TEMPEST - A Task Exposure Matrix for Pesticides

Construction of TEMPEST - Stage 4

Classification of pesticides used in the tasks identified

To identify the pesticides used in Scotland over the seven decades a comprehensive literature search was conducted. Where literature gaps were identified, knowledge was supplemented by interviewing 26 (current or retired) experts in agriculture, pesticides and related fields in Scotland. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to systematically prompt for and record pertinent information.

Insecticides: Insecticides were grouped into organochlorines (OC), organophosphates (OP), carbamates and “other”. The “other” insecticide grouping consisted primarily of botanicals and pyrethroids.

Herbicides: Herbicides presented a greater challenge as there are over 1000 herbicides in existence. Herbicides were classified by their mode of action, into 24 groups using the HRAC (Herbicide Resistance Action Committee, 2005) system. We identified the three most commonly used HRAC herbicide groups: C1 which includes atrazine; D which includes diquat and paraquat; O which includes 2,4-D and mecoprop. The remaining 21 groups were collapsed into a fourth ‘Other’ herbicides group.

Fungicides: Fungicides were categorised into carbamates (which includes dithiocarbamates - the largest group of fungicides by quantity sold) and ‘other’ fungicides.

The pesticide types that were considered for inclusion in TEMPEST are shown in the table 4a below.

Table 4a: Pesticide types considered for inclusion

Pesticide application group	Pesticide class	Examples in this class
Avicides	Assorted pesticides used	Assorted
Fungicides	Carbamate fungicides	Mancozeb and maneb
Fungicides	Other fungicides	Copper sulphate, benzimidazole
Herbicides	C1	Simazine, bromacil, atrazine, lenacil, terbacil
Herbicides	D	Diquat, paraquat
Herbicides	O	2,4-D, dichlorprop, MCPA, mecoprop, fluroxypyr, clopyralid
Herbicides	Other herbicides	Glyphosate, linuron, diuron, dinoseb
Insecticides	Carbamates	Carbaryl, carbofuran, methylcarbamate
Insecticides	Organochlorines (OC)	Aldrin, DDT, dieldrin, chlordane
Insecticides	Organophosphates (OP)	Malathion, parathion, diazinon, methylparathion
Insecticides	Other insecticides	Permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, rotenone, nicotine
Rabbiticides	Assorted pesticides used	Assorted
Rodenticides	Assorted pesticides used	Assorted

Ultimately from all of the possible candidate pesticides a set of 17 pesticide/application combinations was selected as the most appropriate to have been used in the range of application tasks over the seven decades. These are shown in table 4b below, arranged by pesticide application group.

Table 4b: Selected representative pesticides

Pesticide application group	Pesticide class	Pesticide name
Avicide	Carbamates	Propoxur
Avicide	OC	Endosulfan
Fungicide	Carbamates	Propoxur
Fungicide	OC	Endosulfan
Fungicide	Other	Captan
Herbicide	C1	Bromacil
Herbicide	D	Diquat dibromide
Herbicide	O	2,4-D
Herbicide	Other	Diuron
Insecticide	Carbamates	Propoxur
Insecticide	OC	Endosulfan
Insecticide	OP	Chlorpyrifos
Insecticide	Other	Pyrethrins
Rabbiticide	OC	Endosulfan
Rabbiticide	Other	Pyrethrins
Rodenticide	OC	Endosulfan
Rodenticide	Other	Pyrethrins

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