Mitigating Ecotoxicity Risks of Pesticides on Ornamental Plants Based on Life Cycle Assessment
Ornamental plants such as floriculture and nurseries, have become increasingly popular, but their growth relies heavily on the use of many different types of pesticides. The widespread and inefficient use of these pesticides causes environmental pollution and damage to non-target organisms. Despite...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/4/360 |
| _version_ | 1797603373720010752 |
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| author | Xinhan Yin Lei Feng Yi Gong |
| author_facet | Xinhan Yin Lei Feng Yi Gong |
| author_sort | Xinhan Yin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ornamental plants such as floriculture and nurseries, have become increasingly popular, but their growth relies heavily on the use of many different types of pesticides. The widespread and inefficient use of these pesticides causes environmental pollution and damage to non-target organisms. Despite these impacts, there has been little research conducted on potential agrochemical pollution in the ornamental plant industry. To address this gap, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the pesticide-related freshwater ecotoxicity impact of the US ornamental plant industry in comparison to that of major field crops. The study analyzed 195 pesticide active ingredients used in 15 major ornamental plant and four field crops. Results showed that the freshwater ecotoxicity per area (PAF m<sup>3</sup> d/ha) of ornamental plants was significantly higher than that of field crops due to the high pesticide intensity (kg/ha) and ecotoxicity of insecticides and fungicides used in floriculture and nurseries. To mitigate environmental stress, minimizing the use of highly toxic pesticides is recommended. A ban on low-dose, high-toxicity pesticides could reduce pesticide-driven ecotoxicity by 34% and 49% for floriculture and nursery plants, respectively. This study is among the first to quantify the pesticide-driven ecotoxicity impacts of horticultural ornamental plants and proposes feasible ways to reduce these impacts, thus making the world more sustainable while still preserving its beauty. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:28:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97c3cefae94f4eadafe9e78da1825647 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:28:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-97c3cefae94f4eadafe9e78da18256472023-11-17T21:37:47ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042023-04-0111436010.3390/toxics11040360Mitigating Ecotoxicity Risks of Pesticides on Ornamental Plants Based on Life Cycle AssessmentXinhan Yin0Lei Feng1Yi Gong2Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region’s Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region’s Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region’s Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaOrnamental plants such as floriculture and nurseries, have become increasingly popular, but their growth relies heavily on the use of many different types of pesticides. The widespread and inefficient use of these pesticides causes environmental pollution and damage to non-target organisms. Despite these impacts, there has been little research conducted on potential agrochemical pollution in the ornamental plant industry. To address this gap, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the pesticide-related freshwater ecotoxicity impact of the US ornamental plant industry in comparison to that of major field crops. The study analyzed 195 pesticide active ingredients used in 15 major ornamental plant and four field crops. Results showed that the freshwater ecotoxicity per area (PAF m<sup>3</sup> d/ha) of ornamental plants was significantly higher than that of field crops due to the high pesticide intensity (kg/ha) and ecotoxicity of insecticides and fungicides used in floriculture and nurseries. To mitigate environmental stress, minimizing the use of highly toxic pesticides is recommended. A ban on low-dose, high-toxicity pesticides could reduce pesticide-driven ecotoxicity by 34% and 49% for floriculture and nursery plants, respectively. This study is among the first to quantify the pesticide-driven ecotoxicity impacts of horticultural ornamental plants and proposes feasible ways to reduce these impacts, thus making the world more sustainable while still preserving its beauty.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/4/360life cycle assessmentpesticidesecotoxicityornamental plantsPestLCIUSEtox |
| spellingShingle | Xinhan Yin Lei Feng Yi Gong Mitigating Ecotoxicity Risks of Pesticides on Ornamental Plants Based on Life Cycle Assessment Toxics life cycle assessment pesticides ecotoxicity ornamental plants PestLCI USEtox |
| title | Mitigating Ecotoxicity Risks of Pesticides on Ornamental Plants Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_full | Mitigating Ecotoxicity Risks of Pesticides on Ornamental Plants Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Mitigating Ecotoxicity Risks of Pesticides on Ornamental Plants Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mitigating Ecotoxicity Risks of Pesticides on Ornamental Plants Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_short | Mitigating Ecotoxicity Risks of Pesticides on Ornamental Plants Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_sort | mitigating ecotoxicity risks of pesticides on ornamental plants based on life cycle assessment |
| topic | life cycle assessment pesticides ecotoxicity ornamental plants PestLCI USEtox |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/4/360 |
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