ARS | Publication request: REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL AND NON-AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS: MITIGATING OFF-SITE TRANSPORT OF PESTICIDES WITH RUNOFF

Submitted to: SETAC Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 19, 2006
Publication Date: May 7, 2006
Citation: Rice, P.J., Horgan, B., Hapeman, C.J., Mcconnell, L.L., Sadeghi, A.M. 2006. Reducing the environmental impact of agricultural and non-agricultural systems: mitigating off-site transport of pesticides with runoff [abstract]. SETAC Europe 16th Annual Meeting Abstracts. p. 164.

Technical Abstract: Water quality surveys have detected numerous pesticides in surface waters of urban and agricultural areas. The intense use of pesticides in highly managed turf systems and agriculture is of concern due to their potential adverse effects on the quality of surface waters, impacting drinking water resources and sensitive aquatic ecosystems. Although in most conditions, the average annual concentrations of pesticides measured in surface waters are below health-based limits, concentrations may briefly exceed these limits during runoff from the first storms after application of pesticides. Field research quantifying pesticide transport with runoff from non-agricultural and agricultural systems and the evaluation of management practices to mitigate chemical transport will be discussed. Understanding pesticide transport with runoff, evaluating associated risks, and identifying mitigation strategies that reduce off-site transport of applied chemicals will increase pesticides efficacy at intended sites of application and will minimize their potential adverse impacts to the surrounding surface water resources.