Pesticides in agricultural runoff and their effects on downstream water quality

Abstract

Abstract 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.