Technogenic and ecological hazards of using chemical plant protection products (on the example of copper-containing preparations)
Authors: Krainiuk Olena , Buts Yuriy , Barbashyn Vitalii , Nikitchenko Olga , Pakki Marianna 
Published: September 2024

Problems Statement and Purpose. The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture has led to significant environmental pollution and health risks, and it is important to consider the negative effects and explore potential solutions to reduce pesticide pollution and its impact on human health and ecosystems.

The purpose of the research is to determine the technogenic and environmental hazards of the use of chemical plant protection products (on the example of copper-containing preparations).

Materials and methods of research. To study the scale of use and storage of plant protection products in Ukraine and to identify their anthropogenic and environmental threat, the analysis of statistical data on the volume of purchases and use of pesticides, in particular in the Kharkiv region, was used, Experimental studies and chemical analysis of some types of agricultural products after pesticide treatment were carried out using atomic absorption.

Results. The paper reveals the essence of the technogenic and environmental hazard of plant protection products for humans and the environment, analyses the scale of use and storage of plant protection products in Ukraine, in particular in the Kharkiv region; outlines ways to improve the technogenic and environmental safety of plant protection products; shows the hazard of using chemical plant protection products for vegetable products on the example of copper-containing preparations.

The volume of accumulation and use of pesticides in Ukraine, including in warehouses in the Kharkiv region, is considered. The number of centralised warehouses has increased. There have been no banned or unusable plant protection chemicals since 2012.

The research was conducted using vegetables, in particular green onions. In the green mass that came into direct contact with the preparation based on copper sulphate (CuSO4), the Cu content was found to exceed the MAC for vegetables. In the study of tomatoes and cucumbers, the content of copper in fruits was investigated. It was found that treatment with a preparation containing copper does not affect the Cu content in fruits throughout the experiment, including the day of treatment. The maximum Cu content in tomato fruits on the day of treatment does not exceed the MPC in the experimental and control samples. The increase in the concentration of Cu in the experimental samples compared to the control samples is not statistically significant, since all values were below the MAC for vegetables, which is 5.0 mg/kg. The study revealed a periodic increase in the content of this heavy metal in cucumber and tomato samples taken on the day of treatment compared to control samples. This may be due to the presence of the product on the surface of the treated crop that has not yet been washed off.

Conclusions. 1) Vinnytsia, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi regions used the most pesticides, while Poltava, Cherkasy, and Sumy regions used less. Kharkiv region had 125 pesticide storage facilities, with 79 in good and 46 in satisfactory condition. 2) Copper-containing pesticides increase copper levels in greenhouse vegetables during growth, with significant peaks on the day of treatment. Green produce exceeded permissible copper levels by up to 6.9 times. 3) The results for early vegetable production in greenhouses can be applied to most agricultural practices in Ukraine.