Environmental fate of pesticides applied on coffee crops in southeast of Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this paper was evaluate the environmental fate of pesticides applied in coffee crops in southeast of Brazil, using the level I fugacity model. Chemical and physical characteristics of the pesticides were considered in different environmental compartments and applied fugacity equations. The preliminary evaluation of contamination risk due the use of pesticides in coffee crops, using fugacity models, proved to be good tools to be used in the process of making decision to select pesticides with less impact on the environment, as well to prioritize the pesticides to be monitored. For most of the pesticides evaluated, the soil/sediment compartment was the most vulnerable.

Key words: Environmental fate, fugacity, organic micropollutants, pesticide.