Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Runoff-Related Pesticide Input into the Lourens River, South Africa: Basic Data for Exposure Assessment and Risk Mitigation at the Catchment Scale

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The characterization of runoff-related pesticide input and the identification of areas of concern in the field are essential for a comprehensive assessment of risk and the planning of mitigation measures. To this end, the agriculturally-derived aqueous and particle-associated pesticide contamination of the Lourens River and its tributaries was measured in a comprehensive design. Sampling was performed in the beginning of April prior to the first rainfall of the wet season and in the middle of April during high water conditions following the first rainfall of 9.6 mm d-1. Pre-runoff samples indicated contamination with endosulfan at levels up to 0.06 μg L-1, while no other pesticides were detectable. Rainfall-induced runoff resulted in an increase in the levels of the pesticides endosulfan, deltamethrin, azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, and procymidone up to levels of 0.35, 1.4, 0.6, 0.19 and 9 μg L-1, respectively in water samples. Endosulfan, azinphos-methyl, and chlorpyrifos were detected at maximum concentrations of 273, 152, and 245 μg kg-1 in suspended sediments. No increased pesticide levels were detected at a control site upstream of the agricultural area. The Lourens River received its contamination via the tributaries discharging the surrounding farming area. Contamination of the six tributaries depended on landuse and slope characteristics and enabled the identification of target sites for risk reduction approaches. Transient pesticide levels exceeded the target water quality limit proposed by the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). The Lourens River site downstream of the farming area has been identified as a site where potential toxic conditions could arise.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

References

  • Ankley, G. T. and Collyard, S. A.: 1995, ‘Influence of piperonyl butoxide on the toxicity of organophosphate insecticides to three species of freshwater benthic invertebrates’, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 110, 149–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ankley, G. T., Call, D. J., Cox, J. S., Kahl, M. D., Hoke, R. A. and Kosian, P. A.: 1994, ‘Organic carbon partitioning as a basis for predicting the toxicity of chlorpyrifos in sediments’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 13, 621–626.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonious, G. F. and Byers, M. E.: 1997, ‘Fate and movement of endosulfan under field conditions’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16, 644–649.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, B. A.: 1977, ‘Short-term effects of highway construction on the limnology of a small stream in southern Ontario’, Freshwater Biology 7, 99–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bascietto, J., Hinckley, D., Plafkin, J. and Slimak, M.: 1990, ‘Ecotoxicity and ecological risk assessment’, Environmental Science and Technology 24, 10–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baughman, D. S., Moore, D. W. and Scott, G. I.: 1989, ‘A comparison and evaluation of field and laboratory toxicity tests with fenvalerate on an estuarine crustacean’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 8, 417–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, J. T., Baird, J. H., Basta, N. T., Huhnke, R. L., Storm, D. E., Johnson, G. V., Payton, M. E., Smolen, M. D., Martin, D. L. and Cole, J. C.: 1997, ‘Influence of buffers on pesticide and nutrient runoff from bermudagrass turf’, Journal of Environmental Quality 26, 1589–1598.

    Google Scholar 

  • Domagalski, J. L., Dubrovsky, N. M and Kratzner, C. R.: 1997, ‘Pesticides in the San Joaquin River, California: Inputs from dormant sprayed orchards’, Journal of Environmental Quality 26, 454–465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dortland, R. J.: 1980, ‘Toxicological evaluation of parathion and azinphosmethyl in freshwater model ecosystems’, Agricultural Research Report, Wageningen.

  • DWAF: 1996, Draft of South African Water Quality Guidelines. Volume 7: Aquatic Ecosystems, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Everts, J. W.: 1997, ‘Ecotoxicology for risk assessment in arid zones: some key issues’, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 32, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • EXTOXNET: 1996, Extension Toxicology Network: Pesticide Information Profiles, http://ace.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet.

