The division of Europe into regions with similar potential effectiveness and environmental consequences of pesticide application based on expert inclusive research

A division of Europe into regions with similar climate and soil conditions, assuming similar pesticide effectiveness and environmental effects of their application, was developed by a combination of statistical cluster analysis and expert involvement for identifying clustering variables and weighing their importance. The experts identified 15 variables representing climatic, soil and crop structure data and weighted them. In order to maximally simplify the administrative work with pesticide registration resulting from the division of Europe into zones, the additional criteria in the procedure were: the zoning follows existing administrative borders, country divisions by zone boundaries are limited, and situations where a zone consists of parts separated by another zone are avoided. The results of the analyses were compared with the applicable EPPO classification and visualized on maps. The highest similarity was observed in the southern Mediterranean zone, the layout of which differed by only a few regions. The Alpine part, having specific conditions, was not distinguished among the EPPO zones. Our study very clearly delineated the Central European part, having a climate with continental influence, which is distributed among other zones in the EPPO classification.     

Recent developments of safer formulations of agrochemicals

The primary objectives of formulation technology are to optimise the biological activity of the pesticide, and to give a product which is safe and convenient for use. However, because of the wide variety of pesticide active ingredients which are available, many different types of formulations have been developed depending mainly on the physico-chemical properties of the active ingredients. In the past most formulations were based on simple solutions in water (SL), emulsifiable concentrates in a petroleum-based solvent (EC), or dusts (DP) and wettable powders (WP). The presence of petroleum-based solvents in EC formulations and dusty powders in DP and WP formulations can lead to safety hazards in use and a negative impact on the envirnoment generally. Most government and regulatory authorities are now demanding formulations which are cleaner and safer for the user, have minimal impact on the environment, and can be applied at the lowest dose rate. Developments in formulation technology and novel formulation types, sometimes in special packaging such as water-soluble packs, can also give products a competitive advantage, add value or extend the lif-cycle of active ingredients. There is also a demand from government authorities and consumer groups to use safer formulation additives and adjuvants, and to minimise the residues of pesticides on food crops after spraying. All of these aspects are putting increasing pressure on the development of improved formulation and adjuvant technologies. Pesticide formulations for spray application and for seed treatment are discussed, along with developments in bioenchancement.     

Spray optimization through application and liquid physical property variables–I

One of the most important considerations when optimizing a spray application for maximum efficacy and minimum drift is the selection of the optimum droplet size spectrum (Hewitt, A. J., 1997. The importance of droplet size in agricultural spraying. Atomization and Sprays, 7(3), 235–244). Applicators are faced with an extensive selection of nozzle types, tank mixes and adjuvants. The present paper discusses the way that the tank mix and application variables interact to produce specific spray characteristics of droplet size spectrum, coverage and performance in total spray efficiency. Experimental data investigating the effects of liquid physical properties such as dynamic surface tension, shear and extensional viscosity are described. Spray formation from emulsions, surfactants and oils is also discussed. Atomization studies conducted in wind tunnels using a wide range of atomizer and nozzle types under different operating conditions are discussed. Empirical models for predicting atomization and drift of sprays are described with emphasis on their development and practical use for spray optimization.     

Application of land-use data and screening tests for evaluating pesticide runoff toxicity in surface waters

Survey information on pesticide usage in New Zealand during 1985–1989 is summarized by regions and principal applications. Two screening tests, one based on a simple water-balance method and the other based on a semiempirical runoff formula, have been used to identify 18 pesticides with application rates that may yield runoff concentrations that are harmful to aquatic fauna. These are predominantly associated either with intensive applications in horticulture or extensive applications to cereal crops and pasture. The purpose of the screening tests was to calculate typical edge-of-field concentrations in runoff and, by comparing them with known aquatic toxicity values, determine which compounds are applied at rates that may yield toxic runoff. While it may be possible to extend these methods to calculate typical surface water concentrations, further studies will be needed to evaluate pesticide persistence and assimilation in stream channels.     

Use pattern of pesticides and their predicted mobility into shallow groundwater and surface water bodies of paddy lands in Mahaweli river basin in Sri Lanka

Pesticides applied on agricultural lands reach groundwater by leaching, and move to offsite water bodies by direct runoff, erosion and spray drift. Therefore, an assessment of the mobility of pesticides in water resources is important to safeguard such resources. Mobility of pesticides on agricultural lands of Mahaweli river basin in Sri Lanka has not been reported to date. In this context, the mobility potential of 32 pesticides on surface water and groundwater was assessed by widely used pesticide risk indicators, such as Attenuation Factor (AF) index and the Pesticide Impact Rating Index (PIRI) with some modifications. Four surface water bodies having greater than 20% land use of the catchment under agriculture, and shallow groundwater table at 3.0 m depth were selected for the risk assessment. According to AF, carbofuran, quinclorac and thiamethoxam are three most leachable pesticides having AF values 1.44 × 10^?2, 1.87 × 10^?3 and 5.70 × 10^?4, respectively. Using PIRI, offsite movement of pesticides by direct runoff was found to be greater than with the erosion of soil particles for the study area. Carbofuran and quinclorac are most mobile pesticides by direct runoff with runoff fractions of 0.01 and 0.08, respectively, at the studied area. Thiamethoxam and novaluron are the most mobile pesticides by erosion with erosion factions of 1.02 × 10^?4 and 1.05 × 10^?4, respectively. Expected pesticide residue levels in both surface and groundwater were predicted to remain below the USEPA health advisory levels, except for carbofuran, indicating that pesticide pollution is unlikely to exceed the available health guidelines in the Mahaweli river basin in Sri Lanka.     

