Adjustments of the Pesticide Risk Index Used in Environmental Policy in Flanders

Abstract

Indicators are used to quantify the pressure of pesticides on the environment. Pesticide risk indicators typically require weighting environmental exposure by a no effect concentration. An indicator based on spread equivalents (ΣSeq) is used in environmental policy in Flanders (Belgium). The pesticide risk for aquatic life is estimated by weighting active ingredient usage by the ratio of their maximum allowable concentration and their soil halflife. Accurate estimates of total pesticide usage in the region are essential in such calculations. Up to 2012, the environmental impact of pesticides was estimated on sales figures provided by the Federal Government. Since 2013, pesticide use is calculated based on results from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). The estimation of pesticide use was supplemented with data for non-agricultural use based on sales figures of amateur use provided by industry and data obtained from public services. The Seq-indicator was modified to better reflect reality. This method was applied for the period 2009-2012 and showed differences between estimated use and sales figures of pesticides. The estimated use of pesticides based on accountancy data is more accurate compared to sales figures. This approach resulted in a better view on pesticide use and its respective environmental impact in Flanders.

Effect of Educational Program on Prevention of Pesticides Hazards among Children Working in Agriculture

“…Also, more than three quarters follow the light wind direction of spraying. These findings are not consistent with a result of [23] in their study about "adjustments of the pesticide risk index used in environmental policy in Flanders" indicated that pesticides were commonly applied during day time, but very few paid attention to the wind direction during pesticide application.…”

Toxicological and ecotoxicological pressure assessment on the use of synthetic pesticides in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba

“…ΣSeq is an ecotoxicity indicator that calculates the pressure from using pesticides for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes (vector control) in aquatic organisms (De Smet & Steurbaut, 2002;Fevery et al, 2015). This indicator was included in this study, as POCER considers that the drift of pesticides mainly causes the exposure of aquatic organisms.…”

“…The MAC values are calculated by dividing the lowest toxicity value (representative for aquatic organisms, i.e., the acute or chronic toxicity up to three trophic levels: EC50algae, NOECalgae, LC50crustaceans, NOECcrustaceans, LC50fish, and NOECfish) by safety factor "10", as done by Fevery et al (2015).…”

“…With the use of the POCER and ΣSeq indicators, considering the effect on both terrestrial and aquatic organisms, the pressure caused by a specific a.i. can be more accurately assessed (Fevery et al, 2015(Fevery et al, , 2016Houbraken et al, 2016). Therefore, in both ƩSeq and POCER, insecticides exert significant pressure with marked differences in the case of the ΣSeq indicator.…”

“…ƩSeq expresses the pressure on aquatic life produced by the use of pesticides (Fevery et al, 2015). This indicator has been employed since 1996 in the environmental policy of the Flemish Government (Belgium) for a regional pesticide use assessment (De Smet & Steurbaut, 2002).…”