Application of solar-based oxidation to the management of empty pesticide container rinse water in Bolivia

Background: The management of empty pesticide containers (EPC) in Bolivia has been recently promoted as a control strategy for dispersed pollution in surface and underground water bodies, as well as in soil. It comprises the rinsing and proper disposal or reuse of clean EPC. However, the rinsing transfers the hazard to water, which must be properly treated before being discharged. Methods: In this study, solar photo-Fenton at low Fe2+ doses were tested at pilot plant scale in Cochabamba (Bolivia) for the removal of pesticides dimethoate and atrazine in their commercial form, spiked in river water. Results: The results demonstrated that solar photo-Fenton ([H2O2]0 = 200 mg L-1) with Fe2+ concentrations between 0.5 and 1.5 mg L-1 is an effective method to remove dimethoate and atrazine, at an initial concentration of 10 mg L-1 each. Efficiency increased when increasing Fe2+ doses, achieving a removal over 99% of both pesticides after a solar irradiation period of 60 minutes (corresponding to an accumulated energy of 4.96 kJ L-1). Conclusions: The presence of high concentrations of natural components of river water, mainly organic and inorganic carbon species, would have contributed to hydroxyl radical scavenging, explaining, together with the low iron dose applied, the high energy (irradiation time) and high hydrogen peroxide concentration required to produce pesticide depletion. Additionally, the relatively low oxidant consumption and mineralization observed leave room for process optimization regarding oxidant and catalyst doses and warrant further studies on its coupling with biological or other post-treatments for the removal of transformation products.

Pesticide Use In Vegetable Production In Rural Uganda - A Case Study of Kabale District, South Western Uganda

A study to investigate commonly grown vegetables, commonly used pesticides, and pesticide use practices was conducted in Kabale District, in south-western Uganda. This is because indiscriminate pesticide use and poor application practices can leave pesticide residues in food rendering it unsafe for consumption. The study revealed extensive pesticide application in Brassica oleracea; var. capitata (cabbage), Brassica oleracea; var. botrytis (cauliflower), Solanum lycopersicum, (tomato) and Beta vulgaris (beet root). Information obtained using interviews revealed that 16.5% traders sell pesticides and 70% farmers spray pesticides on vegetables. Only 18% of farmers could interpret instructions correctly on a given pesticide container label. All farmers (100%) had never attended any pesticide use training. Cypermethrin, dimethoate, dichlorvos, metalaxyl, profenofos, malathion and mancozeb were common pesticides used in spraying vegetables however 42% of the farmers mixed different pesticides for use. Limited knowledge about pesticide application, inability to interpret instructions, non-observation of waiting period before harvesting, mixing pesticides and lack of training on pesticide use for farmers are potential risks to food safety. There is need to address knowledge gaps on safer pesticide application in order to attain safe agricultural productivity for sustainable food security, human health and community development in Kabale District, Uganda.

Pesticide Container Rinsing

This document explains what procedures are involved in creating a legally empty container. This document is PI-3, one of a series of the Pesticide Information Office, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Revised May, 2005. PI-3/PI003: Pesticide Container Rinsing (ufl.edu)

Knowledge, Practice and Use of Pesticides among Commercial Vegetable Growers of Dhading District, Nepal

A field study was conducted to evaluate knowledge, practice and use of pesticides among thirty commercial vegetable growers of Dhading district of Nepal. More than four in five were using pesticides and more than one third were using it for more than six years. Nearly half of them spray pesticides five to six times. More than one-sixth pesticides used were extremely hazardous, which were barred for general agriculture use. Waiting period is less than four days for nearly two-third growers. More than three-forth know the adverse effect of pesticides and nearly half experienced symptoms of health hazards. Majority did not receive any official training on pesticides and nearly one-third doesn't read information available in pesticide label. Nearly half were not using Personal Protective Equipment during pesticide application. Nearly two-third throw pesticide container anywhere after using it. The finding of this study is oriented to the following recommendation: the need for awareness, education and training on the uses of pesticides to the farmers and effective monitoring program for pesticide residues in vegetables.Key words: Awareness; Health effects; IPM; Pesticides; VegetablesThe Journal of AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTVol. 11, 2010Page: 95-100Uploaded date: 16 September, 2010

Pre-Industrial Experience in Solar Photocatalytic Mineralization of Real Wastewaters. Application to Pesticide Container Recycling

Particulate suspensions of TiO2 irradiated with natural solar tight in a large experimental plant catalyse the oxidation of organic contaminants. The problem in using TiO2 as a photocatalyst is electron/hole recombination. One strategy for inhibiting e−/h+ recombination is to add other (irreversible) electron acceptors to the reaction. In many highly toxic waste waters where degradation of organic pollutants is the major concern, the addition of an inorganic anion to enhance the organic degradation rate may be justified. For better results, these additives should fulfil the following criteria: dissociate into harmless by-products and lead to the formation of ·OH or other oxidising agents. In this paper, we attempt to demonstrate the optimum conditions for the treatment of commercial pesticide rinsates found in the wastewater produced by a pesticide container recycling plant. The experiments were performed in one of the pilot plants of the largest solar photocatalytic system in Europe, the Detoxification Plants of the Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA), in Spain. After testing ten different commercial pesticides, results show that peroxydisulphate enhances the photocatalytic miniralization of all of them. This study is part of an extensive project focused on the design of a solar photocatalytic plant for decontamination of agricultural rinsates in Almería (Spain).