  • Fawell, J. K.: 1991, ‘Pesticide Residues in Water – Imaginary Threat or Imminent Disaster’, in A. Walker (ed.), Pesticides in Soil and Water: Current Perspectives, The Lavenham Press Limited, Suffolk, pp. 205–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gippel, C. J.: 1995, ‘Potential of turbidity monitoring for measuring the transport of suspended solids in streams’, Hydrological Processes 9, 83–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, A. S., Chandler, G. T. and Piegorsch, W. W.: 1996, ‘Life-stage toxicity of sediment-associated chlorpyrifos to a marine, infaunal copepod’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15, 1182–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goebel, H., Gorebach, S., Knauf, W., Rimpau, R. H. and Huttenbach, H.: 1982, ‘Properties, effects, residues, and analytics of the insecticide endosulfan’, Residue Reviews 83, 1–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, W. W. and Finley, M. T.: 1980, Handbook of Acute Toxicity of Chemicals to Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates, United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreuger, J.: 1995, ‘Monitoring of pesticides in subsurface and surface water within an agricultural catchment in southern Sweden’, British Crop Protection Council Monograph 62, 81–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreuger, J. K. and Brink, N.: 1988, Losses of Pesticides from Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuivila, K. M. and Foe, C. G.: 1995, ‘Concentration, transport and biological effects of dormant spray pesticides in the San Francisco Estuary, California’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 14, 1141–1150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lakota, S., Raszka, A., Utracki, T. and Chmiel, Z.: 1989, ‘Side-effect of deltamethrin and cypermethrin in the environment of water biocenoses’, Organika 1987–1988, 71–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemke, A. E.: 1981, Interlaboratory Comparison Acute Testing Set, EPA-600/3-81-005, U.S. EPA, Duluth, MN.

  • Leonard, A. W., Hyne, R. V., Lim, R. P., Leigh, K. A., Le, J. and Beckett, R.: 2001, ‘Fate and toxicity of endosulfan in Namoi River water and bottom sediment’, Journal of Environmental Quality 30, 750–759.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liess, M., Schulz, R. and Neumann, M.: 1996, ‘A method for monitoring pesticides bound to suspended particles in small streams’, Chemosphere 32, 1963–1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liess, M., Schulz, R., Liess, M. H.-D., Rother, B. and Kreuzig, R.: 1999, ‘Determination of insecticide contamination in agricultural headwater streams’, Water Research 33, 239–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merkle, M. G. and Bovey, R. W.: 1974, ‘Movement of Pesticides in Surface Water’, in: W. D. Guenzi (ed.), Pesticides in Soil and Water, Madison, Wiscosin, pp. 99–105.

