Environmental behavior of pesticides

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: CRISTINA ABBATE

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to illustrate the main chemical, physical and biological mechanisms that govern the process of pesticides in the various compartments of the agricultural environment with particular regard to the mechanisms of distribution, degradation and accumulation. Furthermore, the aim is to provide the essential knowledge for a correct risk assessment.

Course Structure

The course will include:

28 hours frontal lessons

28 hours other activities (in classroom and/or in laboratory and/or educational visits).

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. 
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of Prof. Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

Required Prerequisites

Knowledge of  inorganic and organic chemistry, soil and plant chemistry.

Attendance of Lessons

Strongly recommended

Detailed Course Content

The interactions with the soil system: adsorption, chemical and biological degradation. Interactions with plants: absorption and metabolism. Contamination of water and air systems. Transport in the liquid and gaseous phases. Main decontamination techniques of soil and water: biological, chemical and physical. Laboratory activities: germination test (Lepidium sativum); soil microflora response to agrochemicals; zone of inhibition test.

Textbook Information

"Agrofarmaci: conoscenze per un uso sostenibile." Gennari e Trevisan. Perdisa editore.

Studium

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Sorption and desorption of agrochemicals in soilText 1, pag. 171-203
2Degradation of agrochemicals in soilText 1, pag. 207-241
3Behavior of agrochemicals in water bodiesText 1, pag. 269-296
4Agrochemical dissipationText 1, pag. 299-318
5Plant-pesticide interactionText 1, pag. 357-373
6Environmental risk assessmentText 1, pag. 409-438
7Laboratory activity: germination test (Lepidium sativum)Studium
8Laboratory activity: soil microflora response to agrochemicalsStudium
9Laboratory activity: zone of inhibition testStudium
10Laboratory activity: experimental methods to evaluate agrochemicals behavior in soil and waterText 1, pag. 611-623

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral

Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Sample questions:

Sorption and desorption processes on soil colloids.
Factors affecting the degradation of agrochemicals.
Role of microorganisms in agrochemical degradation.
Analytical techniques for studying the effect of agrochemical on microbial and plant species.
Experimental tests for the environmental risk assessment.