Investigation of pesticides in rivers and an on-farm mitigation strategy for reducing point-source pollution
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Date
2023-03-24
Authors
Fatema, Marufa
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Abstract
By screening for up to 172 pesticide compounds (primarily herbicides and insecticides), this research investigated the types and concentrations of pesticide compounds present in water-column and bottom-sediment samples collected from four rivers in the Province of Manitoba, Canada. A total of 34 unique compounds were detected in the water-column (n=202) with broadleaf herbicides among the most frequently detected (2,4-D, bentazone, clopyralid, MCPA), in addition to herbicides atrazine and metolachlor that are widely used in the United States Corn Belt. Herbicide triclopyr was only detected after the Red River entered urban landscapes in Manitoba but many other unique active ingredients were already detected in the first sampling station immediately after the Canadian-United States border. Only 6 unique compounds have set Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life, and their guidelines were never exceeded. A total of 32 unique compounds were detected in bottom sediments (n=94) of which 78% are current-use active ingredients in Manitoba. In addition to sediments, pesticides can be sorbed to other constituents present in rivers such as microplastics which are believed to be carriers of legacy insecticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane). This study investigated the sorption of current-use herbicides (2,4 D, atrazine, glyphosate) by microplastics which was virtually negligible, except for glyphosate sorption by PVC (35%). In contrast, the sorption of DDT by these same microplastics was always >50% (of the initial DDT in solution). Finally, this study investigated the efficiency of single and dual-cell biobeds in the Prairies to minimize point-source pollution by allowing the capture and degradation of pesticide residues associated with sprayer rinsing. With a few exceptions (clopyralid, fluroxypyr and imazethapyr), biobeds always showed to be highly effective in reducing pesticides concentrations in rinsate. The PTI (Pesticide Toxicity Index) values determined for a range of indicator species were always much larger for influent than effluent samples, suggesting ecological benefits to the broad adoption of biobeds in Prairie municipalities and on-farms. Biobeds were least effective for current-use pesticides that have relatively high GUS values (> 2.8) suggesting that further improvements in biosystem design need to be made for optimizing the recycling of these pesticides.
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Keywords
Pesticide, Residue, Sediment, Microplastics, Biobed