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      The impact of organophosphate pesticides in orchards on earthworms in the Western Cape, South Africa.

      1 ,
      Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

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          Abstract

          Earthworm population density was measured in and adjacent to an orchard in an agricultural area in the Western Cape, South Africa. Worm densities were very low in orchards (22/m(2)) compared to adjacent uncultivated fields (152/m(2)) at a distance from the orchards. The possible effect of organophosphate pesticides on the earthworms was investigated. Background soil concentrations of chlorpyrifos prior to the start of the spraying season were low (0.2-2.7 microg/kg) but persistent for up to 6 months after the last spraying event, and the pesticide was, as a result of rainfall, transported to nontarget areas by runoff. Background concentrations of azinphos methyl were higher than those of chlorpyrifos (1.6-9.8 microg/kg) but not detectable 2 weeks after a spraying event. Azinphos methyl was mostly transported by wind (spray drift) to adjacent areas. A microcosm study indicated effects of chlorpyrifos on earthworms as determined by measuring biomass change and Cholinesterase inhibition. It is concluded that earthworms were affected detrimentally by the pesticides due to chronic (chlorpyrifos) and intermittent (azinphos methyl) exposure.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.
          Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
          0147-6513
          0147-6513
          Feb 2007
          : 66
          : 2
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. sar@sun.ac.za
          Article
          S0147-6513(05)00252-6
          10.1016/j.ecoenv.2005.10.006
          16318873
          dd8b675e-da8b-4bf3-9ab8-c39cc06c88fa
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