Aerobic dissipation of avermectins and moxidectin in subtropical soils and dissipation of abamectin in a field study

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2019-11, Vol.183, p.109489, Article 109489
• Main Authors: de Oliveira Ferreira, Fabrício, Porto, Rafael Silveira, Rath, Susanne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Avermectins; Brazilian soils; Dissipation; Field study; Milbemycin
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109489

Avermectins and moxidectin are antiparasitics widely used as active pharmaceutical ingredients in veterinary medicine, as well as in pesticide formulations for pest control in agriculture. Although the use of these compounds provides benefits to agribusiness, they can impact the environment, since a large part of these substances may reach the soil and water from the excreta of treated animals and following direct applications to crops. The present work had the objective of evaluating the dissipation behaviors of abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin, and moxidectin in four native Brazilian soils of different textural classes (clay, sandy-clay, sandy, and sandy-clay-loam), following OECD Guideline 307. The studies were conducted in a climate chamber at 22 °C, 71% relative humidity, and protected from light. The dissipation studies were carried out with all drugs together, since no difference was verified when studies were done with each drug separately. The concentrations of the drugs in the soils were determined using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a fluorescence detector or a tandem mass spectrometer. The dissipation half-life (DT50) values ranged from 9 to 16 days and the calculated GUS index values were in the range from −1.10 to 0.08, indicating low mobility of the drugs in the soils evaluated and low tendency for leaching. In addition, a field study was carried out to evaluate the dissipation of abamectin after application of a foliar pesticide in an orange crop. A DT50 of 9 days was determined, which was similar to that obtained under controlled conditions in the climate chamber (12 days), indicating that biotransformation was the primary process influencing the overall dissipation. •Avermectins have low potential to contaminate groundwater.•Avermectins and moxidectin dissipate faster in sandy soils.•The DT50 for abamectin in the field study was 9 days.•DT50 of abamectin is shorter in the field than under laboratory conditions.•A LOQ of 0.1 ng g−1 of abamectin in soils is reached using SPE-UPLC-MS/MS.