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Pesticides in agricultural runoff and their effects on downstream water quality
Author(s) -
Willis Guye H.,
McDowell Leslie L.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620010402
Subject(s) - pesticide , surface runoff , agriculture , environmental science , agrochemical , bioaccumulation , water quality , aquatic ecosystem , population , habitat , ecology , environmental protection , biology , demography , sociology
Agricultural use of pesticides has remained high for economic reasons. Because aquatic species may bioaccumulate pesticides more readily than terrestrial organisms, there has been much concern about pesticides in agricultural runoff. Despite this concern, there presently is little relevant information for use in making accurate predictions of the impact of specific pesticide amounts in agricultural runoff on water quality at some point downstream. There is a compelling need for fundamental research on the physical, chemical, biological and hydrological processes that regulate pesticide behavior not only in agricultural and aquatic habitats, but also during transit between the two. Further, data are needed concerning pesticide toxicity potential as a function of the aquatic physical and chemical regime, and concerning population recovery dynamics as a function of pesticide concentration and species stress.