Pesticide Risk In Groundwater

Pesticide pollution of groundwater results from agricultural practices, the properties of the substance and its behavior in the soil environment, and the characteristics of aquifers and their vulnerability. Pesticide Risk in Groundwater provides an overview of the main issues concerning pesticide pollution of groundwater worldwide. The book is divided into five sections. Section I reviews experimental data of groundwater monitoring to indicate the extent of the problem on a global basis. Based on this evaluation, herbicides are examined in depth. Section II describes predictive approaches to estimate the distribution and fate of pesticides, and includes a chapter devoted to hydrogeological aspects affecting the vulnerability of aquifers. The third section evaluates pesticides in relation to their toxicology. It critically examines the criteria and procedures by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to define quality objectives, and compares the monitoring data on pesticides in groundwater with their quality objectives. Section IV evaluates various strategies to control and prevent groundwater pollution problems. Different water treatment options are described from a technical and economic point of view. The main preventative actions include the chemical approach, the agronomic approach, and the land use approach. The final section reviews the state of the art of drinking water regulations in the EEC, the United States, and other OECD countries. The author describes the economic implications of groundwater pollution and its control and exemplifies with a real case study.

We have been witnessing a silent chemical revolution over the past half century. Pesticides bring widespread environmental contamination, with residues detected far from their site of application. These substances are playing havoc with the lives of humans and the environment because of their indiscriminate use. Pesticide Risk Assessment describes the environmental risks associated with the injudicious use of pesticides and their mixtures, their methods of estimation and assessment, and their regulation. It also contains methods to reduce and minimize the risks associated with the use of pesticides. The book: Examines pesticides, their impact on the environment, mode of action, estimation methods, risk assessment, mixture toxicity, alternatives for risk reduction, and regulatory aspects.Includes global case studies detailing cases of pesticide poisoning, and the health effects of exposure to pesticides. Covers risks to human health, aquifers and aquatic organisms, pollinators, soil micro flora and fauna, terrestrial organisms and wildlife. Suitable for anyone involved in pesticide application and integrated pest management, this is essential reading for researchers, scientists, extension workers and policy makers.