Thorpedale Water Supply Gippsland: The humble Spud or any other vegetable for that matter can rely on large quantities of pesticides to get a 'successful crop'. Problems arise however if the horticultural areas are located in close proximity to water supplies or residential regions. This particular community has potato growing in very close proximity to the off-take for the local towns water supply. What is the likelihood of agricultural pesticides being washed into the creek, especially in times of heavy rainfall? Can water authorities test for all pesticides applied and if found in water, can the pesticides be successfully removed before being consumed by the public?

In terms of the humble spud the following pesticides are applied during a regular growing season; Permethrin (Insecticide), 2,4-D (herbicide), Azoxystrobin (fungicide), Cyanazine (herbicide), Chlorothalonil (fungicide), Metribuzin (herbicide), Clopyralid (herbicide), Fludioxinil (herbicide), MCPA (herbicide), Methamidophos (insecticide), Metalaxyl (fungicide), Glyphosate (herbicide), Clethodim (herbicide), Paraquat (herbicide), Diquat (herbicide), Floroxypur (herbicide).

The following table contains information about pesticides compiled by the Pesticide Action Network.

A view from further up in the catchment, showing intensive horticultural activities in this towns water supply catchment in Gippsland.

More spuds, large scale application of pesticides in Gippsland, Tarwin River catchment.

Even more spuds - Elizabeth Creek catchment Gippsland - Water supply for Meeniyan

Dieldrin Scare Gembrook Region 1988

(In early 1988 a number of farms in the Gembrook region were quarantined because of unacceptably high levels of dieldrin in soil - articles sourced from local Pakenham-Berwick newspaper The Source)

Wednesday 27th January 1988

- Prior to 1987, dieldrin had been used extensively in Gembrook to control pests, including wireworm, a pest of potato crops.

- According to **** of the VFF, growers had followed recommendations from the Department of Agriculture, in using dieldrin on their farms.

- Farm quarantine would cost the farmers about $15,000 per year and as dieldrin has a half life ranging from 3 to 10 years, the total cost per farm would be high.

- Cattle were not the prime source of income for potato farmers but provided important supplementary income when prices for potatoes were low.

- Farmers, felt that they were 'paying the penalty' for following advice from the Department of Agriculture.

Wednesday 24th February, 1988

- At a public meeting of growers and senior officers from the VFF and DARA, held on 15th February, to discuss the dieldrin problem it was revealed that serious investigation and research of the chemical had only begun in 1986.

- In the mid 70's dieldrin had been banned in America but it was not until 1987, that dieldrin was deregistered for use in agricultural production in Victoria.

- Quarantined farmers emphasised the dramatic effect on their lives as a result of following recommendations to use diedrin products.

- There was still no help available to affected farmers in Victoria.

- Farmers at the meeting pushed for government and industry sponsored assistance to identify the source of the problem and worst affected areas, and ensure particular families are not left to bear the brunt of the mistakes of others.

- The VFF has arranged for a deputation of farmers from all affected areas to meet with the Minister of DARA.

Wednesday, 2nd March, 1988

- Pakenham Council wants compensation paid to farmers whose properties are dieldrin affected.

- Council is seeking the matter to be listed as an agenda item for the mid year conference of the Gippsland Municipalities Association.

- Cr ****'s motion calls on the association to press Federal and State Governments to reverse a decision made by DARA to refuse compensation.

- Council has expressed concern at farmers being required to pay for testing of livestock and soil.

Wednesday 9th March 1988

- Gembrook farmers met last Thursday to discuss the previous Tuesday meeting between the Minister, Mr Ken Walker of DARA, VFF representatives and representatives of farmers whose properties are quarantined.

- It was decided that a fighting fund be set bup to help their committee obtain (government) information (on the use of dieldrin in agriculture) possibly under the Freedom of Information Act.

- A range of options for assistance was proposed to the Minister.

- While the Minister continues to deny the department's liability on the issue, he was happy to talk about an assistance package.

- The Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Tom Austin, says the problem was known at least six years ago but nothing was done about it.

- Some individual farmers intend to sue the government.

- Farmers have been advised that any litigation should be taken co-operatively.

Wednesday, 23rd March 1988

- The reaction of farmers of quarantined properties, to an assistance package released by the Minister of DARA was shock, disappointment, anger and concern.

- If a better package is not offered next week, farmers have threatened legal action against DARA and the state government in the Supreme Court.

- The Minister's plan included:

(a) cattle would be sold to the Rural Finance Commission for 70 - 80 percent of market value;

(b) the development of property management programmes for quarantined land to be available for one year;

- At a meeting called last Friday by the VFF, farmers drew up what they considered were the minimum requirements from the Minister.

(a) To sell dieldrin-affected cattle to the Rural Finance Commission (RFC) for 100 percent of market price less normal handling costs;

(b) complete analysis of soils paid by government (at least 20 per farm), and property management through a permanent adviser.

- Affected farmers will meet Friday (25th March, 1988) with the Federal Minister for Agriculture at Pakenham.

- A further public meeting has been called for Monday 28th March to discuss the fighting fund.

- The farmers group has made representation to the Department of Social Services. There are two cases where owners of dieldrin-affected properties are too old to grow potatoes; they can't sell their cattle or their farms for realistic prices and are ineligible by means test for the pension.

- Farmers may have to refuse to pay rates to provide short term relief, and until property values can be reassessed.

Wednesday, 30th March, 1988

- Gembrook Concerned Farmers Group voted 49 to 4 on Monday night to institute legal action against the government, chemical manufacturers and distributors over the dieldrin issue.

- There were 70 members in attendance and Mr Dyer (VFF representative) expressed disappointment at the number of abstentions from voting.

- Full support had been expressed by Bellarine Peninsula Farmers and by Erica farmers (who had been similarly affected).

- The committee outlined its meeting the previous Thursday night where, acting on the advice of solicitor ***, it voted unanimously to recommend legal proceedings.

- Mr ***, appointed to advise owners of affected properties, spoke at the meeting. He told farmers that the problem could be in existence for the next twenty years and people are deluding themselves if they think a package of short term, cattle buy-back assistance is adequate. He believed the government is trying to blur the real issues which involve long-term farm use and land values.

- Mr *** outlined the rights of prospective land purchasers to know about dieldrin contamination.

- Mr *** advised that legal proceedings be instituted as soon as possible. He emphasised the necessity of obtaining proof from each farmer of his history of the use of dieldrin. Not everyone will fit into the class action but a substantial number will.

- If legal proceedings are successful, farmers are entitled to compensation for all economic losses, such as land value depreciation and costs of retraining and capital infrastructure for new ventures.

- Instituting legal proceedings does not stop negotiations for short-term assistance.

- The Law Institute of Victoria felt farmers had a good chance of winning.

