Ecological risk assessment of pesticides based on earthworms in soils on the southeast slopes of Mount Cameroon

Daniel Brice Kenko Nkontcheu; Agathe Lambou Fotio; Aimerance Donhachi Kenfack; Geraud Canis Tasse Taboue; Derick Atemlefac Acha; Eric Bertrand Fokam

Soil & Environmental Health (Dec 2023)

Ecological risk assessment of pesticides based on earthworms in soils on the southeast slopes of Mount Cameroon

Daniel Brice Kenko Nkontcheu,
Agathe Lambou Fotio,
Aimerance Donhachi Kenfack,
Geraud Canis Tasse Taboue,
Derick Atemlefac Acha,
Eric Bertrand Fokam

Affiliations

Daniel Brice Kenko Nkontcheu: Department of Animal Biology and Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon; Corresponding author.
Agathe Lambou Fotio: Department of Animal Biology and Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon
Aimerance Donhachi Kenfack: Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Sciences, Advanced School of Agriculture, Forestry, Water Resources and Environment, University of Ebolowa, Cameroon
Geraud Canis Tasse Taboue: Multipurpose Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Bangangte, Cameroon; Environment and Communities Care Front, Bafoussam, Cameroon
Derick Atemlefac Acha: Department of Animal Biology and Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon
Eric Bertrand Fokam: Department of Animal Biology and Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 1, no. 4
p. 100047

Abstract

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Agrochemicals misuse is common in developing countries with many environmental implications. This work assessed the ecological risk of pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides and herbicides based on earthworms in soils at the lower slopes of Mount Cameroon using the Pesticide Risk in the Tropics to Man, Environment and Trade (PRIMET) model. PRIMET was developed in 2008 in The Netherlands for use in tropical regions. Data on usage scheme and ecotoxicological information were collected and keyed into PRIMET for three main outputs: Predicted Environmental Concentration (PEC), No Effect Concentration (NEC), and Exposure Toxicity Ratio (ETR = PEC/NEC). Pesticides predicted for no acute and no chronic risk to earthworms included fipronil and chlorothalonil. Several pesticides were predicted for an acute risk to earthworms, and they comprised acetamiprid, imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, and carbendazim when used on maize (PEC = 2.69 mg kg−1; ETR = 5) and tomato (PEC = 16.15 mg kg−1; ETR = 30); 2, 4-D and abamectin when used on tomato and ethoprophos. Insecticides exhibiting a possible chronic risk to earthworms comprised acetamiprid, cypermethrin, emamectin benzoate, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, oxamyl, and thiametoxam. The majority of fungicides assessed (83%) posed a possible chronic terrestrial risk, with carbendazim at the top position when applied on tomato (PEC = 16.15 mg kg−1; ETR = 81). Some herbicides predicted for possible chronic risk based on earthworms included 2, 4-D, diuron, glyphosate, ethoprophos, and metaldehyde. Pesticides with the highest risk to earthworms comprised chlorpyrifos-ethyl, imidacloprid, ethoprophos, and nicosulfuron. The riskiest pesticides should hereby be regulated or replaced by less risky ones. The measurement of pesticide residues in water and food in the various agroecological zones of Cameroon is necessary to shed more light on pesticide ecotoxicology.

Published in Soil & Environmental Health

ISSN: 2949-9194 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences; Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/soil-and-environmental-health

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