  • Miles, J. R. W. and Harris, C. R.: 1971, ‘Insecticide residues in a stream and a controlled drainage system in agricultural areas in southwestern Ontario, 1970’, Pesticide Monitoring Journal 5, 289–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostby, J., Kelce, W. R., Lambright, C., Wolf, C. J., Mann, P. and Gray Jr., L. E.: 1999, ‘The fungicide procymidone alters sexual differentiation in the male rat by acting as an androgen-receptor antagonist in vivo and in vitro’, Toxicology and Industrial Health 15, 80–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, W. E., Domagalski, J. L. and Hostettler, F. D.: 1996, ‘Occurrence and accumalation of pesticides and organic contaminants in river sediment, water and clam tissues from the San Joaquin River and tributaries, California’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15, 172–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Racke, K. D.: 1992 'The environmental fate of chlorpyrifos’, Review of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 131, 1–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, R.: 2001, ‘Rainfall-induced sediment and pesticide input from orchards into the Lourens River, Western Cape, South Africa: importance of a single event’, Water Research 35, 1869–1876.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, R. and Liess, M.: 1999, ‘A field study of the effects of agriculturally derived insecticide input on stream macroinvertebrate dynamics’, Aquatic Toxicology 46, 155–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, R., Peall, S. K. C., Dabrowski, J. M. and Reinecke, A. J.: 2001. 'Spray deposition of two insecticides into surface waters in a South African orchard area’, Journal of Environmental Quality 30, 814–822.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, G. I., Fulton, M. H., Moore, D. W., Wirth, E. F., Chandler, G. T., Key, P. B., Daugomah, J. W., Strozier, E.D., Devane, J., Clark, J.R., Lewis, M.A., Finley, D.B., Ellenberg, W. and Karnaky Jr., K. J.: 1999, ‘Assessment of risk reduction strategies for the management of agricultural nonpoint source pesticide runoff in estuarine ecosystem’, Toxicology and Industrial Health 15, 200–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. E. and Kaster, J. L.: 1983, ‘Effect of rural highway runoff on stream benthic macroinvertebrates’, Environmental Pollution 32, 157–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S., Reagan, T. E., Flynn, J. L. and Willis, G. H.: 1983, ‘Azinphosmethyl and fenvalerate runoff loss from a sugarcane-insect IPM system’, Journal of Environmental Quality 12, 534–537.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, K. R.: 1996, ‘Overview of recent developments in ecotoxicological risk assessment’, Risk Analysis 16, 627–633.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, B. R. and Roff, J. C.: 1986, ‘Long-term effects of highway construction on the ecology of a southern Ontario (Canada) stream’, Environmental Pollution 40, 317–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tharme, R., Ratcliffe, G. and Day, E.: 1997, An assessment of the present ecological condition of the Lourens River, Western Cape, with particular reference to proposals for stormwater management, Southern Waters, Freshwater Research Unit, University of Cape Town.

  • USDA-ARS: 1989, The ARS Pesticide Properties Database http://wizard.arsusda.gov/acsl/ppdb.html.

  • U.S. EPA: 1986, Ambient water quality criteria for chlorpyrifos, Environmental Protection Agency 440/5-86-005, Office of Water Regulations and Standards, Washington, DC.

  • Van den Brink, P. J., van Wijngaarden, R. P. A., Lucassen, W. G. H., Brock, T. C. and Leeuwangh, P.: 1996, ‘Effects of the insecticide DURSBAN® 4E (active ingredient chlorpyrifos) in outdoor experimental ditches: II. Invertebrate community responses and recovery’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15, 1143–1153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Hoeven, N. and Gerritsen, A. A. M.: 1997, ‘Effects of chlorpyrifos on individuals and populations of Daphnia pulex in the laboratory and field’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16, 2438–2447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan, M. T., Szeto, S. and Price, P.: 1994, ‘Organophosphorus insecticide residues in farm ditches of the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia’, Journal of Environmental Science and Health B29, 917–949.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wauchope, R. D.: 1978, ‘The pesticide content of surface water draining from agricultural fields – A review’, Journal of Environmental Quality 7, 459–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, I., Deanovic, L. A., Connor, V., DeVlaming, V., Bailey, H. C. and Hinton, D. E.: 2000, ‘Insecticide-caused toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia (Cladocera) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, California, U.S.A.’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19, 215–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiu, R., Xu, Y. and Gao, S.: 1989, ‘Toxicity of the new pyrethroid insecticide, deltamethrin, to Daphnia magna’, Hydrobiologia 188/189, 411–413.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    J. M. Dabrowski, A. J. Reinecke & R. Schulz

  2. Department of Health, Forensic Chemistry Laboratory, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa

    S. K. C. Peall

  3. Zoological Institute, Technical University, D-38092, Braunschweig, Germany

    M. Liess

Authors
  1. J. M. Dabrowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. K. C. Peall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. J. Reinecke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Liess
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Schulz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Schulz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dabrowski, J.M., Peall, S.K.C., Reinecke, A.J. et al. Runoff-Related Pesticide Input into the Lourens River, South Africa: Basic Data for Exposure Assessment and Risk Mitigation at the Catchment Scale. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 135, 265–283 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014705931212

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014705931212

Search

Navigation