- The Minister of DARA said that he doesn't consider legal action will benefit anyone.

Wednesday, 6th April, 1988

- Farmers of quarantined properties in Gembrook have appealed for local community support, including contributions to their fighting fund.

- An open letter to the community warns that many quarantined farms would have to be sold and sub-division would be inevitable. It also states that the government is considering purchasing affected land for pine plantations. These measures would drastically alter the Gembrook environment.

- The fighting fund will be used for press advertisements, media releases, legal fees and administration expenses.

Wednesday, 20th April, 1988

- Two Queen's Counsels have told quarantined farmers they believe legal action against the government will be successful.

- Farmers are now waiting for a third opinion before taking action.

- Gembrook farmers have joined with quarantined farmers around the state to form the Victorian Farmers Dieldrin Action Committee.

- Representatives, of about 200 farmers, from all areas support legal action against the government.

- The decision of the Minister of DARA last week to pay the costs of soil and animal testing on quarantined properties has done little to placate farmers.

- Mr K Walker (Minister of DARA) announced that nearly $500,000 would be made available for chemical testing and to develop a property management plan for each farmer.

- Mr *** of Gembrook Farmers Group said "the Minister's offers on both soil testing and cattle buy-back have been greeted with scepticism. We're starting to get back to square one with minimum requirements we asked for, but it still doesn't help us with long-term land use".

- Mr *** (VFF representative) said "We want to avoid bitterness and ill-feeling between the department and farmers. We don't want the dieldrin issue used as a reason for the department to cut back on its extension services to all farmers in the state".

Wednesday, 27th April, 1988

- The Shire Secretary of Pakenham, said this week, that owners who believe the value of their properties have been adversely affected by the use of dieldrin should apply to counil for reassessment, giving reasons.

Wednesday, 4th May 1988

- At a Pakenham Council meeting held the previous week Cr *** described as inadequate, the state government's offer to buy cattle from quarantined properties at Gembrook. She found the response to the issue of compensation from Federal Primary Industries, Mr J. Kerin as not being entirely satisfactory.

Wednesday, 22nd June 1988

- Banning the use of dieldrin has allowed wireworm to creep back into potato crops.

- Heavily infected crops have been reported by 3 - 4 farmers

- One farmer has lost one-third of his crop this season.

- Prior to the use of dieldrin in the 1950's farmers literally grew ten tonnes of potatoes and wrote off five to wireworm.

- Despite extensive research by the Department of Agriculture no adequate alternative control of wireworm is available.

- It appears the dieldrin contaminated land may repel the wireworm, but there is not guarantee for how long.

- Dieldrin was needed on every crop in order to be effective.

- Farmers could suffer significant economic losses.

Corn crop Gippsland near drainage line. Atrazine is one of the herbicides used on corn crops.

Hormones and other nasties can be released by cows taking dumps in river. In this case the Acheron River.

October 2007: Looking into Thorpedale's water supply.

Photo taken from road near Warrnambool. Note spray drift/mist. This spray was applied on paddock next to main road, meaning that any passers by copped a lungful.

Irrigation Regions

The most used pesticides in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation Region 2001.

See Friends of the Earth December 2006 Press Release

Herbicides

Herbicide	Quantity	Manufacturer
Glyphosate	121,110 Litres
Paraquat, diquat	60,000 Litres
Amitrole	35,000 Litres
Ammonium fluphosiante	30,000 Litres
MCPA	28,000 Litres
Pendimethalin	20,500 Litres
Diquat debrmoide monohydrate Paraquat dichloride	16,430 Litres
Trifluralin	14,430 Litres
24-D	12,000 Litres
Diuron	4,715 Litres
Metribuzin	4,550 Litres
Simazine	4,500 Litres
Bromoxynil	4,290 Litres
Diflufenican MCPA Iso-Octyl Ester	3,015 Litres
Atrazine	3,000 Litres

Insecticides

Parathion methyl	170,000 Litres
Azinphos methyl	80,000 Litres	Bayer Crop Science
Dimethoate	27,340 Litres
Omethoate	24,286 Litres
chlorpyrifos	18,943 Litres
Methomyl	12,350 Litres
Diplomal amine DPA	9,000 Litres
Alpha-Cypermethrin	6,400 Litres
Beta-Cyfluthrin	4,000 Litres
Thiodicarb	4,000 Litres

Fungicides

Copper	400 Tonnes
Metham Sodium	300 Tonnes
Mancozeb	237.072 Tonnes
Wettable Sulphur	50 Tonnes
Ziram	50 Tonnes
Metiram	40 Tonnes
Chlorthaunal	30 Tonnes
Sulphur	30 Tonnes
Copper Hydroxide	15 Tonnes
Thiram	14 Tonnes
Metalaxyl	5 Tonnes

Azinphos-methyl

In a study by Goulburn Murray Water, the top 10 pesticides found to pose the highest overall risk in Goulburn-Murray Irrigation Areas were (pesticides listed as most hazardous first and so on); 1. Azinphos-methyl (insecticide), 2. copper hydroxide (fungicide), 3. parathion methyl (insecticide), 4. chlorpyrifos (insectcide), 5. omethoate (insecticide), 6. esfenvalerarate (insecticide), 7. methomyl (insecticide), 8. thiram (fungicide), 9. bifethrin (insecticide), 10. mancozeb (fungicide). Almost all of these pesticides are used in the production of fruit and vegetables. Omethoate is used in pasture areas. It was regarded that Azinphos-methyl was found to pose a 20 times more risk than copper hydroxide, 40 times more risk than parathion methyl, and 100 times more risk than omethoate.

Azinphos-methyl is an organophosphorus insecticide with product names including Gusathion 200 SC Insecticide marketed by Bayer Crop Science. It is banned in India, Indonesia and Thailand. The Material Data Sheet lists that it is a cholinesterase inhibitor and is dangerous to the aquatic environment. Production or agricultural workers using this substance should be monitored for cholinesterase levels. The insecticide is used in the production of apples, pears, quinces, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, citrus, plums, grapes, kiwifruit, litchis and blueberries. Rates are generally between 190-245ml/100L. It is used against; codling moth, lightbrown apple moth, spring beetle, apple leaf hopper, bryobia mite, pear and cherry slug, woolly aphid, San Jose scale, oyster shell scale, root borer, oriental fruit moth, red scale, soft-brown scale, white wax scale, tortrix, aphids, grapevine scale, grapevine hawk moth, grapevine moth, fig longicorn, elephant weevil, macadamia nut borer and fruitspotting bug.

