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Environments
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Pesticide Contamination to Non-target Organisms, the Environment, and Agroecosystems
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Pesticide Contamination to Non-target Organisms, the Environment, and Agroecosystems

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 9383

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ge Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
Interests: beekeeping; pollinator conservation; toxicology; insect ecology
Prof. Dr. John D. Stark

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of the Environment, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA, USA
Interests: hazard/risk assessment; aquatic organisms; butterfly conservation; demographic toxicology; insect pest control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pesticides are widely used in agricultural lands to control various pest species and increase crop yields. However, they may adversely affect non-target species, including wild plants, invertebrates (e.g., insect predators and pollinators) and vertebrates (e.g., amphibians, reptiles, fishes, birds, and mammals) living in and around agricultural lands that are vital for the ecosystem. Assesssing pesticide toxicity to non-target organisms is a standard process for pesticide registration and environmental protection, but quite often, these studies are conducted on a limited number of surrogate species under laboratory conditions because it is challenging to perform such assessments in nature due to exposure and several risk factors. Moreover, pesticides indirectly affect the non-target species as they can move throughout the environment of soil, water, plant tissue and prey organisms.

This Special Issue seeks to publish papers that address the effects of pesticides on non-target species. Topics can range from exposure levels, toxicity, direct versus indirect effects, risk assessment, and mitigation of pesticide effects at mulitple sites and across large geographical areas. Studies that highlight mitigation methods or techniques to reduce exposure (e.g., using appropirate pesticides, dosages, time and application equipment) and increase non-target species’ resistance to pesticides via bioremediation techniques (e.g., biochar to absorb pesticides, microbial biodegradation of pesticides) are also welcome.

Dr. Ge Zhang
Prof. Dr. John D. Stark
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pesticide
  • herbicide
  • insecticide
  • fungicide
  • rodencide
  • miticide
  • exposure assessment
  • risk assessment
  • expoure route
  • mitigation
  • natural enemy
  • pollinator
  • insect
  • fish
  • amphibian and reptile
  • mamal
  • wildlife
  • soil and water
  • plant

