Nanopesticides: Questions about their potential adverse effects
In Science for Environment Policy n°558, the European Commission relays the analysis and recommendations of a team of researchers on the subject of “nanopesticides”. If there are many benefits expected from the use of nanopesticides, notably a lower quantity of active substance used, they can only keep their promises if their risks are well evaluated and minimized. The researchers point out the questions raised by the nanopesticides life cycle, their fate and the toxic effects on the environment . Their recommendations include:
- the development of a precise definition of the term “nanopesticide”
- adapting current testing guidelines to account for the properties and behavior of nanoscale materials, and standardizing testing guidelines for nanopesticides
- environmental assessments of nanopesticides over long periods of time and with appropriate organisms
- a better physical understanding of the risks posed by nanopesticides and their degradation.
Note: the authors point out that no nanomaterial-based pesticides are currently listed in the EU Pesticides Database, which lists active substances approved for use in Europe. Agriculture is however the sector of use that comes first in the French r-nano register (in number of declarations; for the volume, the information does not exist).
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Upcoming Nano Agenda
- Annual conference of the NaMasTE research group (Manufactured Nanomaterials, Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and Risks: towards controlled development)
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- Talks by Lauris Evariste and Bruno Lamas (INRAE) on December 11 and 12: Sex-dependent reduction in systemic immune response and resistance to bacterial infection after long-term exposure to food additive E551 (silica dioxide)
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