Canola & Wheat

Victorian & Australian Canola Production

Year	Victorian Hectares	Victorian Tonnes	Australian Tonnes	Victorian share of total
1996-97	n/a	141,000	641,000	22%
1997-98	n/a	181,000	861,000	21%
1998-99	335,000	315,000	1,685,000	18.7%
1999-00	250,000	450,000	2,400,000	18.8%
2000-01	250,000	400,000	1,681,000	23.8%
2001-02	240,000	372,000	1,607,000	23.1%
2002-03	125,000	180,000	790,000	22.8%
2003-04	230,000	420,000	1,622,000	25.9%
2004-05	240,000	395,000	1,531,000	25.8%
2005-06	225,000	337,500	1,438,750	23.5%
2006-07	213,000	42,000	512,000	8.2%
2007-08	238,000	518,000	1,550,000	33.4%

Source: Weekly Times 23/5/07. CAA and AOF

Above October 06' Canola crop Fiery Creek catchment, south western Victoria. Typical pesticide volumes used for Canola are printed below.

Pesticide volumes per hectare per year (one source Victoria)

Pesticide	Canola	Wheat
Atrazine/Herbicide	3 litres
Diuron/Herbicide		0.75 litres
Endosulfan/Insecticide	0.5 litres
Ester	Up to 0.8 litres	Up to 0.8 litres
Fastac/Insecticide (Alpha-Cypermethrin 10%, Xylene 75%)	0.1 litre	0.2 litre
Folicar		0.25 litre
Fusilade/Herbicide (Fluazifop-P-Butyl It)	60 ml
Glean/Herbicide (Chlorsulfuron)		20 to 25 gms
Hoegrass/Herbicide (Diclofop-methyl 500g/L, liquid hydrocarbon 393g/L, NMP 80 g/L)		2 litres
Impact		0.25 litres
Roundup/Herbicide	1.2 to 2 litres	1.5 to 3 litres
Simazine/Herbicide	2.5 to 3 litres
Sprayseed/Herbicide (Paraquat dichloride 135g/L+Diquat dibromide monohydrate 115g/L)	2.0 to 3 litres
Verdict/Herbicide (Haloxyfop R -methyl ester)	60ml
2,4 D (Amine)/Herbicide		2 litres

Using the figures provided above, and using a figure of 238,000 hectares of Canola planted in Victoria in 2007-08 one can assume that the total amount of pesticides used to grow Canola in Victoria in 2007-08 are;

714,000 litres of Atrazine, 119,000 litres of Endosulfan, 23,800 litres of Alpha-Cypermethrin, 1428 litres of Fusilade, 285,600-476,000 litres of Glyphosate, 595,000-714,000 litres of Simazine, 476,000-714,000 litres of Paraquat/Diquat and 1428 litres of Haloxyfop.

An example of herbicide usage scenarios in conventional and TT canola in typical farming systems of WA grainbelt (2000).

Timing	Conventional Canola	Rate L/ha	TT Canola	Rate L/ha
Field preperation	Glyphosate or (paraquat+diquat) Cultivate	0.5 to 1	Glyphosate or (paraquat+diquat) Atrazine	0.5 to 1 1 to 2
Pre-planting	Trifluralin	2	Trifuralin: 20% probability, particularly where herbicide resistance is prevalent	2
At planting	metolachlor (in high rainfall districts) for control of Crassula spp. etc	0.5
Post-emergent	Capeweed, clover & doublegee control (eg. clopyralid)	0.3	atrazine	2
Follow up	grass selective herbicide (eg clethodim + haloxyfop-ethxyethyl mix): 95% probability	0.15	grass selective herbicide (eg clethodim): 10% probability	0.15
Yield and weed control comments	Conventional canola crops are not weed free. Therefore some yield losses caused by weeds is always expected. Preparation for conventional canola needs to be more rigorous to minimise losses due to weed competition.		In a weed free situation TT canola generally yields 15 to 20% lower than conventional canola but because of the excellent weed control atrazine provides in many situations, this yield penalty is often overcome.

Source: p232 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

September 2007: Wild canola on roadsides in Central Gippsland.

September 07: Wild canola growing on roadsides of the Princes Highway near Trafalgar in Central Gippsland. The nearest Canola crops in Gippsland would be located near Giffard. Wild canola has also been observed growing on roadsides throughout western Melbourne. The nearest crop of canola to Melbourne is being grown near Little River west of Werribee.

Problems with Atrazine

atrazine lovers website

Also check out this amazing video about Atrazine

Pesticides Still Pouring Into Reef Waters Aug 13, 2007

Herbicide review 'fails' the environment 15 May 2008 Anna Salleh ABC

A review of the widely-used herbicide atrazine fails to recommend studies on its effects on the Australian environment, says one expert.

The response follows an Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) review, which approves continued use of the herbicide, despite international debate over its health and environmental effects.

Atrazine is used in Australia to control grass and weeds in crops like sorghum, maize, sugar cane, lupins, pine, eucalypt plantations and triazine-tolerant canola.

The long-running review found no major concerns with the herbicide, dismissing concerns about its potential to cause human cancer and sex changes in frogs at existing exposure levels.

But an expert on the impact of herbicides on frogs, Associate Professor Mike Tyler of the University of Adelaide, says the review gives "superficial treatment" to the question of atrazine's environmental effects, specifically evidence that it causes abnormalities in frogs. And he says the APVMA relied too much on US evidence and should have called for local studies to be carried out.

"Work should be done immediately in Australia on Australian species," says Tyler. He says investigating the role of chemicals in the decline of frog species is important. "Frogs are extremely sensitive to a wide range of pollutants and they give us an indication that there's something wrong with the environment when they begin to disappear."

Findings defended: Dr Simon Cubit of the APVMA defends the review, saying it relied on a database of thousands of scientific papers as evidence. He could not say how many studies in the database are Australian, but says the data is extensive enough to reflect the risk of atrazine in the Australian environment. "At present we don't believe it's a significant issue," he says.

Cubit says the APVMA will re-open the atrazine review if new credible evidence of impact emerges. Meanwhile it recommends changes on labels to reduce the risk of the herbicide contaminating waterways. "Atrazine should not be in waterways," he says. "If it is then it's the responsibility of state authorities to identify its source and take relevant action."

Atrazine in waterways: Tasmanian Greens MP Tim Morris says recent Freedom of Information requests have revealed atrazine levels in the state's waterways as high as 7.42 parts per billion. Previous research suggests problems can occur in frogs as low as 0.1 parts per billion. While the APVMA review concludes the weight of evidence does not support this concern, it says state authorities are required to take action to prevent further contamination when water levels reach 0.1 parts per billion.

Morris says there is currently a proposal before the state government to reduce the legal limit of atrazine in waterways to 0.1 parts per billion. Environmentalists are also concerned over the adequacy of testing of Australian waterways for chemicals such as atrazine.