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 24651 KiB  
Article
Morphological Alterations and Oxidative Stress Induction in Danio rerio Liver After Short-Term Exposure to the Strobilurin Fungicide Dimoxystrobin
by Rachele Macirella, Abdalmoiz I. M. Ahmed, Federica Talarico, Naouel Gharbi, Marcello Mezzasalma and Elvira Brunelli
Environments 2024, 11(12), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11120282 - 7 Dec 2024
Viewed by 509
Abstract
Unlike many other fungicides, strobilurins are applied several times during the growing season for prophylactic purposes, thus heightening the risk of environmental contamination. In the EU, the dimoxystrobin approval period lasted for 17 years. It has been classified as moderately toxic to birds [...] Read more.
Unlike many other fungicides, strobilurins are applied several times during the growing season for prophylactic purposes, thus heightening the risk of environmental contamination. In the EU, the dimoxystrobin approval period lasted for 17 years. It has been classified as moderately toxic to birds and highly toxic to earthworms, and it is suspected to be carcinogenic to humans. However, it is still commercialized in several countries. The effects of dimoxystrobin are still largely underexplored, with only three studies reporting sublethal alterations in fish. Here, we evaluated for the first time the effects of dimoxystrobin on zebrafish liver after short-term exposure (96 h) to two sublethal and environmentally relevant concentrations (6.56 and 13.13 μg/L), providing evidence of morphological, functional, and ultrastructural modifications. We revealed severe alterations encompassing three reaction patterns: circulatory disturbance, regressive and progressive changes, which also showed a dose-dependent trend. Furthermore, we revealed that dimoxystrobin induced a significant increase in lipid content, a decrease in glycogen granules and affected the defensive response against oxidative stress through a significant downregulation of SOD and CAT. The information presented here demonstrates that the hazardous properties of dimoxystrobin may result from several pathological events involving multiple targets. Our results also emphasize the importance of the combined use of morphological, ultrastructural and functional investigation in ecotoxicological studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pesticide Contamination to Non-target Organisms, the Environment, and Agroecosystems)
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17 pages, 1709 KiB  
Article
Non-Destructive Biomarkers in Non-Target Species Earthworm Lumbricus terrestris for Assessment of Different Agrochemicals
by Antonio Calisi, Tiziana Cappello, Mario Angelelli, Maria Maisano, Davide Rotondo, Davide Gualandris, Teodoro Semeraro and Francesco Dondero
Environments 2024, 11(12), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11120276 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 395
Abstract
In many agroecosystems, agrochemicals are widely used to control crop pests, but often affect many non-target species of ecological and agronomic interest, such as earthworms. Earthworms are considered useful indicators of soil contamination. Exposure of these organisms to contaminants occurs mainly through the [...] Read more.
In many agroecosystems, agrochemicals are widely used to control crop pests, but often affect many non-target species of ecological and agronomic interest, such as earthworms. Earthworms are considered useful indicators of soil contamination. Exposure of these organisms to contaminants occurs mainly through the large amount of soil ingested, which passes through the digestive tract, which is closely associated with the coelom and its fluids. In this work, we used the coelomic fluids of earthworms exposed to copper sulfate and chlorpyrifos to standardize a set of non-destructive biomarkers useful for assessing the contamination in agroecosystems. Metallothionein concentrations, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, lysosomal membrane stability, micronucleus frequency, morphometric alterations, and granulocyte cytoskeleton polymerization were analyzed. The results showed that all the biomarkers used were detectable in the coelomic fluid. Furthermore, the data obtained showed highly significant variations for all biomarkers studied, thus demonstrating that the use of coelomic fluid for biomarker assessment in non-target species offers numerous advantages for field applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pesticide Contamination to Non-target Organisms, the Environment, and Agroecosystems)
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12 pages, 630 KiB  
Article
Environmental Risk Assessment of Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA) in Portuguese Groundwater Ecosystems
by Santos Inês, Lopes Ana and Silva Emília
Environments 2024, 11(11), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11110258 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 467
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to assess the risk related to the exposure of groundwater ecosystems to herbicide glyphosate and its non-relevant metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) based on the quotient between measured concentrations gathered from the Water Resources Information System of [...] Read more.
The aim of the present study was to assess the risk related to the exposure of groundwater ecosystems to herbicide glyphosate and its non-relevant metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) based on the quotient between measured concentrations gathered from the Water Resources Information System of Portugal, and groundwater quality standards set in legislation and estimated from environmental quality standards in surface waters. Glyphosate was analyzed in 103 groundwater samples collected from 80 wells located in 21 aquifer systems from the four hydrogeological units of mainland Portugal, between 2019 and 2021. It was detected in 14% of the total samples; however, only 10% presented concentration levels above 0.1 µg/L, the groundwater quality standard, and none of these values exceeded the value of 8.67 μg/L estimated from the annual average environmental quality standard proposed for glyphosate in surface waters. In comparison, AMPA was detected in only 5% of 63 groundwater samples, in four dug wells. In both compounds, the maximum concentration level was quantified in a dug well located in the O25-Torres Vedras aquifer system, from the Western unit, with 4.69 and 4.24 μg/L for glyphosate and AMPA, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate that it is extremely important to raise awareness and offer training to farmers on the sustainable use of plant protection products and good agricultural practices, in order to prevent groundwater contamination and improve its quality. There is also an urgent need to carry out ecotoxicological tests with further groundwater species from different functional groups in order to obtain a quality standard that accurately represents the groundwater communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pesticide Contamination to Non-target Organisms, the Environment, and Agroecosystems)
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19 pages, 1602 KiB  
Article
Ecotoxicity of Pesticides Approved for Use in European Conventional or Organic Agriculture for Honeybees, Birds, and Earthworms
by Lena Goritschnig, Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, Thomas Durstberger and Johann G. Zaller
Environments 2024, 11(7), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11070137 - 28 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1952
Abstract
Pesticides affect biota inside and outside agricultural fields due to their intrinsic mode of action. This study investigated whether pesticide active substances (AS) approved for conventional agriculture in Europe differ in their ecotoxicity from AS approved for organic agriculture. The evaluation was based [...] Read more.
Pesticides affect biota inside and outside agricultural fields due to their intrinsic mode of action. This study investigated whether pesticide active substances (AS) approved for conventional agriculture in Europe differ in their ecotoxicity from AS approved for organic agriculture. The evaluation was based on official ecotoxicological data for surrogate honeybee, bird, and earthworm species, which also serve as a reference for official environmental risk assessments in the pesticide authorization process. In October 2022, 268 chemical-synthetic AS approved for conventional and 179 nature-based AS approved for organic agriculture were listed in the EU Pesticide Database. Ecotoxicological data were only available for 254 AS approved for use in conventional agriculture and 110 AS approved for use in organic agriculture. The results showed a higher ecotoxicity of conventional AS: 79% (201 AS), 64% (163 AS) and 91% (230 AS) were moderately to acutely toxic to honeybees, birds, and earthworms, respectively, compared to 44% (48 AS), 14% (15 AS) and 36% (39 AS) of AS approved for organic agriculture. We have only considered the potential ecotoxicities of individual substances in this assessment; actual exposure in the field, where multiple AS formulations with other chemicals (including impurities) are applied, will be different. Nevertheless, these results emphasize that an increase in organic agriculture in Europe would reduce the ecotoxicological burden on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pesticide Contamination to Non-target Organisms, the Environment, and Agroecosystems)
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Review

