INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS FROM PESTICIDE USE IN TRANSGENIC CROP PRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS IN THE PAMPA’S PLAINS OF ARGENTINA. PART 3: BIOLOGICAL EFECTS ASSESSMENT ON NON-TARGET AQUATIC-TERRESTRIAL BIOTA

CARRIQUIRIBORDE PEDRO; NATALE GUILLERMO SEBASTIÁN; SOBRERO CECILIA; MARTIN MARIELA; CAJADE RODRIGO; STREITENBERGER JUAN; RONCO ALICIA

Vilnius, Lituania

Simposio; 11 International Symposium on Toxicity Assessment; 2003

Prediction of long-term effects on ecosystems from productive activities and the potential impacts on humans should be considered at the time of introducing technologies in different sectors. Biological impacts on vertebrates (amphibians and fish) and vascular plants (riparian and aquatic) from the production of herbicide resistant transgenic crops in the Pampa’s region from field and laboratory studies are reported here. Field characterizations carried on at a local water creek scale biomass and chlorophyll content, population monitoring for fish and amphibians, added of in situ caged population experiments in relation to the spray mixtures by means of standardized  toxicity tests. Effects on the creek plant community and caged duckweed in the field indicate differences in field experiments of mortality or changes in community and population structure of fish were observed after each pesticide application in sampling sites. Caged fish and tadpoles did not show effect on mortality after cypermethrin+glyphosate spraying. However, an abnormally high number of death organism drift were observed after the application of the phosphorate insecticide chlorpirifos. Results indicate that the acute effect  of the pesticides used for soybean- corn crop was local, however it represents and additional pressure and possible selection factor on the natural fish and amphibian populations that should be assessed attending possible sublethal and accumulative effects. The actual impact of pesticide application strongly depends on the managerial ability of the farmers and therefore environmental hazard could be improved if explicit broadcasting programs are implemented.