title: Multivariate analysis of toxicological and environmental properties of soil nematicides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In intensive agriculture, the use of pesticides and soil fumigants is necessary to produce economically viable crops worldwide. However, this practice may involve undesirable effects on human health and the environment. In 1995, methyl bromide was restricted by the Montreal Protocol because of possible ozone depletion. The objective of this study was to compare intrinsic environmental and toxicological properties of 11 active substances with nematicidal properties, some of them recognized as methyl bromide alternatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four groups of active substances were discriminated by a series of principal component analyses (PCAs): (a) high toxicity to non-target fauna, humans and animals and medium persistence in the environment (cadusafos, ethoprophos and fenamiphos); (b) high toxicity to humans, animals and non-target fauna and high persistence (carbofuran and fosthiazate); (c) low toxicity to non-target fauna, humans and animals and low persistence (carbosulfan, benfuracarb and oxamyl); (d) low toxicity to humans, animals and non-target fauna and medium persistence in the environment (1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin and methyl bromide).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluating the multiple aspects of toxicological and environmental properties of active substances through PCA is proposed as a helpful tool for initially comparing the complex toxicological behaviour of active substances as plant protection products.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Moreno
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alonso-Prados
authors.forename: J Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alonso-Prados
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Baudín
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009348:Nematoda; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants