Pesticide contamination and associated risk factors at public playgrounds near intensively managed apple and wine orchards

Environmental Sciences Europe

Rajini Nagrani¹  Georg H. Niedrist²  Magdalena Nagler³  Tommaso Bardelli⁴  Veronika Temml⁵  Caroline Linhart⁵  Johann G. Zaller⁶  Koen Hertoge⁷  Peter Clausing⁸  Thomas Wilhalm⁹  Andreas Riedl⁹ 

[1] 0000 0000 8853 2677, grid.5361.1, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria;0000 0000 9750 3253, grid.418465.a, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany;0000 0001 2151 8122, grid.5771.4, Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria;0000 0001 2151 8122, grid.5771.4, Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria;0000 0001 2151 8122, grid.5771.4, Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria;Council for Research and Experimentation in Agriculture, Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture (CREA-ZA), Lodi, Italy;0000 0001 2151 8122, grid.5771.4, Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy, Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria;0000 0001 2298 5320, grid.5173.0, Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria;Pesticide Action Network Europe, Brussels, Belgium;Pesticide Action Network Germany, Hamburg, Germany;Umbrella Organisation for Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection in South Tyrol-Dachverband für Natur- und Umweltschutz in Südtirol-Federazione Protezionisti Sudtirolesi-Lia Provinziela per Defënder la Natura Südtirol, Bolzano, Italy;

关键词: Non-targeted area contamination;    Fungicides;    Insecticides;    Fluazinam;    Phosmet;    Endocrine disruptors;    Pesticide drift;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12302-019-0206-0

来源: publisher

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPesticide levels are generally monitored within agricultural areas, but are commonly not assessed at public places. To assess possible contamination of non-target areas, 71 public playgrounds located next to intensively managed apple and wine orchards were selected in four valleys of South Tyrol (northern Italy). Further, the impact of environmental site characteristics on the number and concentration of pesticides was assessed. Grass samples from the selected playgrounds were collected and screened for 315 pesticide residues using standard gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.ResultsNearly half of the playgrounds (45%) were contaminated by at least one pesticide and a quarter (24%) by more than one. Eleven of the 12 different detected pesticides are classified as endocrine-active substances including the insecticide phosmet and the fungicide fluazinam showing the highest concentrations (0.069 and 0.26 mg kg−1, respectively). Additionally, one disinfectant and one preservation agent was found. Playgrounds in Venosta valley were most often contaminated (76% of all investigated playgrounds), highest concentrations were found in the Low Adige (2.02 mg kg−1). Pesticide concentrations were positively associated with areal proportion of apple orchards in the surroundings, the amount of rainfall and wind speed. In contrast, increasing global irradiance, opposite wind direction, increasing distance to agricultural sites and high wind speeds when pesticide application was not allowed were associated with decreasing pesticide contamination.ConclusionThis study is among the first investigating pesticide contamination of public playgrounds together with environmental factors in areas with pesticide-intensive agriculture at the beginning of the growing season. It is likely that playgrounds will be affected by more pesticides and higher concentrations over the course of the crop season. The result, that the majority of the detected pesticides are classified as endocrine active is worrisome as children are especially vulnerable. Hence, we recommend that pesticide risk assessments should better include protection measures for non-target areas.

【 授权许可】

CC BY