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Ecological risk assessment of pesticides on muskrats ( Ondatra zibethicus ) Inhabiting an agriculture area in Illinois, USA
Author(s) -
Juhlin Steven E.,
Halbrook Richard S.
Publication year - 1997
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.5620161221
Subject(s) - pesticide , agriculture , environmental science , risk assessment , ecology , reproduction , biology , computer security , computer science
A retrospective risk assessment was used to investigate whether pesticide use adversely affected populations of muskrats ( Ondatra zibethicus ), semi‐aquatic mammals inhabiting agriculture drainage ditches in northwestern Illinois. Assessment endpoint benchmark concentrations in water were calculated for muskrats from laboratory rat multiple‐generation reproduction no‐observed‐effect levels. The pesticide root zone model and exposure analysis modeling system simulated pesticide fate and revealed expected environmental concentrations (EECs) of pesticide in receiving water. The EECs following agriculture practices and meteorologic events typical of northern Illinois were below endpoint benchmark concentrations. A modeled worst‐case scenario of exposure (three times the typical application rates and 1 cm of rain on the day of application) also revealed EECs below endpoint benchmarks. Assessment results suggested that muskrat populations in northern Illinois were not at risk from the application of pesticides. Results from two other lines of evidence further supported conclusions of this risk assessment.