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- Pesticide pollution water from agriculture, Australia
Pesticide pollution water from agriculture, Australia
Australia
last update:
2 months agoProblems
Widespread pesticide pollution
Australia has a long history of using pesticides in agricultural and forestry practices, and as a result, pesticide contamination is widespread across both rural and urban areas. Pesticide pollution across Australia has resulted in water pollution, spray drift, accidents, industrial pollution, and impacts on fauna. The most commonly detected pesticides are the triazine herbicides. Atrazine and Simazine. A lot of people are suffering from pesticide exposure in isolation as legislation and the legal system is inadequate to protect them and bring justice. 95% of pesticides used in Australia are detected in waterways do not have ecological guidelines, meaning that if traces of the pesticide leach off the land and into rivers, there are limited mechanisms, including legal means, available to determine the ecological effect of the pesticide on the channel and the legal consequences of such pollution. 80 pesticides banned overseas are still used in Australia. This includes carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and chemicals that the World Health Organisation has classified as hazardous. Many of these pesticides are used on crops for human consumption. Due to the overuse of herbicides and pesticides, many of these chemicals are no longer a viable control option for weeds. Australian law states that there must be conclusive scientific evidence that a pesticide is unsafe before it can be banned. Testing the effects of a pesticide on humans and the environment is a long and expensive process, so, unsurprisingly, Australia’s banned pesticides list is substantially shorter than most other countries, which stipulate that a pesticide must be proven safe before it can be sold. Pesticide pollution of water from agriculture is a severe environmental problem that can have adverse impacts on human health and biodiversity. It is vital to test pesticide residues annually to detect trends and to manage and mitigate risks from pesticide use. It is also essential to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices that reduce pesticide dependence and promote soil health and ecosystem services. By doing so, Australia can protect its precious water resources and ensure its food security for the future.
Gallery
4
Timelines
2023
A global analysis showed how pesticides leach into the environment, with Australia being one of the countries with the highest pesticide runoff into rivers. The study showed that 730 tonnes of pesticides enter rivers each year, with about 13,000 kilometers of rivers reaching chemical concentrations above safety limits for a number of aquatic plants and invertebrates.
2021
A global map of agricultural land across 168 countries revealed that 64 percent of land used for agriculture and food crops in Australia was at risk of pesticide pollution3. Almost a third of these areas were considered to be at high-risk.
2016
The APVMA announced a plan to review and update the registration status of about 300 pesticides by 2020, aiming to align Australia’s standards with international best practices.
2011
A report by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) found that 83% of the pesticides registered in Australia had not been reviewed since 1995 and that some of them were banned or restricted in other countries due to health and environmental risks.
2005
A study by Friends of the Earth revealed almost 200 pesticides have been detected in over 3,500 locations in Australian waterways over the years. The study also found that many pesticides were not monitored or regulated and that there was a lack of data on their environmental impacts.