Near-field air concentrations of pesticides in potato agriculture in Prince Edward Island.
BACKGROUND
Pesticides in air have become of increasing concern in recent years. This study examined downwind air concentrations of carbofuran, methamidophos, mancozeb and diquat dibromide resulting from spray drift within 24 h of application, within 100 m of potato fields.


RESULTS
Concentrations ranged from less than 0.05 microg m(-3) in prespray samples to 6.37 microg m(-3) for methamidophos at 3 h post-spray. For most applications, air concentrations decreased with distance from the field and with time after application. Methamidophos concentrations in the air downwind continued to increase up to 3 h after spray. Air concentrations during spray were positively correlated with application rate (r = 0.904), and air concentrations at 1 h and 3 h post-spray were positively correlated with vapour pressure (r = 1.000 and r = 0.999 respectively). Carbofuran, methamidophos and diquat dibromide concentrations during spray were above some Canadian and international health protection guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Although pesticide air concentrations measured in this study are generally consistent with other studies, maximum concentrations are greater than those that have been measured elsewhere, and some are above published air quality guidelines. An evaluation of the degree of risk posed by these and other pest control products to human and wildlife receptors is recommended.
Garron
Christine A
CA
Science and Technology Branch Environment Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. christine.garron@ec.gc.ca
Davis
Kimberly C
KC
Ernst
William R
WR
D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002170:Canada; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000254:growth & development
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides