Release of pesticides into the environment and initial concentrations
in soil, water, and plants
K. D. Racke
Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Bldg.308,
Indianapolis, IN 46268, USA
Abstract: Considerable information exists as to the initial
concentrations of pesticide residues to be expected in soils, plants,
and water. Empirical or theoretical models have been developed for incorporating
this data into exposure assessments for humans as well as terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife. In addition, monitoring data exists for many older
products, especially with respect to typical concentrations observed
in food commodities for human consumption and in surface and ground
waters. Estimated and observed concentrations of pesticides in these
matrices have been routinely employed for more than 30 years in assessing
the potential impacts of pesticides on a variety of biologically relevant
endpoints. The same data will also prove useful for exposure assessments
of endocrine active substances. There are some additional research needs,
however. First, further research and development is needed to ensure
that estimation and monitoring methods for pesticide concentrations
in soil, water, and food are applicable and utilized for all important
and relevant cultural, agronomic, and environmental conditions. This
is especially true with respect to developing countries and tropical
climates, which are often disproportionately ignored in favor of developing
countries and temperate climates. Second, methodologies for collection
of monitoring data and generation of modeled estimates for pesticide
residues in soil, water, and food need to be carefully designed with
the requirements of higher-tier, probabilistic exposure assessments
in view. Although worst-case, point estimates or analyses may be useful
for screening-level assessments, advanced assessments targeted at addressing
the likelihood of biologically relevant exposures are urgently required
by scientists and regulatory authorities for reaching sound risk assessment
and risk management decisions.
*Report from a SCOPE/IUPAC project: Implication of
Endocrine Active Substances for Human and Wildlife (J. Miyamoto and
J.Burger, editors). Other reports are published in this issue,
pp. 1617-2615.
Page last modified 29 January 2004.
Copyright © 2004 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Questions or comments about IUPAC, please contact, the Secretariat.
Questions regarding the website, please contact web
manager.
