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A GIS APPROACH FOR IDENTIFYING SPECIES AND LOCATIONS AT RISK FROM OFF-TARGET MOVEMENT OF PESTICIDES
Citation:
PFLEEGER, T. G., C. A. BURDICK, D. M. OLSZYK, AND J. GABRIEL. A GIS APPROACH FOR IDENTIFYING SPECIES AND LOCATIONS AT RISK FROM OFF-TARGET MOVEMENT OF PESTICIDES. Presented at SETAC, Baltimore, MD, November 13 - 17, 2005.
Description:
In many countries, numerous tests are required prior to pesticide registration for the protection of human health and the environment from the unintended effects of chemical releases. Current methodology used by the US EPA for determining plant species at risk from off site movement of pesticides has been determined to be inadequate for their protection. There is little evidence to suggest the species currently used are the most sensitive species to all pesticides, therefore these species may not be indicative of the effects that could occur with exposure to specific pesticides. Because of the limited scope of the current testing protocol, the uncertainty surrounding the data compels decision makers to make more restrictive choices concerning the level of ecological risk. A more realistic approach has been developed that determines species most likely to be exposed. We used data from several different databases to form a searchable website using ARCIMS to locate areas at highest risk from off-site movement of pesticides. The databases include information on pesticides, agriculture, and wind. All data are recorded at the county level for the conterminous United States. Outputs from the website, based on user objectives, can then be employed to determine relevant counties within the US at risk for various exposure scenarios. Crops, non-cultivated plants, birds, mammals and threatened/endangered species are then identified for those areas using the GIS. The data can be exported to Microsoft Access for further analysis by the user. The databases will be updated as new information is available. Results should decrease the uncertainty associated with ecological risk assessment for the use of these chemicals. The website has been on the EPA intranet since April 2004 and will be available to the public via the internet in late 2005.