Abstract
Different pesticides can be used by farmers to control bioagressors. To assess environmental and
human health risks due to pesticide use, pesticide risk indicators are elaborated. The objective of this
study was to characterize the potential risks of pesticides used and their side effects on health and
environment. A census of the use of pesticides in citrus orchards was conducted among farmers in
Tunisia during crop season 2013/14. Two risk indexes were calculated for each pesticide: a Health Risk
Index (HRI) and an Environmental Risk Index (ERI) according to the Quebec Pesticides Risk Indicator
(IRPeQ). The parameters used to follow each calculation were obtained from the registration dossier of
each formulation and the international databases like Agritox, Extoxnet and PAN Pesticides. The
highest HRI were obtained for the formulations based on the active ingredient methidathion (HRI=
1227), while, Success Appât
® a formulation, based on spinosad as active ingredient, is the product with
the lowest health risk (HRI= 12). On the other hand, its ERI was evaluated with an index of 175,
according to its toxicity towards honey bees. The fungicide formulation Aliette Express®
presented
slightly low health and environmental risk indexes. The determination of the risk indexes HRI and ERI
allowed us to compare pesticides (active ingredient and formulation) according to their potential risk
and facilitate the choice of the pesticide with least risk for human health and environment.
Citation
ID:
174177
Ref Key:
bouagga2016tunisianthe