Human hormone effects: The APVMA says it is investigating in vitro evidence available since the completion of its review that atrazine can disrupt the human hormone system at levels of 20 parts per billion. These latest findings raise questions on the adequacy of the allowed levels of the herbicide in drinking water, currently 40 parts per billion. The National Health and Medical Research Council is also currently reassessing drinking water guidelines, which includes acceptable levels of agricultural chemicals such as atrazine. Atrazine is no longer approved for use in the European Union.

http: www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/05/15/2246019.htm?site=science&topic=latest

Alarm at weed-kill chemical in water Matthew Denholm

May 15, 2008 AUSTRALIAN regulators have allowed a widely used weed killer to be present in drinking water at levels twice those now shown to cause damaging genetic changes in human cells.

A new study by the University of California, San Francisco, has found atrazine increases activity of human genes linked to fetal growth retardation and infertility. Atrazine is used to control weeds in forest plantations and crops such as canola, sugarcane, maize, sorghum and lupins across Australia.

Holly Ingraham, study senior author and UCSF professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology, told The Australian significant effects on human placental cells were seen when exposed to as little as 20 parts per billion of atrazine. This is half the 40ppb atrazine health value limit under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The US has a drinking water maximum of 3ppb for atrazine, while Europe has refused to approve it for use. Professor Ingraham said as a scientist she had "no agenda" in terms of regulation, but she believed Australia's health value of 40ppb was "worrying". "If it were me drinking water, I would want it as low as possible," she said. The study also exposed zebrafish to the chemical, finding significant effects at 2ppb and changes to sex ratios at 20ppb.

Earlier this month, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority announced its review of atrazine had concluded "no changes to the existing health standards" were needed. This was because while atrazine had been shown to disrupt the nervous, hormone and reproductive systems of rats, it was "unlikely that atrazine is an endocrine (hormonal) disruptor in humans".

However, the UCSF study drew the opposite conclusion. "Our results strongly suggest that atrazine is an endocrine disruptor - it is indirectly estrogenic, and it most certainly has the potential to influence reproduction, as well as other endocrine functions," Professor Ingraham said.

Endocrine disruptors affect the body's hormonal system, potentially affecting growth, development and reproduction. "Would a fetus or child be especially sensitive to this herbicide? Probably. Our study shows that some of the genes targeted by atrazine have already been linked to intrauterine growth retardation and infertility."

APVMA public affairs manager Simon Cubit said the regulator's decision not to toughen atrazine restrictions was based on "weight-of-evidence" from many studies. However, APVMA had sought expert advice from Australia's Office of Chemical Safety and drawn its attention to Professor Ingraham's study. The Health and Medical Research Council said it would consider "all the latest evidence" as part of its review of drinking water guidelines.

Atrazine producer Syngenta did not comment but has insisted the product poses no risk to human health. Tasmanian GP Alison Bleaney, who believes atrazine may be linked to high rates of cancer and auto-immune disease, demanded an urgent regulatory rethink. "One would hope that our regulators would be protecting us and protection means occasionally that you have to take a stand on the balance of probabilities," she said. "And the balance of probabilities has shown for some years that atrazine is not a safe chemical to have in our environment."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23700909-30417,00.html

The triazine herbicides act by interfering with plant photosynthesis. Triazines exhibit a wide range of toxicities to aquatic organisms, depending on the compound and the species. Atrazine concentrations as low as 10ug/L have been reported to inhibit algal growth but some algal species may establish resistant communities. Species richness and total abundance of emerging benthic macroinvertebrates were significantly reduced by atrazine concentrations of 20 ug/L and above (Boey & Cooper 1996; NRA 1997) ... The half-life for atrazine in estuarine sediment is 15-20 days, but in soil, 30% of the original atrazine may still exist after 3 years (Boey & Cooper 1996). p17 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Atrazine and simazine are relatively stable in water and have been detected in ground and surface waters in the USA and Australia (Kookana et al. 1998b). p17 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

The most widely used pesticide in Australia today is glyphosate...Annual average use approaches 15,000 tonnes. The next most widely used herbicides are atrazine and simazine. These are selective systematic herbicides which provide knockdown and residual action for control of many broad-leafed weeds and some grasses in forestry and agricultural crops. About 3000 tonnes of each of these are used annually, much of them industrial rather than agricultural uses for seasonal weed control. p27 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

A water quality program is being undertaken by the NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation that includes monitoring the rivers and streams of northwest NSW. No sample even approached the drinking water health values, but endosulfan, atrazine and chlorpyrifos in some samples exceeded the Action Guideline Value established by the NHMRC/ARMCANZ Guideline.. p90 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Pesticides with intermediate persistence included atrazine...p126 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

MacIntyre River near Moree NSW

Irrigation runoff waters in north-west cotton growing areas of NSW are retained within the farming boundaries in normal operations. Any direct escape of farm runoff water to the river or wetlands within months after spraying will lead to significant environmental contamination (Kennedy 1999). Muschal and Warne (2001) determined the hazard and risk posed to riverine organisms from pesticides. They used montioring data from the Central and North Western Regional Water Quality Program, which is run by Department of Land and Water Conservation, NSW... Data from the Macintyre, Gwydir and Namoi rivers were compared against ecotoxicological date from ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2001)... Sites at the bottom end of each catchment had the greatest agrochemical contamination with high levels of endosulfan, atrazine and other pesticides. p128 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

In 1999-2000 atrazine exceeded the guideline level of 99% ecosystem protection (0.07ug/l) in 8% of samples (Muschal 2001). Overall concentrations of atrazine in north-western NSW surface waters ranged from below the analytical detection limit to 10ug/l, with some isolated peaks up to 20ug/l during storm events. These were low compared to overseas results (Boey & Cooper 1996)... p128 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

[cotton NSW] In total, six insecticides and nine herbicides (including breakdown products of atrazine) have been detected in surface water samples since 1991. The insecticides are amitraz, chlorpyrifos, parathion methyl, dimethoate, profenofos and propargite;p the herbicides are desethyl atrazine, diuron, fluometuron, hydroxy atrazine, metolachlor, pendimethalin, prometryn, simazne and trifluralin... The herbicides desethyl atrazine, diuron, fluometuron and metolachlor appear to be on a continuing upward trend... p128/9 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Storm events can substantially increase both the concentration and load of pesticides in storm surface waters. Significant loads of atrazine were transported off dryland cotton farms in the Namoi catchment during a 24-hour storm event in July 1993 (preeces et al. 1993). Cooper and Riley (1996) measured the storm transport of pesticides from dryland cotton production into Cox's Creek in the Liverpool Plains of NSW in January 1995. The high stream flow lasted for over three days and was associated with high turbidity. The loads of atrazine and endosulfan exported in the storm were relatively low, reflecting the lower usage due to drought, but peak concentrations were 2.25ug/L of atrazine and 0.045ug/L of endosulfan. It is significant that atrazine had not been used for around 12 months. In another storm monitored in January 1997 on the Gwydir River, Muschal (1997) detected alpha-and beta endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, atrazine, diuron, fluometuron and prometryn...p129 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Large quantities of herbicides are applied to the irrigation areas of south-western NSW for the growing of rice. The total quantities of molinate applied each season (>100,000 kg in Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area alone) far exceed any other herbicides mostly in spring and early summer. Bensulfuron-methyl is also commonly used on most rice crops, while other herbicides used for general weed control and seedbed preparation include glyphosate, diquat, paraquat, atrazine and diuron (Bowmer et al. 1995).p129 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Murrumbidgee Irrigation Region south of Griffith NSW

