Ecological risk assessment of current-use pesticides in the Sixaola Watershed, Costa Rica

Abstract

Among the most important research priorities identified in tropical ecotoxicology is the need for risk assessment models specific to pesticide fate and toxicity in tropical watersheds. A number de different pesticides are applied in the Sixaola watershed, Costa Rica to produce export-quality plantains and bananas. A number of different pesticides were measured in regional aquatic resources using both water grab samples and passive samplers (SPMDs). Field experiments to calibrate SPMD pesticide uptake rates showed that biofouling was not an important factor in SPMD pesticide sequestration over time, although several different stream characteristics may be important in the interpretation os SPMD-derived stream pesticide concentrations.