Ecological risk assessment of current-use pesticides and biocides in soils, sediments and surface water of a mixed land-use basin of the Pampas region, Argentina. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pérez, Débora J.; Iturburu, Fernando G.; Calderon, Gabriela; Oyesqui, Lía A.E.; De Gerónimo, Eduardo; Aparicio, Virginia C.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 263(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Multi-matrix assessment -- Toxic units -- Risk quotients -- Ecological risk -- Herbicides -- Imidacloprid; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: The present study aimed to assess the ecological risk of 30 current-use agricultural pesticides and biocides in the soil, sediments and aquatic organisms of a mixed land-use basin located in the Depressed Pampas Region of Argentina. Risk Quotients (RQs) were used to evaluate the chronic risk in soil and aquatic organisms, while Toxic Units (TUs) were used to assess the acute risk in sediment-dwelling organisms and aquatic biota. Acetochlor, hydroxy-atrazine, glyphosate, AMPA, metolachlor, imidacloprid and tebuconazole were the only pesticide residues detected (>30%) and quantified in all the matrices evaluated. Glyphosate and AMPA showed the highest concentrations, being their mean and maximum levels 27.90–176.00 μg kg −1 and 270–712.50 μg kg −1 in soils, 8.28–32.0 μg kg −1 and 6.85–17.50 μg kg −1 in sediments, and 1.88–4.36 μg L −1 and 0.66–1.03 μg L −1 in surface water. The RQs in soils showed high chronic risk, mainly due to AMPA and imidacloprid. The TUs in sediments showed acute risk in dwelling organisms, mainly due to glyphosate and imidacloprid. RQs assessment showed a range of chronic risk levels according to the site/sampling event, with higher contribution of atrazine and its metabolites, and acetochlor, whereas TUs assessment showed no acute risk in aquatic biota. In contrast to Europe, in Argentina, there are no restrictions regarding the use of atrazine, acetochlor, imidacloprid and glyphosate to protect aquatic life. Thus, it is recommended that the current Argentine pesticide regulations should be modified to prevent ecological risk and protect ecosystems. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: The ecological risk for pesticides was assessed in a stream basin of the Pampas. Glyphosate and AMPA showed the highest levels in all the matrices analyzed. Household biocide products are a source of pollution in urban and grass areas. No toxicity data are available for some pesticides and their degradation products. Toxicity risk was related to glyphosate, AMPA, atrazine, acetochlor and imidacloprid.