Bowmer et al. (1995) reviewed and reported on the pesticide monitoring that has been carried out in these irrigation areas. Supply water from the rivers was of high quality and generally few pesticides were detected. Just a few channels contained low levels of atrazine (0.08ug/L & 0.2 ug/L); endosulfan sulphate (0.02ug/L); molinate (7.2 ug/L & 0.5 ug/L); and 2,4-D (0.5 ug/L). Water supplying farms in the Willbriggie district, which had been mixed with MIA drainage water, contained higher concentrations of some pesticides and more frequent detections. Molinate was detected in 90% of samples over 55-days in spring and early summer, up to a maximum concentration of 3.6ug/L and atrazine in 20% of samples, up to 0.35ug/L...p129/130 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

{SW NSW}Pesticide residues were detected in water from the large drainage channels that received runoff from a variety of crops, particularly in spring and summer (Bowmer et al. 1995; Korth et al. 1995). Molinate was detected in most drains during its application season, and levels often exceeded guidelines both for drinking water and protection of the aquatic environment. Other pesticides commonly found to exceed guidelines current at the time included diuron, atrazine, endosulfan, chlorpyrifos and malathion...p130 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Chapman and Stranger (1995) found that water quality was generally good in horticultural areas in the Gippsland area of Victoria in 1994...Triazine and urea herbicides were common in drains; atrazine was found up to 4.9ug/L (Orbost), simazine up to 1.4ug/L and diuron up to 4.8ug/L (both at Koo-wee-rup). However some herbicides were found in a few stream samples: atrazine was found at Rosebud and Bairnsdale (0.14-3.2ug/L); metribuzin (0.15 - 0.28ug/L) at two locations; simazine at Bairnsdale (0.61ug/L). Endosulfan (up to 0.04ug/L) and chlorpyrifos (0.002ug/L) were also detected in streams at Bairnsdale...p130 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

In Tasmania, Daves et al. (1994) detected residues of triazine herbicides, atrazine and simazine in 20 out of 29 streams sampled that drained forestry and agricultural catchments in Tasmania between 1989 and 1992. The forestry spraying was carried out by helicopter with relatively high application rates. Concentrations of herbicides ranged over several orders of magnitude; the highest concentration of atrazine was 53mg/L (53 000ug/L) and of simazine 478 ug/L. Atrazine residues decreased with time after spraying; from a median of 8.1ug/L on the day of spraying to a median of 0.3ug/L around 13-15 months later. However, rainfall runoff caused significant but transient atrazine concentrations in streams, even after 13-15 months, with median values up to 2.0ug/L. The lower water solubilities of atrazine and simazine, compared to the other triazine herbicides, contribute to their greater persistence in water. A typical half-life of atrazine in these Tasmanian streams was around 3 months. Streams draining forestry land generally contained more pesticides than agricultural streams due to differences in methods of pesticide application, time of application and the nature of the chemicals...p131 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Namoi River near Walgett NSW

Turner (1996) reported that Atrazine has been frequently detected in the Condamine-Balonne River system in Queensland, from trace levels up to 2.4mg/L...In North Queensland, Russell et al. (1996) reported that diedrin, DDE, 2,4-D and atrazine were detected in between 9 and 27% of samples from the Johnstone and Daintree Rivers. Atrazine, between 0.4 and 14.4ug/L was found in farm dams on the Darling Downs in Queensland, probably associated with suspended soil particles (BW Simpson; cited in Hunter 1992). p132 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Muller et al. (2000) analysed 103 sediment samples collected from irrigation channels and drains in 11 agricultural areas of Queensland for a range of past and presently used pesticides, including organochlorines, pyrethroids, ureas, triazines and organophosphorus pesticides. The most commonly detected residues were of endosulfan...and DDT residues...In contrast, the herbicides diuron, atrazine and ametryn were most commonly detected in sediments from drains in sugarcane areas, with maximum concentrations of 120, 70 and 130ug/kg dw, respectively. p132 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Helicopter applications of granulated formulations of atrazine in forestry operations in Western Australia resulted in concentratins in streams between 0.8 and 38ug/L (McAlpine & Van der Weile 1990).p132 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Triazine herbicides have a low ability to bind to soils and are therefore relatively mobile. Hence they have often been found in groundwater in rural regions of Australia (Bauld 1994). The National Registration Authority (NRA 1997) described atrazine as one of the most widely used herbicides in Australian agriculture, with high potential to contaminate ground and surface water, and narrow safety margins for aquatic organisms. The NRA (1997) proposed measures to monitor and reduce atrazine contamination of aquatic systems, particularly to eliminate poor agricultural practices. Simazine may also occur in groundwater but it is not as mobile as atrazine.p132/3 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