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29 pages, 846 KiB  
Review
Understanding Environmental Contamination Through the Lens of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
by Fabio Castagna, Luigi Montano, Renato Lombardi, Angelo Pagano, Andrea Gigliotti, Roberto Bava, Carmine Lupia, Anna Costagliola, Antonio Giordano, Ernesto Palma, Domenico Britti and Giovanna Liguori
Environments 2024, 11(12), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11120264 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 799
Abstract
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) stands out as a crucial sentinel species for assessing environmental contamination, owing to its widespread distribution, high position in the food chain, and susceptibility to pollutants. As apex predators, these remarkable birds accumulate various contaminants found [...] Read more.
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) stands out as a crucial sentinel species for assessing environmental contamination, owing to its widespread distribution, high position in the food chain, and susceptibility to pollutants. As apex predators, these remarkable birds accumulate various contaminants found in their prey, thus serving as valuable indicators of ecological health. The historical application of organochlorine pesticides, such as DDT, resulted in alarming population declines, highlighting the significant vulnerability of peregrines to environmental hazards. Recent research has shed light on the detrimental effects of heavy metal exposure, revealing critical health risks including compromised immune function and reduced reproductive success, which further highlight the ecological consequences of pollution for top predators. Moreover, the complex nature of brominated flame retardants poses challenges in balancing fire safety with environmental health, as these chemicals persist in the ecosystem and threaten peregrine falcon populations. In the future, the use of possible new bioindicators of environmental pollution opens up interesting prospects. This innovative approach may enhance our understanding of how contaminants affect reproductive health and contribute to a broader One Health perspective, emphasizing the interconnectedness of wildlife, human health, and ecosystem integrity. This comprehensive overview underscores the urgency of ongoing monitoring and regulatory efforts to protect peregrine falcons and, by extension, our shared environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pesticide Contamination to Non-target Organisms, the Environment, and Agroecosystems)
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18 pages, 360 KiB  
Review
Effects of Agricultural Pesticides on Decline in Insect Species and Individual Numbers
by Peter Quandahor, Leesun Kim, Minju Kim, Keunpyo Lee, Francis Kusi and In-hong Jeong
Environments 2024, 11(8), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080182 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 3952
Abstract
As agricultural production increases, the use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides, and other synthetic pesticides has equally increased over the years. Inadequate pesticide application description and monitoring has generated a heated debate among governmental organisations, agricultural industries, and conservation organisations about pesticide effects on [...] Read more.
As agricultural production increases, the use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides, and other synthetic pesticides has equally increased over the years. Inadequate pesticide application description and monitoring has generated a heated debate among governmental organisations, agricultural industries, and conservation organisations about pesticide effects on insect species richness and abundance. This review is therefore aimed at summarizing the decline in insects’ species and individual numbers as a result of extensive pesticide utilisation and recommends possible management strategies for its mitigation. This review revealed an average pesticide application of 1.58 kg per ha per year, 0.37 kg per person per year, and 0.79 kg per USD 1000 per year. Insects have experienced a greater species abundance decline than birds, plants, and other organisms, which could pose a significant challenge to global ecosystem management. Although other factors such as urbanisation, deforestation, monoculture, and industrialisation may have contributed to the decline in insect species, the extensive application of agro-chemicals appears to cause the most serious threat. Therefore, the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly management strategies is critical for mitigating insect species’ decline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pesticide Contamination to Non-target Organisms, the Environment, and Agroecosystems)
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