Risk assessment for the population consuming soybeans grown with the use of pesticides in the chemical plant protection system

Abstract

the use of pesticides in the agro-industrial sector of Ukraine is an essential condition for obtaining high yields and is the most common means of protecting agricultural crops. The issue of the impact of pesticide combinations when they are used in chemical plant protection systems remains relevant. The work aimed to assess the risk to the population consuming soybeans grown with the application of pesticides in the chemical plant protection system, predict the danger of their impact, and reduce the pesticide load on the population. We use methods of in-field hygienic observation, mathematical modelling, chromatography, calculation, and statistical analysis in the work. The obtained results of mathematical modelling showed that in the soil and climatic conditions of Ukraine, sedaxan, fludioxonil, metalaxyl-M, promethrin, and diquat are degraded with half-lives (τ50) <5 days and pertain to low-stable compounds, lambda-cyhalothrin was degraded in soya plants with τ50 in the range of 15-30 days, which indicates the persistency of the compound; abamectin, chlorantraniliprole, azoxystrobin, difenoconazole, and pydiflumetofen were degraded in soya plants with τ50 in the range of 5-14 days, which indicates moderate persistency according to State Sanitary Norms and Rules 8.8.1.002-98. Findings showed that the majority of the studied active substances, according to the integral indicator of hazard when consuming foodstuffs (IIHCF), pertain to class 4 (low risk), except for abamectin, lambda-cyhalothrin and difenoconazole, which pertain to moderately hazardous compounds (class 3). The calculated total cumulative risk of exposure to residual quantities of active substances when using the Vibrance mixed pesticide is 1.13% of fludioxonil ADI, Ampligo – 0.38% of lambda-cyhalothrin ADI, Amistar Gold – 1.32% of difenoconazole ADI and Miravis Duo – 1.09% of difenoconazole ADI. Calculating the combined effect of all components in the chemical protection system of soya plants showed that the total hazard of exposure to active substance residual quantities (sedaxan, fludioxonil, metalaxyl-M, promethrin, abamectin, chlorantraniliprole, lambda-cyhalothrin, azoxystrobin, difenoconazole, pydiflumetofen, and diquat) when using Vibrance, Gezagard, Vertimek, Ampligo, Amistar Gold, Miravis Duo, and Reglon Forte pesticides is 15.1% of abamectin ADI. Findings showed that the combined effect of pesticides (as components of the soya chemical protection system) on humans is within acceptable limits. The medical and sanitary standards for safe application (preharvest intervals for soybeans) are substantiated: for the Vibrance and Gezagard preparations – not required, Reglon Forte – 6 days, Amistar Gold, Ampligo, Miravis Duo, and Vertimek – 30 days.