A Novel Approach to Environmental Risk Assessment of Pesticides as a Basis for Incorporating Environmental Costs into Economic Injury Levels

Abstract

A novel approach has been developed to assess environmental risks associated with the single use of a pesticide. Levels of environmental risk for specific pesticides are determined by objective criteria, and the relative importance and monetary value of avoiding different risks arc estimated through contingent valuation surveys. These data provide the basis for calculating environmental economic injury levels, which include both economic and environmental criteria for making management decisions regarding pests. The model was tested by establishing environmental costs and economic injury levels (ElLs) for field crop insecticides, based on a contingent valuation survey of field crop producers in four north central states. Results indicate that use of environmental ElLs could reduce pesticide use dramatically and improve pesticide selection. The model answers a long-standing need for pest management programs to address environmental safety directly and also provides a formal method for assessing environmental risks from pesticides at the level of individual users, as well as at the regional or national level.