Ecotoxicological assessment of the application of chemical products of plant protection against pests
Authors: Mostoviak S. , Mostoviak I. , Borzykh O. , Fedorenko V. 
Published: September 2022

Goal. To analyze the number of insecticides and acaricides during the cultivation of crops in Ukraine and in the central part of the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine and to determine the degree of danger of their application.

Methods. Analytical, economic and statistical, comparative analysis. The analysis of the amount of chemical plant protection products for 2018—2020 was conducted according to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Ecotoxicological assessment of 23 chemicals was performed using the Methodologies of the Institute of Plant Protection of NAAS of Ukraine according to the safety data sheet of the preparations and the properties of the active ingredient. The assessment of the level of potential danger of insecticides and acaricides was performed according to the integrated classification of pesticides according to the degree of danger of their application, taking into account indicators of pesticide toxicity (LD50) and their half-life (T50) in soil.

Results. In 2018—2020, on average, 1,750.5 thousand kg/ year of chemical pesticides were used in Ukraine, including 279.1 thousand kg in the territory of the Central Forest Steppe. The most common in Ukraine are preparations based on active agent chlorpyrifos (743.0 thousand kg/ year), active agent dimethoate (95 thousand kg/ year) and active agent lambda-cyhalothrin (80.2 thousand kg/ year), which are stable in soil and according to the indicator of acute oral toxicity are classified as hazard classes 2 and 3. The most common acaricides against ticks are those based on active agent clofentezine and pyridaben (3.01 and 3.08 thousand kg/ year, respectively). It was found that insecticides Danadim Mix, EC (Dimetoat, 400 g/ l + Gamma-Cyhalothrin, 4 g/ l), Lamdex, mc.s. (Dimetoat, 400 g/ l + Gamma-Cyhalothrin, 4 g/ l), Rimon Fast, SC (Novaluron, 50 g/ l + Bifenthrin, 50 g/ l), Cezar e.c. (Bifenthrin, 100 g/ l), Shaman, EC (Chlorpyrifos, 500 g/ l + Cypermethrin, 50 g/ l) and acaricide Sunmite, m.p. (Pyridabem, 200 g/ kg) with LD50 55—160 mg/ kg. Most preparations are highly resistant chemical compounds with half-life (Т50) in soil 51-386 days. These are: Aktara 25WG, w.g. (Thiamethoxam, 250 g/ kg), Ampligo 150 ZC, FC (Chlorantraniliprole, 100 g/ l + Lambda-Cyhalothrin, 50 g/ l), Voliam Flexi 300 SC, e.c. (Thiamethoxam, 200 g/ l + Lambda-Cyhalothrin, 100 g/ l), Engio 247 SC, s.c. (Lambda-Cyhalothrin, 106 g/ l + Thiamethoxam, 141 g/ l), Coragen 20, s.c. (Chlorantraniliprole, 200 g/ l), Lamdex, mc.s. (Lambda-Cyhalothrin, 50 g/ l), Mavrik, BE (Tau-fluvalinate, 240 g/ l), Rimon Fast, SC (Novaluron, 50 g/ l + Bifenthrin, 50 g/ l), Cezar e.c. (Bifenthrin, 100 g/ l), Shaman e.c. (Chlorpyrifos, 500 g/ l + Cypermethrin, 50 g/ l), Apollo, s.c. (Clofentesin, 500 g/ l), Sunmite, m.p. (Pyridaben, 200 g/ кg). Conclusions.  In Ukraine and in the Central Forest-Steppe the amounts of chemical plant protection products are considerable, which increases the emergence of environmental risks in agrophytocenosis. Most pesticides contain active agent with a high rate of acute oral toxicity and are classified as hazard class 2. According to the degree of danger level, preparations Decis Profi WG (Deltamethin, 250 g/ кg), Decis f-Lux 25 EC (Deltamethin, 25 g/ l), Kalipso 480 SC (Thiacloprid, 480 g/ l), Kormoran, EC (Novaluron, 100 g/ l + Acetamiprid, 80 g/ l), Proclaim 5 SG (Emamectin benzoane, 50 g/ кg), Rubizh, e.c. (Dimetoat, 400 g/ l) belong to low-hazardper (danger level 6—7). According to the combination of ecotoxicological and sanitary-hygienic indicators, dangerous pesticides (3 degree) include preparations Ampligo 150 ZC, FK (Chlorantraniliprole, 100 g/ l + Lambda-Cyhalothrin, 50 g/ l), Engio 247 SC, s.c. (Lambda-Cyhalothrin, 106 g/ l + Thiamethoxam, 141 g/ l) and Masai, s.p. (Tebufenpyrad, 200 g/ кg), very dangerous — (2 degree) — Lamdex, mc.s. (Lambda-Cyhalothrin, 50 g/ l), Rimon Fast, SC (Novaluron, 50 g/ l + Bifenthrin, 50 g/ l), Cezar e.c. (Bifenthrin, 100 g/ l) and Sunmite, m.p. (Pyridabem 200 g/ kg). These preparations are highly toxic and decompose in agrophytocenosis slowly, and therefore their use should be limited to reduce environmental risks.