Cancer among farmers.

A study was made of the indirect costs that result from pesticide usage in the United States. These costs included: 45,000 annual non-fatal and fatal human pesticide poisonings; $ 12 million in livestock losses; $ 287 million in reduced natural enemies and pesticide resistance; $ 135 million in honey bee poisonings and reduced pollination; $ 70 million in losses of crops and trees; $ 11 million in fish and wildlife losses; and $ 140 million in miscellaneous losses. The estimated total of $ 839 million annual losses attributed to environmental and social costs of pesticide use represents only a small portion of the actual costs. A more complete accounting of the indirect costs would probably be several times the total reported. The results of this preliminary assessment underscore the serious nature of the environmental and social costs of pesticide use.

Environmental and social costs of pesticides: A preliminary assessment

Amines and amine-related compounds in surface waters: a review of sources, concentrations and aquatic toxicity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of high concentrations of pesticides and nitrate in groundwater and rainwater in the province of Limburg, The Netherlands. Eight wells were sampled, six in the north and two in the south, and analysed for a suite of pesticides and nitrate. Rainwater also was sampled and analysed from two locations. Triazines were detected in groundwater; atrazine and simazine exceeded the groundwater human-health standard of 100 ng l -1 . In rainwater, 13 of 23 pesticides were detected, of which several had high concentrations; e.g. atrazine (>200 ng l -1 ). Two of the pesticides detected in rainwater (β+γ-HCH and atrazine) exceeded the groundwater standard. Seven pesticides in rainwater exceeded the Target value and three pesticides exceeded the Maximum Tolerable Risk value (DDT, heptachlor and heptachlorepoxide A), which are used as ecotoxicological standards in The Netherlands. For atrazine in rainwater, exceedance of the TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) level of 0.5 pg kg -1 day -1 was observed using the model HESP. Groundwater nitrate concentrations regularly exceeded the standard of 50 mg l -1 .

Pesticides and nitrate in groundwater and rainwater in the province of Limburg, The Netherlands

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence ofhigh levels of pesticides in groundwater and rainwater in TheProvince of Limburg in The Netherlands In groundwater samplesin particular the presence of triazines – atrazine, simazine and propazine – was observed; besides these pesticides, dieldrin has also been observed Atrazine and simazine were found to exceed the groundwater standard of 100 ng L-1 In the rainwater samples, the presence of 13 of 23 different analyzed pesticides was observed A number of pesticides werefound in high concentrations; eg atrazine (>200 ng L-1) Two pesticides detected in rainwater (β+γ-HCH and atrazine) were found to exceed the groundwater standard Seven pesticides in rainwater were found to exceed the target value and three pesticides the maximum tolerable risk value (DDT, heptachlor and heptachlorepoxide A), which are used as ecotoxicological standards in The NetherlandsNitrate in 15 of 16 analyzed natural springs was found toexceed the guideline value for nitrate in drinking waterof 50 mg L-1, up to levels of about 200 mg L-1 Nitrate concentrations in rainwater samples were observed up to 45 mg L-1 A risk analysis of exposure to high pesticide levels in groundwater or rainwater has been performed using the model HESP For atrazine levels due todeposition of rainwater in two different locations, exceedance of the TDI level of 05 μg kg-1 day-1 based on WHO criteria was observed for children using both an urban and a rural scenario and use of groundwater as drinking water

Pesticides and nitrate in groundwater and rainwater in the Province of Limburg in The Netherlands.

Previous studies have focused on N-nitroso derivatives of relatively non-persistent pesticides or pesticides that form unstable N-nitroso derivatives. We feel that more persistent pesticides or their degradative products capable of forming N-nitroso derivatives should be investigated. Also pathways of degradation, both chemical and biological, should be elucidated.

Fincher Rc

Papers

N-nitrosamine formation from atrazine.