An assessment of agricultural pesticide use in Iran, 2012-2014

BACKGROUND: This is the first published assessment on agricultural pesticide use in Iran with the aim to identify pesticide products with a potential of causing acute or chronic hazard to human health. It also establishes a baseline for future comparisons and for trend assessments. METHODS: The amounts of imported technical materials for formulation by local manufacturers as well as imported final product formulations were extracted from the registration data of the Plant Protection Organization of Iran in 2012–2014. The hazard indicators used were acute oral toxicity and chronic toxicity. For the latter, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and adverse effects on reproduction or development (CMR toxicity), and low Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) were used. The comparative potential of the active ingredients of concern in terms of chronic toxicity was assessed using the average annual volume of their estimated use divided by their respective ADI, called chronic hazard potential (CHP) in the present text. The contribution of individual pesticides in different use categories to the total CHP of the user category, was also calculated, using the average annual volume of the active ingredients of all pesticides used during the period 2012-2014. RESULTS: On average about 14,000 tonnes of agriculture pesticides, expressed in active ingredients (AI), were annually used in Iran. Herbicides constituted the largest volume (43%), followed by insecticides and acaricides (37%) and fungicides (19%). 0.1% and 47% of the formulated products met the criteria of WHO Class Ib (highly hazardous) and Class II (moderately hazardous) products respectively. Aluminium phosphide and magnesium phosphide were identified as products of primary concern and chlorpyrifos, diazinon and paraquat as products of secondary concern, in terms of their acute human health hazard. No compound in carcinogenicity category 1A or 1B or germ cell mutagenicity/reproduction toxicity category 1A was identified. Six compounds (diazinon, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, metam sodium, paraquat and dimethoate) were identified as products with chronic hazard potential based on a low ADI. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment identified and prioritized agriculture pesticide used in Iran in terms of their acute and chronic hazard to human health for re-registration scheme recently established by PPO and for risk mitigation. It also set priority for research into development of alternative products and practices to minimize pesticide risks. Chronic hazard potential - amount of use adjusted with toxicity may serve as a useful point of reference for trend analysis also in the use of less hazardous agricultural pesticide products.