Presentation for the 3rd steering committee meeting of our EPA/DAFM-funded pesticides project, PestMan

1. Steering Committee Meeting #3
April 22, 2021

2. Aims of Project
PEST-MAN aims to:
(1) understand the drivers and pressures for the use of pesticides in
the environment
(2) examine their fate and persistence
(3) evaluate any potential impact and risks to the environment and
human health
(4) develop a low-cost, passive, in-situ method to remediate pesticides
in the environment, and
(5) disseminate knowledge and engage stakeholders and the general
public

3. Methodological Framework
Source
Pathway
Receptor
Objective:
• To identify pesticides of
concern for human health
• To elucidate the pressures
and drivers for pesticide
use in Ireland
• To identify pesticides for
examination in this study
Objective:
• Ascertain the effect of the soil
environment on pesticide
persistence
• Identify the influence of
pesticides on soil quality, incl.
microbial diversity
Objective:
• Identification of appropriate
media for pesticide
adsorption and design of
passive treatment units at lab
and field-scale
• Health risk assessment of
impacted populations and
quantification of reduction in
risk arising from our
interventions
WP 1
WP 2
WP 3

4. Methodological Framework
Source
Objective:
• To identify pesticides of
concern for human health
• To elucidate the pressures
and drivers for pesticide
use in Ireland
• To identify pesticides for
examination in this study
WP 1

5. F = Fungicide, H = Herbicide, I = Insecticide, GR = Growth Regulator
# Ingredient Type Treated area
(ha)
%
1 Chlorothalonil F 197,113 19
2 Chlormequat GR 171,519 16
3 Glyphosate H 112,340 11
4 Isoproturan H 105,122 10
5 Fenpropimorph F 48,936 5
6 Prothiconazole F 40,924 4
7 Mancozeb F 30,238 3
8 Propamocarb hydrochloride F 19,902 2
9 Fluroxypyr H 19,227 2
10 Pyraclostrobin F 16,397 2
Arable land (2016)1
As kg
WP1: Pesticide use in Ireland
# Ingredient Type Treated area
(ha)
%
1 MCPA H 127,060 25
2 Glyphosate H 124,229 24
3 2,4-DB H 48,156 9
4 Triclopyr H 33,915 7
5 2,4-D H 33,178 6
6 Fluroxypyr H 32,534 6
7 Pendimethalin H 21,598 4
8 Metamitron H 20,517 4
9 Mecoprop-P H 13,125 3
10 Chlorothalonil F 8,959 2
Grassland and fodder crops (2017)2
As kg
1 https://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/media/pesticides/content/sud/pesticidestatistics/ArableReport2016Final100620.pdf
2 https://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/media/pesticides/content/sud/pesticidestatistics/2GrasslandReport2017FinalVersion290520.pdf
Banned pesticides
Measured pesticides in PestMan

6. Methodological Framework
Source
Pathway
Receptor
Objective:
• To identify pesticides of
concern for human health
• To elucidate the pressures
and drivers for pesticide
use in Ireland
• To identify pesticides for
examination in this study
Objective:
• Ascertain the effect of the soil
environment on pesticide
persistence
• Identify the influence of
pesticides on soil quality, incl.
microbial diversity
Objective:
• Identification of appropriate
media for pesticide
adsorption and design of
passive treatment units at lab
and field-scale
• Health risk assessment of
impacted populations and
quantification of reduction in
risk arising from our
interventions
WP 1
WP 2
WP 3

7. Methodological Framework
Pathway
Objective:
• Ascertain the effect of the soil
environment on pesticide
persistence
• Identify the influence of
pesticides on soil quality, incl.
microbial diversity
WP 2

8. WP2: Soil texture and pesticide adsorption
Pesticides divided into six groups, based on
chemical structure:
1. Phenylureas
2. Triazines
3. Phenoxyalkonates
4. Organophosphates
5. Nitroanilines
6. Others

9. WP2: Soil texture and pesticide adsorption
Soil texture-specific environmental risk ranking
for each group developed based on:
- Soil permeability
- Adsorbancy
- Solubility
- Half-life
Data will inform GIS-based CSA (critical
source area) model, which will identify
areas most at risk of pesticide loss.
The higher the score, the higher the risk of transmission

10. Methodological Framework
Source
Pathway
Receptor
Objective:
• To identify pesticides of
concern for human health
• To elucidate the pressures
and drivers for pesticide
use in Ireland
• To identify pesticides for
examination in this study
Objective:
• Ascertain the effect of the soil
environment on pesticide
persistence
• Identify the influence of
pesticides on soil quality, incl.
microbial diversity
Objective:
• Identification of appropriate
media for pesticide
adsorption and design of
passive treatment units at lab
and field-scale
• Health risk assessment of
impacted populations and
quantification of reduction in
risk arising from our
interventions
WP 1
WP 2
WP 3

11. Methodological Framework
Receptor
Objective:
• Identification of appropriate
media for pesticide
adsorption and design of
passive treatment units at lab
and field-scale
• Health risk assessment of
impacted populations and
quantification of reduction in
risk arising from our
interventions
WP 3

12. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
Media examined to
date:
Peat fibre, Bottom Ash,
Fly Ash, Blast slag,
Granulated activated
carbon, four different
types of biochars
Reciprocating
shaker
Adsorption isotherms
(graph is illustrative)
Media placed in streams

13. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Pesticde
%
Removal Pesticides on various media
MCPA
Mecoprop-P
2,4-D
Triclopyr
Fluroxypyr

14. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
116.82
140.26
116.76
78.09
110.56
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
MCPA Mecoprop-P Triclopyr 2,4-D Fluroxypyr
Modelled
Qmax
(mg/g)
Pesticide Adsorption on GAC

15. Cregduff
Dunleer
Corduff
WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
Field analysis of pesticide loss is currently being monitored in
three catchments.
After 1 year of analysis, our designed interventions will be
placed in the catchments.

16. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
8/1/2020 8/26/2020 9/20/2020 10/15/2020 11/9/2020 12/4/2020 12/29/2020
Water
Flow
(m
3
/s)
Rainfall
(mm)
Cregduff
Rainfall Water Flow
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
8/1/2020 8/26/2020 9/20/2020 10/15/2020 11/9/2020 12/4/2020 12/29/2020
Water
Flow
(m
3
/s)
Pesticide
amount
(ng/l)
Cregduff
MCPA Mecoprop-P 2,4-D
Fluroxypyr Triclopyr Clopyralid
2,4-DP (Dichlorprop) Irish Maximum Allowable Level Water Flow

17. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
8/1/2020 8/26/2020 9/20/2020 10/15/2020 11/9/2020 12/4/2020 12/29/2020
Water
Flow
(m
3
/s)
Rainfall
(mm)
Corduff
Rainfall Water Flow
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
8/1/2020 8/26/2020 9/20/2020 10/15/2020 11/9/2020 12/4/2020 12/29/2020
Water
Flow
(m
3
/s)
Pesticide
amount
(ng/l)
Axis Title
Corduff
MCPA Mecoprop-P 2,4-D
Fluroxypyr Triclopyr Clopyralid
Irish Maximum Allowable Level Water Flow

18. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
8/1/2020 8/21/2020 9/10/2020 9/30/2020 10/20/2020 11/9/2020 11/29/2020 12/19/2020
Water
Flow
(m
3
/s)
Pesticide
amount
(ng/l)
Axis Title
Dunleer
Irish Maximum Allowable Level MCPA Mecoprop-P
2,4-D Fluroxypyr Triclopyr
Clopyralid Water Flow
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
8/1/2020 8/21/2020 9/10/2020 9/30/2020 10/20/2020 11/9/2020 11/29/2020 12/19/2020
Water
Flow
(m
3
/s)
Rainfall
Axis Title
Dunleer
Rainfall mm Water Flow

19. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
Health risk assessment results to date

20. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
Likelihood of
Exposure
Consequence
of Exposure
Pesticide Risk
Score
Persistence
Half-life in water
( + Metabolite half-life)
Chronic Toxicity
Carcinogenicity +
Mutagenicity +
Endocrine Disruption +
Reproductive Toxicity
Mobility
Leaching potential +
Runoff potential
(Metabolites
Toxicity)

21. WP3: Receptors – response & intervention
Likelihood of Exposure Consequence of Exposure
Pesticides and their quantities obtained
from 2016 and 2017 DAFM reports.
73 active ingredients were identified.
Pesticide Risk = Likelihood of Exposure x
Consequence of Exposure

22. Twitter handle: @PestMan_NUIG
Total number of impressions: 16884
Total engagements: 1267
WP4: Engagement of stakeholders & public
Website (pestman.ie) launched in September, 2020

23. WP4: Engagement of stakeholders & public
Healy, M.G., et al. 2020. Introduction to PestMan Project. Presentation to Catchments.ie programme.
December, 2020.
Healy, M.G., et al. 2021. Introduction to PestMan Project. Presentation at National Pesticides and
Drinking Water Action Group Webex meeting. 22 Feb, 2021.
Harmon O’Driscoll et al. 2021. Title TBC. Environmental Research Institute Seminar, UCC. April 1,
2021.
Healy, M.G., et al. 2021. Intro to PestMan. Lough Forbes Focus Group. May/June 2021.

24. Plan for the coming months
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
WP Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
1 Lit review
Drivers/pressures
ID of pesticides
ID of study sites
Identifying pressures,
understanding drivers
Complete
Ongoing
Complete
Complete
2020 2021
Original schedule
Extended schedule
Revisions underway to adsorption paper
Development of GIS-based interrogable database of potential CSAs
(This wasn’t part of the original proposal)

25. Plan for the coming months
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
WP Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
2 Soil characterisation
Batch-scale studies
Pesticide
leaching/runoff
2020 2021
Original schedule
Extended schedule
Pathways of pesticides in the
environment

26. Plan for the coming months
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
WP Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
2 Soil characterisation
Batch-scale studies
Pesticide
leaching/runoff
To start
2020 2021
Original schedule
Extended schedule
Pathways of pesticides in the
environment
Studies to be completed by MSc student
The literature review (WP1) focused on soil/pesticide interaction (and
identified knowledge gaps). WP2 will address these knowledge gaps.
To start
To start

27. Plan for the coming months
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
WP Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
3 Identification of media
Monitoring - agric.
Monitoring - urban
Pilot-scale assessment
Risk assessment
2020 2021
Original schedule
Extended schedule
Receptors: response and
intervention

28. Plan for the coming months
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
WP Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
3 Identification of media
Monitoring - agric.
Monitoring - urban
Pilot-scale assessment
Risk assessment
2020 2021
Original schedule
Extended schedule
Receptors: response and
intervention
Complete
Ongoing
Ongoing
To start
Ongoing
Batch-scale adsorption studies near completion

29. Plan for the coming months
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
WP Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
4 Stakeholder
engagement
Presentations
Distribution of
communication material
2020 2021
Original schedule
Extended schedule
Stakeholder engagement
Ongoing
Ongoing
Ongoing

30. Plan for the coming months
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
WP Activity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
5 Management
Communication
2020 2021
Original schedule
Extended schedule
Ongoing
Ongoing
Project Management
MSc position advertised in Nov 2020 (no applicants)
Position will be re-advertised in May/June