Toxicological and ecotoxicological pressure due to pesticide use in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba

Abstract

Aim of study: To quantify the toxicity and ecotoxicological pressure of pesticides in Sancti Spíritus province, Cuba, between 2011 and 2014.Material and methods: A longitudinal descriptive study was designed for the study period, to identify potential risks to the environment and human health associated with the use of pesticides. In order to determine the toxicity and ecotoxicity of pesticide use, ƩSeq (Spread equivalents), POCER (Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk) indicator, and the Toxic Load (TL) methodology of the Plant Health Cuban Institute were used.Main results: Corresponding to 62 chemical families, 124 active ingredients were applied in the province during the study period. Organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, inorganic compounds (such as copper), dithiocarbamates, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, neonicotinoids, sulfonylurea, triazoles, and organochlorines predominated due to their frequency of use. Use of toxic-pesticides, lack of personal protection equipment amount others made workers, residents and applicators the toxicological modules with the highest risk of exposure. From the POCER results we found that aquatic organisms, persistence, and groundwater are the modules with the highest ecotoxicological pressure.Research highlights: With the use of the POCER indicator as well as ƩSeq, a more accurate assessment of toxicity and ecotoxicity from certain pesticide can be done instead of the TL equation currently used in Cuba. In addition substitution of the most toxic pesticides by less toxic ones could help to reduce synthetic pesticide pressure on humans and the environment. This study can help to develop policies and management practices to reduce the hazards of synthetic pesticide use in Cuba.