An overview on common aspects influencing the dissipation pattern of pesticides: a review

Abstract

The common aspects and processes influencing dissipation kinetics of pesticides are determinants of their fate in the environment. Nowadays, with increasing population, the demand for food and fodder crops has also increased. With the development in science and technology, the methods of controlling pests may improve, but the major role played by the environment cannot be altered, i.e. the environmental factors, climatic conditions, and geology of areas under cultivation. Plants play a crucial role in the dissipation kinetics, as they may vary in species and characteristics. Differences in physico-chemical properties, such as formulation, bioavailability, and efficacy of the pesticide, may result in variable dissipation patterns even under the same environmental conditions. While modelling the dissipation kinetics for any specific pesticide applied to any specific crop, each factor must be considered. This review focusses on the variability observed across common factors, i.e. environmental aspects, plant-associated facts, and observed characteristics of chemical substances, influencing pesticide dissipation.

Chiral Analysis of Pesticides and Drugs of Environmental Concern: Biodegradation and Enantiomeric Fraction

“…Application of pesticides is a worldwide and of utmost importance for current agricultural productivity standards and the control of vectors and pests of public health relevance [60]. The dissipation rate of a pesticide into the environment is the primary indicator to its environmental fate [61]; these concepts are further explained in a recent review work [62]. Applied pesticides in agricultural fields affect the surrounding environmental compartments at four major levels: (i) air, through volatilization and wind action; (ii) soil, through direct application and run-off; (iii) surface waters, through run-off and via drainage systems; and (iv) ground water, via leaching and preferred water flow [62][63][64].…”

“…The dissipation rate of a pesticide into the environment is the primary indicator to its environmental fate [61]; these concepts are further explained in a recent review work [62]. Applied pesticides in agricultural fields affect the surrounding environmental compartments at four major levels: (i) air, through volatilization and wind action; (ii) soil, through direct application and run-off; (iii) surface waters, through run-off and via drainage systems; and (iv) ground water, via leaching and preferred water flow [62][63][64]. The dissipation of an applied pesticide is the predominant removal pathway and is influenced not only by its chemical characteristics but also by several environmental aspects, such as photodegradation, temperature, surface wash-off, spatial variability, humidity, and soil properties [62].…”

“…Applied pesticides in agricultural fields affect the surrounding environmental compartments at four major levels: (i) air, through volatilization and wind action; (ii) soil, through direct application and run-off; (iii) surface waters, through run-off and via drainage systems; and (iv) ground water, via leaching and preferred water flow [62][63][64]. The dissipation of an applied pesticide is the predominant removal pathway and is influenced not only by its chemical characteristics but also by several environmental aspects, such as photodegradation, temperature, surface wash-off, spatial variability, humidity, and soil properties [62]. The reports on pesticides' occurrence in the environment are extensive and regard several matrices, namely soil, sediment, surface water, and ground water [65][66][67][68].…”

Development of a Data Set of Pesticide Dissipation Rates in/on Various Plant Matrices for the Pesticide Properties Database (PPDB)

“…In addition, climatic factors (e.g. air temperature, humidity, sunlight intensity) and environmental conditions under which the crop/plant has been grown or stored will also influence dissipation rates [15][16]. Despite the fact that the importance of this type of data for risk assessments has been evident for many years, the data is not routinely reported in any of the main reference sources [17][18][19][20] nor is it normally part of the data package reported and used to support the regulatory authorisation process undertaken by the European Commission, US EPA or many other regulatory bodies in the developed world where there are comprehensive and sophisticated risk assessment processes in place.…”

“…In addition, climatic factors (e.g. air temperature, humidity, sunlight intensity) and environmental conditions under which the crop/plant has been grown or stored will also influence dissipation rates [15][16].…”