Impact of temperature on the toxicity of Kraft 36 EC (R) (a.s. abamectin) and Score 250 EC (R) (a.s. difenoconazole) to soil organisms under realistic environmental exposure scenarios

Author(s)

de Figueiredo, Livia Pitombeira ^[1] ; Athayde, Danillo B. ^[1] ; Daam, Michiel A. ^[2] ; van Gestel, Cornelis A. M. ^[3] ; Guerra, Glauce da Silva ^[4] ; Duarte-Neto, Paulo Jose ^[4] ; Espindola, Evaldo L. G. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Engn Sch, NEEA CRHEA SHS, Av Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[2] Univ Nova Lisboa, Fac Sci & Technol, Dept Environm Sci & Engn, CENSE, P-2829516 Quinta Da Torre, Caparica - Portugal

^[3] Vrije Univ, Fac Sci, Dept Ecol Sci, De Boelelaan 1085, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam - Netherlands

^[4] Rural Fed Univ Pernambuco, Dept Stat & Informat, PPGBEA, R Dom Manoel de Medeiros S-N, BR-52171900 Recife, PE - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY; v. 194, MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Pesticides can affect all receiving compartments, especially soils, and their fate and effects may be enhanced by temperature, increasing their risk to ecological functions of soils. In Brazil, the most widely used pesticides are the insecticide Kraft 36 EC (R) (a.s. abamectin) and the fungicide Score 250 EC (R) (a.s. difenoconazole), which are commonly used in strawberry, often simultaneously as a mixture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of realistic environmental applications, single and in mixtures, for both pesticides to the springtail Folsomia candida and the plant species Allium cepa (onion) and Lycopersicum esculentum (tomato). Mesocosms filled with Brazilian natural soil (lattosolo) were dosed with water (control), Kraft (10.8 g a.s/ha), Score (20 g.a.s/ha) and Kraft + Score (10.8 + 20 g a.s./ha). The applications were repeated every 7 days, during 18 days of experiment, and simulating rainfall twice a week. Collembola reproduction tests were conducted with soils from the first (day 1) and last day (day 18) of experiment for each treatment. Plant toxicity tests were carried out in the experimental units. The experiments were run at 23 degrees C and 33 degrees C. Kraft, alone and in the binary mixture, showed high toxicity to the springtails in soils from both days 1 and 18, especially at 23 degrees C where it caused 100% mortality. Score however, was not toxic to the springtails. Plant growth was reduced by Score, but responses varied depending on temperature. This study indicates a high environmental risk of the insecticide Kraft, particularly at lower temperatures (23 degrees C), and an influence of temperature on pesticide fate and effects. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/24628-4 - Analysis of temperature influence on destination and pesticide toxicity in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems using integrated experimental systems
• Grantee: Livia Pitombeira de Figueirêdo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate