Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Persistence of fipronil residues in Eucalyptus seedlings and its concentration in the insecticide solution after treatment in the nursery

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Eucalyptus seedlings are normally protected from underground termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) by immersing them in insecticide solutions. Fipronil (phenylpyrazole) is the most frequently used product to protect seedlings in the field for up to 6 months after application. This is performed just prior to planting. However, the persistence of this product in seedlings that are treated and subjected to irrigation several days prior to planting has not yet been evaluated. This study aims to quantify the fipronil concentration in the substratum and roots of the seedlings treated and subjected to irrigation for up to 56 days prior to planting and to quantify this insecticide concentration in the solutions, without continuous stirring, for 120 min. The quantitative determination of fipronil in the seedlings and in the insecticide solution was done by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet (UV) detector. It was found that irrigation up to 56 days, performed in the nurseries, did not decrease the fipronil concentration in the seedlings. The absence of stirring reduced the fipronil concentration in the insecticide solution, necessitating a homogenization system to maintain the recommended concentration of this product, to effectively treat the eucalyptus seedlings. The seedling treatment with fipronil can be conducted strictly in the nursery, reducing cost and environmental risks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Aajoud, A., Ravanel, P., & Tissut, M. (2003). Fipronil metabolism and dissipation in a simplified aquatic ecosystem. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51(5), 1347–1352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asaro, C., & Creighton, J. (2011). Use of systemic fipronil and imidacloprid to control regeneration pests of loblolly pine. Journal of Economic Entomology, 104(4), 1272–1279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beggel, S., Werner, I., Connon, R. E., & Geist, J. P. (2010). Sublethal toxicity of commercial insecticide formulations and their active ingredients to larval fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Science of the Total Environment, 408, 3169–3175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhardwaj, U., Kumar, R., Kaur, S., Sahoom, S. K., Mandal, K., Battu, R. S., & Singh, B. (2012). Persistence of fipronil and its risk assessment on cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. Capitata L. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 79, 301–308.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bobe, A., Cooper, J. F., Coste, C. M., & Muller, M. A. (1998). Behaviour of fipronil in soil under Sahelian plain field conditions. Journal of Pesticide Science, 52(3), 275–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chilima, C. Z. (1991). Termite control in young Eucalyptus plantations in Malawi using controlled release insecticides. Commonwealth Forestry Review, 70(4), 37–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, L. M., Russell, A. N., & Casida, J. E. (1993). Action of fenylpyrasole insecticides at the GABA-gated chlorid channel. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 46(1), 47–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elkins, N. Z., Sabol, G. V., Ward, T. J., & Whitford, W. G. (1986). The influence of subterranean termites on the hydrological characteristics of a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem. Oecologia, 68, 521–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2009). FAO specifications and evaluations for agricultural pesticides: Fipronil. Resource document. Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/agphome/documents/Pests _Pesticides/ Specs/ fipronil09.pdf. Accessed 10 July 2012.

  • Gilot, C. (1997). Effect of a tropical geophageous earthworm, M. anomala (Megascolecidae), on soil characteristics and production of a yam crop in Ivory Coast. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 29, 353–359.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halm, M. P., Rortais, A., Arnold, G., Taséi, J. N., & Rault, S. (2006). New risk assessment approach for systemic insecticides: the case of honey bees and imidacloprid (Gaucho). Environmental Science & Technology, 40, 2448–2454.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, W. V. (1996). The role of termites in tropical forestry. Insectes Sociaux, 13(4), 255–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, D. X., Lu, X. L., Hu, S., Zhang, X. B., & Xu, H. H. (2009). A new derivative of fipronil: effect of adding a glycinyl group to the 5-amine of pyrazole on phloem mobility and insecticidal activity. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 95(3), 126–130.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jungerius, P. D., Van Der Ancke, J. A. M., & Mücher, H. J. (1999). The contribution of termites to the microgranular structure of soils on the Uasin Gishu Plateau, Kenya. Catena, 34, 349–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R., Singht, B., & Gupta, V. K. (2012). Biodegradation of fipronil by Paracoccus sp. in different types of soil. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 88, 781–787.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lavelle, P. (1997). Faunal activities and soil processes: adaptive strategies that determine ecosystem function. Advances in Ecological Research, 17, 93–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahler, B. J., Van Metre, P. C., Wilson, J. T., Musgrove, M., Zaugg, S. D., & Burkhardt, M. R. (2009). Fipronil and its degradates in indoor and outdoor dust. Environmental Science & Technology, 43(15), 5665–5670.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mando, A., Stroosnijder, L., & Brussard, L. (1996). Effects of termites on infiltration into crusted soil. Geoderma, 7, 107–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nair, K. S. S., & Varma, R. V. (1985). Some ecological aspects of the termite problem in young eucalyptus plantations in Kerala, India. Forest Ecology and Management, 12, 287–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardeshi, M., & Prusty, B. A. K. (2010). Termites as ecosystem engineers and potentials for soil restoration. Current Science, 99, 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pareja, L., Colazzo, M., Pérez-Parada, A., Niell, S., Carrasco-Letelier, L., Besil, N., Cesio, M., & Heinzen, H. (2011). Detection of pesticides in active and depopulated beehives in Uruguay. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 3844–3858.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team. (2005). R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: Foundation for Statistical Computing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spomer, N. A., & Kamble, S. T. (2010). Sorption and desorption of fipronil in midwestern soils. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 84(2), 264–268.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, H., Cao, Y., Tang, T., Qian, K., Chen, W. L., & Li, J. (2008). Biodegradation and chiral stability of fipronil in aerobic and flooded paddy soils. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 228–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United States Enviromental Protection Agency. (2007). Pesticides: analytical methods & procedures. Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidau, C., Diogon, M., Aufauvre, J., Fontbonne, R., Viguès, B., Brunet, J. L., Texier, C., Biron, D. G., Blot, N., Alaoui, H. E., Belzunces, L. P., & Delbac, F. (2011). Exposure to sublethal doses of fipronil and thiacloprid highly increases mortality of honeybees previously infected by Nosema ceranae. PLoS ONE, 6, e21550.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wardell, D. A. (1987). Control termites in nurseries and young plantations in Africa: established practices and alternative courses of action. Commonwealth Forestry Review, 66(1), 77–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcken, C. F. (1992). Danos de cupins subterrâneos Cornitermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae) em plantios de Eucalyptus grandis e controle com inseticidas no solo. Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil, 21(3), 329–338.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcken, C. F., & Raetano, C. G. (1995). Controle de cupins em florestas. In E. Berti Filho & L. R. Fontes (Eds.), Alguns aspectos atuais da biologia e controle de cupins (pp. 141–154). Piracicaba: FEALQ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilcken, C. F., Raetano, C. G., & Forti, L. C. (2002). Termite pests in Eucalyptus forests in Brasil. Sociobiology, 40(1), 179–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ying, G. G., & Kookana, R. (2002). Laboratory and field studies on the degradation of fipronil in a soil. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 40(7), 1095–1102.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ying, G. G., & Kookana, R. (2006). Persistence and movement of fipronil termiticide with under-slab and trenching treatments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 25(8), 2045–2050.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq),” “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES),” and “Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)” for the financial support. Global Edico Services revised and edited this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Mato Grosso - Campus Cáceres, Avenida dos Ramires, s/n, 78200-000, Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil

    Alexandre dos Santos

  2. Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, 37200-000, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Ronald Zanetti, Juliana Cristina dos Santos, Gabriel Biagiotti & André Luís Evangelista

  3. Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    José Eduardo Serrão

  4. Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    José Cola Zanuncio

Authors
  1. Alexandre dos Santos
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ronald Zanetti
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Juliana Cristina dos Santos
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gabriel Biagiotti
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. André Luís Evangelista
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. José Eduardo Serrão
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. José Cola Zanuncio
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Cola Zanuncio.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

dos Santos, A., Zanetti, R., dos Santos, J.C. et al. Persistence of fipronil residues in Eucalyptus seedlings and its concentration in the insecticide solution after treatment in the nursery. Environ Monit Assess 188, 314 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5304-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5304-5

Keywords