A screening study of the spatial distribution and cumulative toxicity of agricultural pesticides in the European Union’s waters

• DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1101316
• Publication Date: 2023-04-25T05:17:41Z
• Authors: A. Pistocchi; C. Dorati; F. Galimberti; A. Udias; S. Bopp; R. D’Andrimont; R. Catarino; R. B. Schaefer
• Keywords: Freshwater ecosystem; Environmental toxicology; Environmental Monitoring

Pesticides can be an important stressor to aquatic ecosystems, and their use is strictly regulated in the European Union (EU). However, data on of pesticides are rather limited poorly available, monitoring often insufficient characterize actual exposure impact. The aim work presented here harness available assess, for first time, distribution concentrations toxicity 148 pesticide active substances (AS) whole EU. Starting from estimates agriculture a simple screening-level model fate transport, we quantify soil water. A comparison with shows that predicted water plausible orders magnitude, hence regarded as first-approximation representation environment. individual characterized by divided respective no observed effect (NOEC) organisms, which represents “toxic units” (TU) each AS. cumulative soils streams EU obtained summing TU We estimate AS generally well below 0.1 TU, indicating relatively safe environmental exposure. mixture exceed toxic units more than 27% length EU’s stream network, 1 4%. at given location driven only handful AS, but these differ site reflecting variability use. Still, about 20 out appear among top contributors most cases. While our assessment suggests widespread risk due pollution, it also points limitations concerning knowledge occurrence These need addressed order evaluate accurately effectiveness policies. proof-of-concept method applied support policies implementation elsewhere, once estimated.