title: Pressure of non-professional use of pesticides on operators, aquatic organisms and bees in Belgium.
abstract: Various studies focus on professional pesticide use, whereas pressure of non-professional use on human and the environment is often neglected. In this study, an attempt was made to estimate the pressure of non-professional use of pesticides on operators, aquatic organisms and bees in Belgium based on sales figures and by using three exposure models. A classification in non-professional use was made based on type of pesticide, application method and on intensity of non-professional use. Pressure of non-professional use on operators is highest for intensive operators, caused by the use of insecticides in an aerosol spray can. Pressure of non-professional pesticides on aquatic life is mainly generated by the use of herbicides. The aerosol spray induces the highest pressure whereas the trigger application hardly affects operator and environmental exposure. The ordinary non-professional user generates most pressure on aquatic organisms. Pressure of non-professional pesticides on bees is mainly caused by the use of insecticides, especially the active substance imidacloprid in combination with the aerosol spray can application method applied by an intensive operator. In general, both total usage (kg) and pressure of pesticides decreased for the period 2005 to 2012 due to efforts made by the government and industry. The results of this study suggest to pay special attention to aerosol spray applications and the non-professional use of insecticides.
authors: Laboratory of Crop Protection Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: davina.fevery@ugent.be.
authors: Davina
authors: D
authors: Fevery
authors: Laboratory of Crop Protection Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Houbraken
authors: Laboratory of Crop Protection Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Pieter
authors: P
authors: Spanoghe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D001516:Bees; D001530:Belgium; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Indicator; Non-professional use; Plant protection products; Risk/pressure assessment