The then Land and Water Sciences Division of the Australian Geological Survey Organisation (now in the Bureau of Resource Sciences) has conducted most of the groundwater surveys throughout Australia. Bauld (1994) analysed groundwaters from four irrigation areas in South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Triazine herbicides, most commonly atrazine, were most often detected. In some areas as many as 50 - 80% of bores contained detectable residues of atrazine and/or simazine and their degradation products but drinking water guidelines were exceeded in only 7 - 15% of samples. Atrazine levels were low compared to a median of 0.05ug/L and maximum of 40ug/L in the USA (Simpson et al. 1992). p134 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"Groundwater surveys of irrigation areas in the Wakool-Cadell (sampled in 1995) and Denimein-Berriquin (sampled in 1996) districts of NSW detected atrazine, desethylatrazine (DEA; a metabolite of atrazine), terbutryn and 2,4,5-T, at concentrations of up to 0.3ug/L, although most concentrations were much lower (Watkins et al. 1998)". p134 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"Jiwan and Riley (1993) detected atrazine in around 6% of groundwater samples at five sites in alluvial aquifers under the Liverpool Plains in the north-west of NSW. In the lower Namoi Valley, atrazine concentrations from less than 0.1 to 5.8ug/L were found in groundwater (Boey & Cooper 1996). The most vulnerable sites for ground water contamination by atrazine are often in floodplain areas where shallow perched water tables exist (Boey & Cooper 1996)". p134 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"…Bauld (1996) reported that almost half of the 51 groundwater samples (49%) from the Shepparton East area of Victoria contained detectable pesticide residues and 43% contained triazines (atrazine and simazine). In contrast, there were very few pesticides found in groundwater in 1994 from a predominantly dryland agriculture region, the Goulburn River Catchment in the Nagambie-Mangalore area of Victoria (Watkins et al 1999a). They detected simazine and atrazine in only one ground (5%) and one surface water at concentrations between 0.06-0.96ug/L, and only in waters less than 25 years old…Ivkovic et al (2001) found atrazine (0.02 & 0.04ug/L), simazine (up to 0.45ug/L in 10 bores) and bromacil (2.5ug/L, 1 bore) in the Cobram area of northern Victoria. P134/5 Traces of herbicides were found in groundwater in horticultural areas of the Gippsland district of Victoria in 1994 (Chapman & Stranger 1995)… and atrazine (0.06ug/L) at Orbost…" p134/5 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"…Keating et al. (1996) reported traces of atrazine and hexazinone in the Callide Valley, and chlorfenvinphos and 2,4-D in 3 of 52 samples from the Bundaberg region…In a survey of the Lower Burdekin basin in Queensland in 1992 and 1993, atrazine was detected frequently, mostly less than 0.1ug/L but one site had between 1.3 and 1.4 ug/L (Keating et al 1996)…Pesticide levels in groundwaters of the Border Rivers catchment of southern Queensland and northern NSW sampled in 1994 and 1995 were all <0.1 ug/L (Please et al. 2000). Only atrazine, DEA and metolachlor in four surface water samples…" p134/5 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"Western Australia The Water Authority of Western Australia (WAWA) has monitored pesticides at various sites over the past 25 years. Sheridan reported that atrazine was detected in 14 out of 44 unconfined groundwater samples…" p136 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"Thomas et al(1998) tested the acute toxicity of ten pesticides used in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), NSW to the Australian cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia. The pesticides atrazine, bensulfuron-methyl, bromacil. Chlorpyrifos, diuron, malathion, metolachlor, molinate, simazine and thiobencarb had been detected at elevated levels in drainage channels in previous irrigation seasons (Korth et al. 1995). With the exceptions of molinate and diuron, the acute toxicity decreased when tests were performed in irrigation supply water, in comparison to laboratory water…" p141 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"…Forestry spraying operations with atrazine significantly increased the daytime in-stream invertebrate drift (Davies et al. 1994). The initial spraying disturbed trout but this disturbance did not seem to affect their growth rate. The long-term effect on stream plant functioning was not studied. The authors suggested that atrazine concentrations between 1 and 20ug/L for several weeks were unlikely to cause major changes in aquatic fauna, although sublethal effects may occur above 10-20ug/L. Concentrations above 100ug/L, which occurred in about 8% of cases, may have short-term lethal effects on organisms. This resulted in Forestry Tasmania suspending the use of atrazine". p142 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"With increasing land area being converted to agricultural production, particularly sugarcane, inputs of pesticides into the Great Barrier Reef area have increased with time… The quantities of the insecticide chlorpyrifos, and herbicides atrazine, diuron and 2,4-D applied in the Herbert catchment have increased in the last 15 years…The fate of these pesticides in river and Reef ecosystems is largely unknown (Johnson & Ebert 2000). In the analyses of sediment and intertidal seagrass samples from along the Queensland coast in 1997 and 1998, Haynes et al (2000a) found atrazine between 0.1 and 0.3ug/kg, and diuron from 0.2 to 10.1ug/kg (up to 1.7ug/kg in seagrass). The highest levels were mainly in samples collected along the high rainfall, tropical coast between Townsville and Port Douglas and in Moreton Bay. Some herbicide residues were found in only 13% of aquatic fauna samples from Northern Queensland rivers between 1990 and 1993 (Hunter et al. 1996); atrazine and low levels of 2,4,5-T were found in a few samples from the Johnstone River, and 2,4-D was found in both Johnstone and Daintree Rivers (Hunter et al 1996)." p145/6 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

"Muller et al. (2000) suggested that photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides such as diuron and atrazine transported to the Reef environment by flood events might cause additional stress to marine plants…" p146 Pesticide Use in Australia A Review Undertaken by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Pesticide Monitoring in Goulburn-Murray Waters Irrigation Supply Channels Covering the Six Irrigation Season Study Report Goulburn Murray Water June 2006.

“In the 2004-05 seasons…Atrazine was detected at 9 of 14 sites (spot water samples); however it was found on a regular basis only at West Boort… In the 2005-06 seasons… Atrazine was detected in spot samples at each of the 15 sites for the majority of sample dates…As there are no national guidelines for atrazine for all purposes, Canadian Environmental Quality Standards (2003) for irrigation, and livestock and drinking were used for comparison. The atrazine concentrations found were within the Canadian Guidelines for drinking, recreation, agriculture water uses and aquatic life protection…

By comparison with Australian, New Zealand and USA drinking water and human health values the detected and predicted values for endosulfan, chlorpyrifos, parathion methyl, atrazine and copper were found to be with guideline values…

P22 Pesticides in spot water samples Atrazine is highly persistent in soil and in the environment. It was detected on a regular basis at all 15 sites during 2005/06 season. It is likely that the atrazine detected was used to control weeds in forage legumes and orchards. The concentrations detected in spot water samples were in the range of trace-0.05ug/L. By comparison with water quality guidelines of atrazine for irrigation, livestock and raw water for drinking water supply (ANZECC 2000; Hamilton et al. 2003) the atrazine concentration detected in spot samples did not exceed the recommended guideline values for the above water uses."

Intensive Cropping near Glenthompson Dam, South West Vic

Groundwater Pollution (Getting to Know Groundwater - Volume 1 Notes Edition 2 July 2001 CGS)

p157 "Groundwater is thought to be protected from OC pesticides, because generally these are strongly adsorbed and accumulate in soils. There is little data on pesticides in groundwater in Australia, but where these have been identified, in all cases they are well below the health guidelines, although these could be of concern where groundwater discharges into the environment. Incidences of reported pesticide contamination of groundwater are shown in Table 11.

