A comparison of runoff- and spray-drift-related pesticide contamination in agricultural surface waters : exposure, effects and mitigation

Abstract

Runoff and spray-drift-related pesticide input are important sources of non pointsource pesticide pollution in surface waters but few studies have directly compared these routes in a risk assessment scenario. Accordingly a risk assessment approach was instituted to determine differences between runoff and spray-drift based on exposure, effect and mitigation. An exposure assessment using predictive modelling that was validated by fieldbased sampling was used to compare relative pesticide inputs associated with runoff and spray-drift at the catchment level.