Easy tool for multiparametric categorization of pesticide risk in surface water and wastewater

Published: 19 September 2023| Version 1 | DOI: 10.17632/cvvsrh456t.1
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Description

This dataset provides information compiled on the risk associated to pesticides. In addition, it can be used as a model tool for classification of the pesticide risk in surface water and wastewater matrices since it gives an objective comparison of risk and possible impact on aquatic ecosystems and their surroundings. The specific score proposed is here assigned to each compound as a function of: (i) toxicology classification according to the WHO (12 points); (ii) bioaccumulation (10 points); (iii) persistence in the environment as a function of the half-life time (10 points); (iv) solubility in water (7 points); (v) the acceptable daily intake (ADI) in humans (5 points); (vi) the acceptable limit in drinking water (6 points); (vii) tendency to produce diseases in the long term (8 points); (viii) ecotoxicological risk (12 points); (ix) acute toxicity in Daphnia Magna (9 points); (x) acute toxicity in rainbow trout (11 points); (xi) acute oral toxicity in rats (4 points); (xii) acute dermal toxicity in rats (4 points), and (xiii) acute inhalation toxicity in rats (2 points). In general terms, the parameters with the greatest influence on the global categorization were assigned taking into account the impact of the pesticides on aquatic ecosystems, followed by the risk of their mobility in the environment, their presence in surface water intended for human use, and finally their toxicity to their surroundings. Higher scores for each parameter were assigned to the highest risk categories.

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Steps to reproduce

1. The 38 agro-toxic compounds were classified according to rigorously calculated risk scores based on 13 parameters, described as follows: (i) General toxicity of the compound according to global entities responsible for health and the environment. (ii) Accumulation process of chemicals in living organisms, reaching concentrations that exceed the environment (greater than the concentration of the environment = high). (iii) Capacity of a substance to remain unchanged in a specific environment. (iv) Capacity of a substance to dissolve into another. Usually this is used to determine the mobility of compounds in the environment. (v) Amount of a toxic substance that can be consumed per day without it being considered a health risk. (vi) Accepted concentrations of a toxic substance in drinking water based on the values of the European Union. (vii) Propensity of a toxic substance to produce adverse effects upon prolonged exposure, which may appear during or after exposure. (viii) Refers to the study of toxic effects in ecosystems, with the purpose of predicting environmental deterioration. (ix) Measurement of the concentration of a substance that is lethal to 50 percent (LC50) of the organisms exposed (Daphnia Magna) in a 48-hour period. (x) Measurement of the concentration of a substance that is lethal to 50 percent (LC50) of the organisms exposed (rainbow trout) in a 96-hour period. (xi) Measurement of the concentration of a substance that is lethal by ingestion to 50 percent (LD50) of the exposed organisms (rats) in a short period of time. Values expressed as LD50/LC50. (xii) Measurement of the concentration of a substance that is lethal by dermal contact to 50 percent of the exposed organisms (rats) in a short period of time. Values expressed as LD50/LC50. (xiii) Measurement of the concentration of a substance that is lethal by inhalation to 50 percent of the exposed organisms (rats) in a short period of time. Values expressed as LD50/LC50. 2. The total score was the result of the sum of the specific scores obtained for each parameter. 3. Applying this tool to categorize 38 targeted pesticides established the following pesticides as the highest risk: Dichlorvos, Dichloro-diphenyl trichloroethane, Chlorpyrifos, and Dieldrin. These pesticides correspond to priority substances in the field of water policy, according to DIRECTIVE 2013/39/UE of the European Union. This evidences that the tool is useful for classification of the relative risk of any set of pesticides in surface and wastewater matrices used for different purposes.

Institutions

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Universidad de Narino, Universidad Del Rosario

Categories

Surface Water, Pesticide Toxicology, Pesticide, Environmental Pollution, Wastewater

Funding

Sistema General de Regalías de Colombia

Development, Transfer of technology and knowledge for the detection, characterization and degradation of SARS-CoV-2 and emerging contaminants in urban wastewater in Departamento de Nariño (BPIN: 2020000100770)

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