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- Title
Evaluation of the implications of pesticide usage in agriculture on earthworms in the mono-modal equatorial agro-ecological zone of Cameroon.
- Authors
Kenko, Daniel Brice Nkontcheu; Ngameni, Norbert Tchamadeu; Egbe, Awo Miranda
- Abstract
Agronomy is seriously stuck by pest and diseases; as a corollary, massive quantities of synthetic pesticides are used in agriculture with many harmful effects of non-target entities. This study planned to rate pesticide risks to earthworms using pesticide risks in the tropics to man, environment and trade (PRIMET), a pesticide risk model in the mono-modal equatorial agroecological zone of Cameroon: the case of the Tiko plain along the Cameroon coastal line. Data on pesticide application scheme, pesticide persistence in the soil (DT50soil) and pesticide ecotoxicological properties (LC50 and NOEC) were gathered and inputted one after the other into PRIMET to find the predicted exposure concentration (PEC), no effect concentration (NEC) and exposure toxicity ratio (ETR = PEC/NEC). For ETR < 1, there is No Risk, if 1 ≤ ETR ≤ 100, there is a Possible Risk; and if ETR > 100, there is a Definite Risk. For acute risk, independent on the pesticide category, the majority (91%) of pesticides were predicted to pose "no risk" to earthworms. In the chronic risk category, more pesticides were predicted to exhibit risk as compared to acute risk. The insecticide category had significantly higher (p < 0.05) ETRs as compared to other pesticides families. For the 44 compounds evaluated, imidacloprid (ETR = 620, PECn = 21.9 mg/kg) and ethoprophos (ETR = 648, PECn = 108.2 mg/kg) were predicted by the model to pose a definite chronic risk to earthworms. In the possible risk category, 10 insecticides (71.4%) were recorded with carbofuran (ETR = 68, PECn = 11.35 mg/kg) being the riskiest. Out of 10 herbicides assessed, only triclopyr (ETR = 2, PECn = 1.84 mg/kg) was risky. Metaldehyde, the lone molluscicide evaluated, was also predicted to pose a possible chronic risk to earthworms (ETR = 4, PECn = 24 mg/kg). All the fungicides modelled no acute risk to earthworms. For chronic risk, six fungicides (37.5%) were recorded; difenoconazole (PECn = 0.28 mg/kg; ETR = 7) unveiled the highest possible chronic risk. The mainstream of herbicides (90%) assessed were predicted to model no acute and no chronic risk to earthworms under the prevailing use system. Pesticides which were predicted for both an acute and a chronic risk to earthworms comprised acetamiprid, cadusafos, imidacloprid and ethoprophos. Embracing eco-friendly methods in food production, limiting the use of potentially risky compounds and advocating securer ones may safeguard environmental health.
- Subjects
CAMEROON; PESTICIDES; EARTHWORMS; IMIDACLOPRID; CARBOFURAN; ENVIRONMENTAL health; INSECTICIDES; HERBICIDES
- Publication
Environment, Development & Sustainability, 2024, Vol 26, Issue 1, p2271
- ISSN
1387-585X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10668-022-02814-5