Building Stronger Relationships Between Atmospheric Transport of Pesticides and Environmental Biomarkers

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The role of the atmospheric transport pathway in the movement of pesticides in the environment is often observed directly or indirectly through regulatory change (canceled or restricted pesticide uses) or labeling changes such as warnings and need for an increase in the buffer zone for protection of sensitive habitat. Pesticides can undergo atmospheric transport in the gas or particle phase in the atmosphere from on-application site to off-site over a large geographical scale impacting rural communities dependent on agriculture. Additional environmental pressures from climate change include increased incidence of forest fires. The atmospheric transport pathway enables the movement of fine (diameter <2.5 microns) and coarse particles (measured using total or diameter<10 microns) produced from forest fires. Chemicals associated with these particles in the atmosphere include semi-volatile organics such as pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) further impacting the livelihood and health of rural communities. Agriculture is important to Canada's economy, and with a Prairie drought in 2021 there was a loss in crop production in Canada (wheat, barley, oats down 36, 27, 20 % from 2020). Farmers are managing the high cost of chemical pesticide applications, changing regulations, lack of new formulations in the marketplace, and rise in weed, disease, and insect resistance. There is also public concern regarding the impacts of pesticides on the environment (e.g. pollinator species) and human health. Our research comes at a critical time to enable the next steps in establishing direct and stronger ties between the atmospheric transport pathway of pesticides with the location of observed impacts in the environment. This research will examine the occurrence of particles, pesticides, and PAHs (where applicable) in all environmental compartments (e.g. air (gas and particles), soil, weeds, crops, and beehive exposure (by developing non-invasive beehive passive sampling)). By uncovering relationships, we will aid in establishing best management practices for the protection of lives and resources of farmers, beekeepers, and rural communities. Study areas include the Canadian Prairies, where grains and oilseeds (canola) are grown. We will initially focus on Saskatchewan and the Okanagan Valley with orchards and vineyards, all of which are critical to Canada's economy. These agricultural areas have differences in usage patterns of pesticides, crops types, climatic factors and are near forested areas with increased incidence of forest fires. This work demands advanced development and application of chemical analysis methods at trace levels using chromatography-mass spectrometry. We aim to extend our success not only for active ingredients in chemical pesticide formulations but also for the transformation products formed in the environment.  This research will identify pathways of movement in the environment and new emerging toxicity concerns.