title: Quantification of potential exposure of gray partridge (Perdix perdix) to pesticide active substances in farmlands.
abstract: Estimating exposure of wild birds to plant protection products is of key importance in the risk assessment process evaluating their harmful potential. In this paper, we propose an ecologically-relevant methodology to estimate potential exposure to active substances (ASs) of a farmland focal bird, the gray partridge Perdix perdix. It is based on bird habitat use of fields at the time of pesticide applications. It accounts for spatio-temporal heterogeneity at population and landscape scales. We identify and quantify the potential exposure to 179 ASs of 140 clutches during pre-laying, laying, and incubation phases, and of 75 coveys. The data come from a large scale field study combining radiotelemetry and a farmer survey. They were collected in 12 different representative sites. The proportion of clutches potentially exposed to a given chemical was ≥5% for 32 ASs; prothioconazole and epoxiconazole ranking first. 71% of clutches were potentially exposed to ≥1 AS and 67% to ≥2 ASs. Mixtures involved 2 to 22 ASs. They emerged from commercial formulations, tank mixtures, bird habitat use, and combinations. ASs were fungicides (53%), herbicides (25%), and insecticides (16%) used on a variety of crops in April-June, when ground-nesting birds are breeding. The European Food Safety Authority conclusions report a long-term first-tier toxicity-to-exposure ratio (TERlt) <5 for 11 out of 19 documented ASs, and higher-tier TERlt <5 for 5 out of 10 ASs. This suggests a potential risk for bird reproduction in farmlands. Globally 13% of coveys were potentially exposed to 18 ASs during the first month (1-4 coveys per AS). The use of our field data in future research and risk assessment is discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Game and Wildlife Institute (ONCFS), Research Department, Saint Benoist, BP 20, F 78 612 Le Perray en Yvelines Cedex, France. Electronic address: elisabeth.bro@oncfs.gouv.fr.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bro
authors.affiliation: National Game and Wildlife Institute (ONCFS), Research Department, Saint Benoist, BP 20, F 78 612 Le Perray en Yvelines Cedex, France. Electronic address: florian.millot@oncfs.gouv.fr.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Millot
authors.affiliation: National Game and Wildlife Institute (ONCFS), Research Department, Saint Benoist, BP 20, F 78 612 Le Perray en Yvelines Cedex, France. Electronic address: anouk.decors@oncfs.gouv.fr.
authors.forename: Anouk
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Decors
authors.affiliation: Centre de Traitement de l'Information Scientifique (CTIS), 3 chemin de la Gravière, 69140 Rillieux La Pape, France. Electronic address: j.devillers@ctis.fr.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Devillers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D046094:Galliformes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000378:metabolism*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Farmland; Mixtures; Pesticide; Potential exposure; Reproduction; Wildlife