Table 11: Summary of reported pesticide detections in Australian groundwaters, after Kookana et al (1998)

Region	Pesticide(s)	Use	Reference
Shepparton, East Victoria	Atrazine, desisopropylatrazine, simazine	Irrigated agriculture, dominated by fruit	Bauld et al, 1992
-do-	Atrazine, deisopropylatrazine, simazine, chlorpyrifos, endosulphan, DDE, heptachlor epoxide	Irrigated agriculture, dominated by apple, pear, stone fruit orchards	Bauld, 1996
Burdekin River Delta, Queensland	Atrazine	Domestic/town use, sugarcane	Bauld 1996
Bundaberg, Queensland	2,4-D, atrazine, chlorphenvinphos		In Keeting et al, 1996
Caboolture/Beerwah, Queensland	EDB		Simpson et al, 1993
Lower Namoi Valley, NSW	Atrazine	Weed control, drainage/irrigation channels	Jiwan and Riley, 1993
Southeast of South Australia	Atrazine, deethylatrazine, simazine	Irrigation channels, forest reserve, urban	Stadter et al, 1992
Padthaway, South Australia	Atrazine	Irrigation	Fennell and Stadter, 1991
Southeast of South Australia	Dieldrin, lindane, chlorpyrifos, alachlor	Dairying, potato cropping, horticulture, viticulture, grazing, pines	Schmidt et al, 1996
Perth, Esperance, Ord River, Western Australia	Atrazine	Urban, irrigation	Sheridan, 1991
Perth, Western Australia	Atrazine, fenamiphos	Urban	Appleyard 1995b
Perth, Western Australia	DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, lindane, chlorpyrifos	Urban	Gerritse et al, 1988

Pesticides are affected by sorption/desorption processes, by volatilisation, and chemical and microbiological degradation. In the latter case, decay can transform pesticides into more problematic daughter products, which are either more persistent ot more toxic than the parent compound.

Golf course surrounding Korumburra's drinking water supply. Golf courses can also use a variety of pesticides.

Toxicity Ratings

Pesticides vary widely in their toxicity, and the toxicity is usually quoted as the LD/50 which is the dose of the chemical in milligrams per kilogram of body weight required to kill 50 per cent of test animals to which it is administered. Although human beings and test animals may differ widely in their susceptibility to the various toxic chemicals, this nevertheless gives a general guide to the short term toxicity of the agent. The toxicity also varies with the route of absorption into the body, that is, skin contact, breathing the fumes, or oral ingestion, and the LD's are usually reported as "acute oral", "acute dermal", and so on.

In other words the lower the figure given as the LD/50, the more toxic is the pesticide. The following table which is taken from reference 1, indicates the classification of toxicity normally given to pesticides.

Classification of Comparitive Toxicity of Pesticides

Level of Toxicity	Oral LD/50 (mg/kg body weight)	*Dermal LD/50 (mg/kg body weight)**
Extremely toxic	Less than 5	10 or less
Highly toxic	6 - 50	10 - 100
Moderately toxic	50 - 500	100 - 1,000
Slightly toxic	500 - 5,000	Over 1,000
Practically non toxic	5000 - 15,000	-
Relatively harmless	More than 15,000	-

*LD/50 is the lethal dose for 50% of a sample of test subjects.

These toxicity values generally speaking, refer to the amount of technical grade active constituents absorbed. The following table gives the approximate lethal dose for an average size human being for each of the classes as above.

Level of Toxicity	Oral LD/50 (mg/kg body weight)	Lethal Amount (mg/kg body weight)
Extremely toxic	Less than 5	Few drops
Highly toxic	Less than 50	One teaspoonful
Moderately toxic	Less than 500	30g or 2 tablespoons
Slightly toxic	Less than 5000	500g
Practically non toxic	Less than 15,000	1kg
Relatively harmless	More than 15,000	More than 1 kg

From Reference 1

Acute Toxicity Data for Pesticides (source unknown from 1980's so information is likely to be dated)

H=Herbicide, I=Insecticide, F=Fungicide, R=Rodenticide, G=Growth Regulator, Ex=Exempt from Scheduling

