Pesticides What Are Pesticides? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pesticides are chemical substances used to manage, prevent, or eliminate pests. These pests may include insects, rodents, fungi, bacteria, or unwanted plants such as weeds. The EPA also classifies certain soil additives, such as nitrogen stabilizers, as pesticides. In simple terms, pesticides are chemicals designed to kill or control organisms that are considered harmful to crops, homes, o