Temporal trends in organophosphorus pesticides use and concentrations in river water in Japan, and risk assessment

We reviewed organophosphorus pesticide use in Japan between 1982 and 2016 using data from the National Institute of Environmental Studies. Organophosphorus pesticide concentrations in river water throughout Japan were taken from the literature, and risk assessments were performed for some organophosphorus pesticides based on risk quotients and hazard quotients. Assessments were performed for 20 common pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The amounts used decreased in the order: insecticides?>?herbicides?>?fungicides. Organophosphorus insecticide and fungicide use have decreased over the last four decades, but organophosphorus herbicide use has increased. During this period, annual organophosphorus pesticide use was the highest for chlorpyrifos (105,263?tons/year) and the lowest for glyphosate-sodium (8?tons/year). The ecotoxicological risk assessment indicated that diazinon and fenitrothion posed strong risks to the Japanese aquatic environment, and chlorpyrifos and malathion have moderate risks. None of the pesticides that were assessed posed significant risks to humans. Continued use of organophosphorus pesticides in Japan may cause strong risks to aquatic environments. These risks should be reassessed periodically.     

Influence of parameters on the heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of pesticides and phenolic contaminants in wastewater: a short review

In recent years, the application of heterogeneous photocatalytic water purification processes has gained wide attention due to its effectiveness in degrading and mineralizing the recalcitrant organic compounds as well as the possibility of utilizing the solar UV and visible-light spectrum. This paper aims to review and summarize the recent works on the titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) photocatalytic oxidation of pesticides and phenolic compounds, predominant in storm and wastewater effluents. The effects of various operating parameters on the photocatalytic degradation of pesticides and phenols are discussed. Results reported here suggest that the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds depends on the type and composition of the photocatalyst and, light intensity, initial substrate concentration, amount of catalyst, pH of the reaction medium, ionic components in water, solvent types, oxidizing agents/electron acceptors, catalyst application mode, and calcination temperature in the water environment. A substantial amount of research has focused on the enhancement of TiO(2) photocatalysis by modification with metal, non-metal and ion doping. Recent developments in TiO(2) photocatalysis for the degradation of various pesticides and phenols are also highlighted in this review. It is evident from the literature survey that photocatalysis has good potential to remove a variety of organic pollutants. However, there is still a need to determine the practical utility of this technique on a commercial scale.     

农药废水的处理技术进展与展望

综述了近年来农药废水治理技术方法,以草甘磷废水治理技术为例,列举了氧化法、吸附法、生化法对农药废水的治理效果,展望了新的农药废水处理技术,主要包括电化学法、高级氧化法和联合处理法等处理方法。     

2种杀菌制剂对微生物和大型无脊椎动物降解落叶的影响

水生真菌对于河流中的落叶降解这一重要的生态系统服务有着重要的作用。然而,杀真菌剂对于参与落叶降解的水生真菌和大型无脊椎动物的影响却鲜有了解。本实验将美国红枫（Acer rubrum）的叶片在河流中进行处理（处理组）以获得微生物（细菌与真菌）,或是在自来水下进行淋洗（未处理组）以模拟杀真菌剂可能带来的微生物生物量减少的情况。将处理组叶片分别置于绿钩虾属动物Hyalella azteca（端足类动物,在暴露开始时7日龄,是一种落叶分解物种）存在或不存在的环境中,在23 ℃条件下暴露于复合杀真菌剂QUILT（嘧菌酯和丙环唑）或是PRISTINE（啶酰菌胺和唑菌胺酯）培养14天。QUILT（~ 0.3 μg?L^-1, 1.8 μg?L^-1, 8 μg?L^-1）有加速端足类动物分解落叶的趋势（不显著）,却没有促进端足类动物本身生物量的同时增长,表明端足类动物对于落叶消费量的上升应该主要由于落叶营养成分的减少。PRISTINE（~ 33 μg?L^-1）显著地抑制了端足类动物的生长,降低其生物量（P<0.05）,在未处理组中也观察到类似结果。PRISTINE对于端足类动物生长显著的抑制作用以及随QUILT浓度升高而加快的落叶降解的趋势表明受到杀真菌剂影响的河流中落叶降解这一过程很可能被改变。在河流生态系统相关的条件下,如温度的变化和与杀虫剂混合后脉冲式的暴露,杀真菌剂对于落叶降解的影响需要进一步的研究。
精选自Adria A. Elskus, Kelly L. Smalling, Michelle L. Hladik, Kathryn M. Kuivila. Effects of 2 fungicide formulations on microbial and macroinvertebrate leaf decomposition under laboratory conditions. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 35, Issue 11, pages 2834–2844, November 2016. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3465
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3465/full
     

Environmental fate of pesticides used in Australian viticulture IV. Aqueous stability of dithianon

Dithianon formulations are unstable in slightly basic aqueous solutions (pH 9, 20°C, t _½ = 5.6 h) but relatively stable in neutral or acidic solution (pH 4,20°C, t _½ = 6443 h). To ensure the efficacy of this fungicide it is important to prepare the spray mix fresh with neutral or slightly acidic water. Dithianon is unstable towards natural sunlight in the solid and aqueous phase, with half‐lives of approximately 68 and 42 days, respectively. Thermal hydrolysis does not seem to be the preferred degradation pathway when aqueous solutions are heated by the South Australian summer sun. The major aqueous phase photodegradation product has been identified as 2,3‐dihydro‐1,4‐dithiaanthraquinone. These results strongly suggest that should dithianon be accidentally released into basic Australian waters then it is likely to be rapidly chemically hydrolysed and pose little long term environmental threat. However, dithianon is only slowly chemically and photo‐lytically hydrolysed in neutral and acidic waters, and in this case accidentally release may pose a significant short term environmental threat.