Toward a harmonized methodology to analyze field side effects of two pesticide products on earthworms at the EU level

Abstract

Before plant protection product (PPP) marketing authorization, a risk assessment for nontarget soil organisms (e.g., earthworms) is required as part of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009. Following a stepwise approach, higher tier earthworm field studies are needed if they cannot demonstrate low long‐term risk based on laboratory studies. The European guidance for terrestrial ecotoxicology refers to ISO guideline 11268‐3 as a standard to conduct earthworm field studies. Assessment of such studies may be challenging, as no European harmonized guidance is available to properly analyze the accuracy, representativeness, and appropriateness of experimental designs, as well as the statistical analysis robustness of results and their scientific reliability. Following the ISO guideline 11268‐3, a field study was performed in 2016–2017 (Versailles, France). An assessment of the first year of this field study was performed in agreement with the quality criteria provided in 2006 in the guidance document published by de Jong and collaborators and recommendations by Kula and collaborators that allows describing the protocol and results of earthworm field studies. Not only did we underline the importance of a detailed analysis of raw data on the effects of pesticides on earthworms in field situations, but we also provided recommendations to harmonize protocols for assessing higher tier field studies devoted to earthworms to advance a better assessment of PPP fate and ecotoxicity. In particular, we provided practical field observations related to the study design, pesticide applications, and earthworm sampling. Concurrently, in addition to the conventional earthworm community study, we propose carrying out an assessment of soil function (i.e., organic matter decomposition, soil structuration, etc.) and calculating diversity indices to obtain information about earthworm community dynamics after the application of PPPs. Finally, through field observations, any relevant observation of external and/or internal recovery should be reported. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:254–271. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Pesticide effects on soil fauna communities—A meta‐analysis

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The ConSoil project: An integrated framework for monitoring plant protection product residues in agricultural soil

“…Overall, the authorisation process focuses on a few single species data, which do not adequately represent the diversity and complexity of soil communities, and does not consider indirect effects along soil food webs (Ockleford et al, 2017). The only exception is the earthworm field study, but which still focuses on a single group and has been criticised for lacking specific guidance on how to summarise and interpret study results in a statistically robust manner (Brulle et al, 2022). In addition, the assessment of chemicals is tied to the particular substance for which authorisation is sought.…”