Accepted Common Name	Some Common Distinguishing or Trade Names	Oral LD mg/kg(rats)	Dermal LD mg/kg (rabbits)	Poisons Schedule
Acephate	(I) Orthene	945	2,000	6
Aldicarb	(I) Temik	0.93	5	7
Alachlor	(H) Lasso	1200	2000	5
Ametryn	(H) Gesapax Primitol Z	1100-2980	8160	6
Aminocarb	(I) Matacil	50	275	6
Amitrole	(H) Weedazol TL Plus	1100-5000	10,000	5
Asulam	(H) Asulox	2000	500	Ex
Atrazine	(H) Gesaprim Primatol A Atradex Nutrazine	2000	7500	Ex
Azinphos-ethyl	(I) Gusation A Benzathion Kilathion A Banthion A Thionex	9	280	7
Azinphos-methyl	(I) Gusathion Cothion	7-13	280	7
Barban	(H) Carbyne	600	1600	6
Bendiocarb	(I) Ficam, Flides Multamat	34-64	566-800	5,6
Benomyl	(F) Benlate	5000	1000	Ex
Binapacryl	(IF) Morocide	58-225	720-810	6
Bioresmethrin	(I) BRM5/50	8800	10,000	Ex
Bromacil	(H) Hyvar	5200	5000	Ex
Bromoxynil	(H) Brominil Weedoben	190-270	No apparent toxicity	6
Camphechlor	(I) Toxaphene	80-90	1000	6
Captafol	(F) Difolatan	2500-6200	15,400	5
Captan	(F) Captan	8400	No apparent toxicity	Ex
Carbaryl	(I) Sevin	400	4000	6,5
Carbendazim	(F) Bavistin	6400	2500	Ex
Carbophenothion	(I) Trithion	32.3	1270	7
Chlorates, Na/K	(H) Leafex	1200-7000	No apparent toxicity	5
Chlorfenvinphos	(I) Birlane	10-155	30-108	7
Chlormequat	(G) Cycocel	670	440	6
Chlorothalonil	(F) Bravo Daconil Termil	10,000	10,000	Ex
Chlorpyrifos	(I) Dursban Lorsban	82-163	2000	6
2,4-D	(H) 2,4-D	400-500	1500	5
Daminozide	(G) Alar	8400	16,000	Ex
2,4-DB	(H) Bexone Embutox Selectone	700	800	5
DDT	(I) DDT	300-500	2500	6,5,2
Decamethrin	(I) Decis	66-128	2000	7
Demeton-S-methyl	(I) Metasystox	57-106	303	7,6
Di-allate	(H) Avadex	393-1000	2000-2500	6
Diazinon	(I) Basudin Gesapon	300-600	500-1200	6
Dicamba	(H) Banair Banex Banvel	1100	1000	5
Diclofop-methyl	(H) Hoegrass	563	5000	5
Dicofol	(I) Kelthane	575-2000	100-1230	5
Dieldrin	(I) various	54	10-102	6
Difenzoquat	(H) Avenge	450-650	1250	6
Dimethoate	(I) Rogor Perfekthion	200-300	700-1150	6
Dinocap	(F) Karathane	2000	9400	6
Dinitramine	(H) Cobex	3000	6800	5
Diquat	(H) Reglone	231-440	500	6
Diuron	(H) Diurex Karmex	3400-3700	No apparent toxicity	Ex
Dodine	(F) Melprex	1000	1500	5
2,2-DPA	(H) Dowpon Propon	3860-9330	No apparent toxicity	Ex
DSMA	(H) Passtox Pasma Antipas Methan	1800 - 2800	No apparent toxicity	6
Endosulfan	(I) Thiodan Endosan	35	74-680	6
Endrin	(I) Endrin	7-18	60-120	6
Ethephon	(G) Ethrel	4229	5730	5
Ethion	(I) various	208	915	7
Ethofumesate	(H) Norton Tramat	6400	1440	5
Fenamiphos	(I) Nemacur	15.3	500	6,7
Fenarimol	(F) Rubigan	2500	2000	5
Fenitrothion	(I) Folithion Sumithion	130-200	700	6
Fenthion	(I) Lebaycid Baytex	200	150	6,5
Fenvalerate	(I) Sumicidin	451	2000	6
Fluometuron	(H) Cotoran	8900	10,000	Ex
Folpet	(F) Phaltan	10,000	22,600	Ex
Glyphosate	(H) Roundup	4320	7940	5
Guazatine	(F) Panoctine	230-260	1100	6
Heptachlor	(I) various	100	195	6
Hexaflurate	(H) Nopalmate	1200	10,000	6
Formothion	(I) Anthio	400	400-1680	Ex
Iodofenpos	(I) Alfracron	2100	2000	5
Ioxynil	(H) Totril	110-305	210	6
Lindane	(I) various	88	1000	6
Linuron	(H) Afalon Lorox	1000-4000	No apparent toxcity	Ex
Maldison	(I) Malathion	1400-1900	4000	6,5,2
Mancozeb	(F) Dithane	8000	Not available	5
Maneb	(F) "maneb"	6750	Not available	5
MCPA	(H) Methone Methex Methoxone Toloxone	800	1000	5
MCPB	(H) Tropotox	680	1000	5
Mecoprop	(H) Clovoxal	650-1500	Not available	5
Mefluidide	(H) Embark	4000	4000	Ex
Metalaxyl	(F) Ridomil	669	3100	5
Methabenzthiazuron	(H) Tribunil	2500	500	5
Methamidophos	(I) Tamaron Nitofol	30	50-110	7
Methidathion	(I) Supracide Ultracide	20-48	25-400	7
Methiocarb	(I) Mesurol	100	350-400	5
Methomyl	(I) Lannate	27	1600	7
Metiram	(F) Polyram Combi	3330	Not available	5
Metolachlor	(H) Dual	2780	3170	5
Metribuzin	(H) Sencor Lexone	2200	1000	5
Mevinphos	(I) Phosdrin	3-5	5-30	7
Molinate	(H) Ordram	501-720	2000	6
Monocrotophos	(I) Azodrin Nuvacron	13-23	122-700	7
MSMA	(H) MSMA Daconate	700-1800	No apparent toxicity	6
Naled	(I) Dibrom	250-430	800-1100	6,5
Napropamide	(H) Devrinol	5000	4640	Ex
Nitralin	(H) Planavin	6000	2000	Ex
Omethoate	(I) Folimat Le-mat	50	700	7,6
Oxythioquinox	(IF) Morestan	1100-3000	1000	5
Paraquat	(H) Gramoxone	100-200	80-480	7,6
Parathion	(I) FolidolE605 Paramul Niran	3-6	4-35	7
Parathion-methyl	(I) FolidolM50 NiranM50	12-16	67	7
Pendimethalin	(H) Stomp	310-4430	5000	5
Permethrin	(I) Ambush	4000	2000	6
Phenmedipham	(H) Betanal	8000	4000	Ex
Phosmet	(I) Imidam	230	3160	6
Phosphamidon	(I) Dimecron	15	125	7
Picloram	(H) Tordon	8200	4000	Ex
Pirimiphos-methyl	(I) Actellic	2050	2000	6
Profenofos	(I) Curacron	358	3300	6
Promecarb	(I) Carbamult	35	450-2000	7,6
Prometryn	(H) Gesagard	3150-3750	10,000	5
Propanil	(H) StamF34	1400	7080	5
Propineb	(F) Antracol	8500	1000	5
Propoxur	(I) Baygon	80	2400	5,6
Pyrazophos	(F) Afugan	140	2000	6
Simazine	(H) Gesatop Simadex	5000	8160	Ex
Sodium	(R) Compound 1080 fluoroacetate	0.22	Not available	7
Strychnine	(R) Strychnine	20	Not available	6
Sulfallate	(F) Vegadex	850	2200-2800	6
Sulphur	(F) Sulphur		No apparent toxicity	Ex
Sulprophos	(I) Helothion	304	1000	6
SSS-tributyl phosphorthiolate	(H) DEF defoliant	150-325	168-1000	6
2,4,5-T	(H) Butoxone Trimex	300	Not available	6

	Type		PAN BAD ACTOR	ACUTE TOXICITY	CARCINOGEN	CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITOR	GROUND WATER CONTAMINANT	DEVELOPMENTAL OR REPRODUCTIVE TOXIN	ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR
2,4-D	Chlorophenoxy Acid or Ester	H	Not Listed	Moderate	Possible	No	Potential	?	Suspected
Azoxystrobin	Strobin	F	Not Listed	Not Acutely Toxic	Not Likely	No	Potential	?	?
Chlorothalonil	Substituted Benzene	F	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Potential	?	?
Clethodim	Cyclohexenone Derivative	H	Not Listed	Moderate	?	No	Potential	?	?
Clopyralid	Pyridinecarboxylic Acid	H	Yes	Yes	Not Likely	No	Potential	?	?
Cyanazine	Triazine	H	Yes	Moderate	Possible	No	Yes	Yes	Suspected
Diquat	Bipyridylium	H	Not Listed	Moderate	Not Likely	No	Potential	?	?
Fludioxinil		F	Not Listed	Slight	Unclassifiable	No	Potential	?	?
Fluroxypur		H	Not Listed	Slight	Not Likely	No	?	?	?
Glyphosate	Phosphonoglycine	H	Not Listed	Slight	Not Likely	No	?	?	?
MCPA	Chlorophenoxy acid or ester	H	Yes	Yes	Possible	No	?	?	?
Metalaxyl	Xylylalanine	F	Not Listed	Moderate	Not Likely	No	Potential	?	?
Methamidophos	Organophosphorus	I	Yes	Yes	Not Likely	Yes	Potential	?	?
Metribuzin	Triazinone	H	Yes	Moderate	Unclassifiable	No	Potential	Yes	Suspected
Paraquat	Bipyridylium	H	Yes	Yes	Not Likely	No	Potential	?	?
Permethrin	Pyrethroid	I	Not Listed	Moderate	Possible	No	?	?	?

Agricultural Pesticides

Pesticide Use in Victoria Summary Table