Determination of the Content of Selected Pesticides in Surface Waters as a Marker of Environmental Pollution

Ewa Pawłowicz-Sosnowska,Wioletta Żukiewicz-Sobczak,Paweł Sobczak,Dominik Szwajgier,Maciej Domański

doi:10.3390/su13168942

Abstract

Pesticides are a major problem not only in the food chain but also when considering the protection of our planet. The use of neonicotinoids has been banned in the EU due to their high toxicity to living organisms, in particular honeybees. The presence of neonicotinoids in natural waters poses a threat to pollinating insects and thus hampers organic production. Pesticide residues in the natural waters of agricultural land are monitored within the framework of promoting sustainable rural development to maintain the safety of human and animal health. Chromatographic analyses of selected neonicotinoid pesticides in water samples from agricultural sites in eastern Poland were performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which followed a solid-phase extraction (SPE). The research revealed no evidence of neonicotinoids contamination. Water quality in this region can be a good factor in promoting sustainable development. The obtained results complement the existing knowledge on the impact of neonicotinoids on both the sustainable food chain and the environment. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that they are not being used in rural area under the study.

Highlights

Neonicotinoids were developed in the late 1980s and introduced into the pesticide market in the 1990s
There are huge benefits associated with the use of insecticides in agriculture, public health, forestry and countryside landscapes, which greatly contribute to the development of the economies of developed and developing countries [4]
The aim of the study is to perform a qualitative assessment of water for the presence of contamination with selected pesticides, i.e., neonicotinoids, as the indicator of their irresponsible use on agricultural farms

Summary

Introduction

Neonicotinoids were developed in the late 1980s and introduced into the pesticide market in the 1990s. Imidacloprid is the oldest neonicotinoid and was first approved for use in the United States in 1994 and in Canada in 1995 to control damage to potatoes, tomatoes, apples, cornsalad and other greenhouse plants [1]. The use of neonicotinoids was registered in around 120 countries worldwide [3]. There are huge benefits associated with the use of insecticides in agriculture, public health, forestry and countryside landscapes, which greatly contribute to the development of the economies of developed and developing countries [4]. Extensive use of insecticides is, among many factors, partly responsible for the increase in yields in agriculture production in recent decades. The use of neonicotinoids is associated with serious health consequences for people and the environment [4]. There has been overwhelming evidence about the potentially harmful impact on humans, non-target

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Conclusion