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Developing a pesticide risk assessment tool to monitor progress in reducing reliance on high-risk pesticides

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Abstract

A methodology is presented for the development of a pesticide risk assessment tool that was used to monitor progress in reducing use of high-risk pesticides in Wisconsin potato production. Multi-attribute toxicity factors are calculated that reflect each pesticide’s acute and chronic toxicity to mammals, birds, fish and small aquatic organisms, and compatibility with biointensive Integrated Pest Management. These factors are then multiplied by the pounds of active ingredient of a given pesticide applied to estimate pesticide-specific toxicity units. Wisconsin potato industry baseline toxicity units by type of pesticide and for 11 targeted higher-risk pesticides are presented for 1995. Reductions in toxicity units from this baseline are reported for 1997 and 1999, as are reductions achieved in a commercial-scale field experiment in 2000.

Resumen

Se presenta una metodología para el desarrollo de una herramienta de evaluación de riesgos de los plaguicidas que fue usada para vigilar los progresos en la reducción del uso de plaguicidas de alto riesgo en la productión de papas de Wisconsin. Se calculan los atributos múltiples de los factores de toxicidad, que reflejan la toxicidad aguda y crónica de cada plaguicida para los mamíferos, aves, peces y organismos acuáticos pequeños, y la compatibilidad con un biointensivo Manejo Integrado de Piagas. Estos factores son luego multiplicados por las libras del principio activo del plaguicida aplicado, con el fin de calcular las unidades de toxicidad específicas del plaguicida. Se presenta el punto de comparación para 1995 de las unidades de toxicidad de la industria de papa de Wisconsin por tipo del plaguicida y para 11 plaguicidas seleccionados por ser de más alto riesgo. Se reportan las reducciones del punto de comparación en las unidades de toxicidad para 1997 y 1999, como reducciones logradas en un experimento de campo de escala comercial en el 2000.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Benbrook Consulting Services, 5085 Upper Pack River Road, 83864, Sandpoint, ID

    Charles M. Benbrook

  2. NPM Program, Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1575 Linden Dr., 53706, Madison, WI

    Deana L. Sexson

  3. Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1605 Linden Dr., 53706, Madison, WI

    Jeffrey A. Wyman & Carlos A. Granadino

  4. Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1650 Linden Dr., 53706, Madison, WI

    Walter R. Stevenson

  5. World Wildlife Fund, 1250 25th St., 20037, Washington, DC, NW

    Sarah Lynch

  6. Wallendal Supply, Inc., 2401 5th Ave., 53936, Grand Marsh, WI

    John Wallendal

  7. Coloma Farms, 136 South St., 54930, Coloma, WI

    Steve Diercks

  8. Pest Pros, Inc., 54966, Plainfield, WI

    Randy Van Haren

Authors
  1. Charles M. Benbrook
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  2. Deana L. Sexson
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  3. Jeffrey A. Wyman
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  4. Walter R. Stevenson
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  5. Sarah Lynch
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  6. John Wallendal
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  7. Steve Diercks
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  8. Randy Van Haren
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  9. Carlos A. Granadino
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Correspondence to Deana L. Sexson.

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Benbrook, C.M., Sexson, D.L., Wyman, J.A. et al. Developing a pesticide risk assessment tool to monitor progress in reducing reliance on high-risk pesticides. Am. J. Pot Res 79, 183–199 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02871934

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