargets are organisms or ecological components that are not the intended targets of a control measure, such as a pesticide, biological agent, or genetic intervention. The term is used across disciplines, including agriculture, ecology, toxicology, and biotechnology, to describe unintended exposure or effects.

In pest management, nontargets may be exposed to pesticides through drift, volatilization, runoff, or residues on treated surfaces. Affected nontargets can include pollinators, natural enemies of pests (predators and parasitoids), aquatic invertebrates, birds that consume treated prey, soil microorganisms, and nonpest plants. Effects can be direct toxicity or sublethal impacts such as impaired foraging, reproduction, or behavior, as well as indirect consequences from disrupted food webs or habitat alterations.

Risk assessment seeks to characterize nontarget risks by estimating exposure and toxicity using laboratory tests, field studies, and modeling. Mitigation measures include selecting more selective products, optimizing timing and application methods, creating buffer zones, preserving refuges for beneficial species, and integrating multiple pest management strategies to reduce reliance on any single tool. Post-application monitoring helps detect unexpected impacts and guide adjustments.

In biotechnology and genetics, nontarget effects also refer to unintended consequences outside the intended target species, such as off-target genetic edits. Mitigation relies on improved design, high specificity enzymes, comprehensive screening, and regulatory evaluation before deployment.

Regulatory frameworks commonly require evaluation of nontarget risks as part of product approval or environmental risk assessment, emphasizing precaution and adaptive management.