Environmental Risk of Pesticides: Applying the DelAzulPestRisk Model to Freshwaters of an Agricultural Area of Argentina

Abstract

DelAzulPestRisk is a risk-based chemical ranking model based on human and local biota toxicities that estimates the integrated risk of pesticides in water from their extensive (concentration, risk) and intensive (persistence, bioaccumulation) chemical properties. The model is built on two modules: human health risk factor (estimated based on the probabilistic cancer and non-cancer health risk by using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency models applied to a bathing exposure scenario) and biota health risk factor (quantified on the basis of the probabilistic toxicity exposure ratio -PEC/PNEC-for three local representatives of water biota multiplied by an amplification factor supported by the persistence and bioaccumulation potential). The model was applied to shallow creeks of Tres Arroyos County, Argentina, which flow across wheat and soybean agricultural lands, and in whose waters were detected many organochlorine pesticides (α, γ , y, δ-HCH, aldrin, heptachlor, γchlordane, endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate, dieldrin, and DDD). Dieldrin, aldrin, and heptachlor generated the worst potential effects-due mainly to the cancer and non-cancer dermal health risk-although this was not a significant environmental threat. DelAzulPestRisk is a screening assessment tool for water management purposes that become useful in countries lacking efficient water quality control systems.

The Fate of Glyphosate and AMPA in a Freshwater Endorheic Basin: An Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment

“…Furthermore, ecological risk assessments due to the presence of pesticides in aquatic environments are scarce. Peluso et al ([ 23 ], pp. 1177–1199) assessed the environmental risk of organochlorine pesticides following a model known as DelAzulPestRisk, though the presence of glyphosate was not included in calculations.…”

Kinetically-Controlled Growth of Chestnut-Like Au Nanocrystals with High-Density Tips and Their High SERS Performances on Organochlorine Pesticides

“…It is well known that organochlorine pesticides belong to highly-toxic substances [ 48 , 49 ]. Among them, lindane (or γ-666) is the most typical and toxic organochlorine pesticide.…”

Crop proximity index for monitoring of peri-urban land use in agro-industrial crop regions

“…In this context, numerous investigations in Argentina have shown that pesticides used by the agro-industrial model of GMO are transported long distances, are found in urban areas, do not degrade easily (they are pseudo-persistent), contaminate water, soil and air ( Alonso et al., 2018 ; Aparicio et al., 2013 ; Bonansea et al., 2018 ; De Gerónimo et al., 2014 ; Etchegoyen et al., 2017 ; Hunt et al., 2017 ; López et al., 2012 ; Mendez et al., 2017 ; Mugni et al., 2011 ; Peluso et al., 2014 ; Primost et al., 2017 ; Solis et al., 2017 ).…”

“…Therefore, environmental indicators are needed for the proper assessment of the location of crops and pesticide use in order to minimize the risks of contamination from peri-urban areas ( Feola et al., 2011 ; Reus et al., 2002 ; Zivan et al., 2016 ). Although there are numerous indicators and indices of contamination and exposure to pesticides ( Alister and Kogan, 2006 ; Damalas and Eleftherohorinos, 2011 ; Dubny et al., 2018 ; Feola et al., 2011 ; Ferraro et al., 2003 ; Hunt et al., 2017 ; Kookana et al., 2005 ; Kudsk et al., 2018 ; Peluso et al., 2014 ; Reus et al., 2002 ; Sánchez-Bayo et al., 2002 ; Strassemeyer et al., 2017 ; Tsaboula et al., 2016 ; Vercruysse and Steurbaut, 2002 ), it is difficult to apply them in countries such as Argentina due to the lack of data on the use of pesticides required for their calculation, or due to the inaccessibility of such data. These conditions highlight the need to develop methodologies that allow the determination of primary data on the degree of proximity of crops to cities to serve as input to investigate possible cases of exposure on the populations living there.…”