Journal article
Systemic insecticides (neonicotinoids and fipronil): trends, uses, mode of action and metabolites
Environmental science and pollution research international, Vol.22(1), pp.5-34
2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/109573
PMID: 25233913
Abstract
Since their discovery in the late 1980s, neonicotinoid pesticides have become the most widely used class of insecticides worldwide, with large-scale applications ranging from plant protection (crops, vegetables, fruits), veterinary products, and biocides to invertebrate pest control in fish farming. In this review, we address the phenyl-pyrazole fipronil together with neonicotinoids because of similarities in their toxicity, physicochemical profiles, and presence in the environment. Neonicotinoids and fipronil currently account for approximately one third of the world insecticide market; the annual world production of the archetype neonicotinoid, imidacloprid, was estimated to be ca. 20,000 tonnes active substance in 2010. There were several reasons for the initial success of neonicotinoids and fipronil: (1) there was no known pesticide resistance in target pests, mainly because of their recent development, (2) their physicochemical properties included many advantages over previous generations of insecticides (i.e., organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, etc.), and (3) they shared an assumed reduced operator and consumer risk. Due to their systemic nature, they are taken up by the roots or leaves and translocated to all parts of the plant, which, in turn, makes them effectively toxic to herbivorous insects. The toxicity persists for a variable period of time—depending on the plant, its growth stage, and the amount of pesticide applied. Awide variety of applications are available, including the most common prophylactic non-Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) application by seed coating. As a result of their extensive use and physicochemical properties, these substances can be found in all environmental compartments including soil, water, and air. Neonicotinoids and fipronil operate by disrupting neural transmission in the central nervous system of invertebrates. Neonicotinoids mimic the action of neurotransmitters, while fipronil inhibits neuronal receptors. In doing so, they continuously stimulate neurons leading ultimately to death of target invertebrates. Like virtually all insecticides, they can also have lethal and sublethal impacts on non-target organisms, including insect predators and vertebrates. Furthermore, a range of synergistic effects with other stressors have been documented. Here, we review extensively their metabolic pathways, showing how they form both compound-specific and common metabolites which can themselves be toxic. These may result in prolonged toxicity. Considering their wide commercial expansion, mode of action, the systemic properties in plants, persistence and environmental fate, coupled with limited information about the toxicity profiles of these compounds and their metabolites, neonicotinoids and fipronil may entail significant risks to the environment. A global evaluation of the potential collateral effects of their use is therefore timely. The present paper and subsequent chapters in this review of the global literature explore these risks and show a growing body of evidence that persistent, low concentrations of these insecticides pose serious risks of undesirable environmental impacts.
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Details
- Title
- Systemic insecticides (neonicotinoids and fipronil): trends, uses, mode of action and metabolites
- Creators
- N Simon-Delso - Utrecht University [Utrecht]V Amaral-Rogers - BuglifeLuc Belzunces - UR 406 Abeilles & EnvironnementJ-M Bonmatin - Centre de biophysique moléculaireM Chagnon - Département des Sciences BiologiquesC Downs - Haereticus Environmental LaboratoryL Furlan - Veneto AgricolturaD.W Gibbons - Centre for Conservation ScienceC Giorio - Department of ChemistryV Girolami - Universita di PadovaD Goulson - School of Life SciencesD.P Kreutzweiser - Canadian Forest ServiceC Krupke - Department of EntomologyM Liess - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental ResearchE Long - Department of EntomologyM McField - Smithsonian InstitutionP Mineau - Pierre Mineau ConsultingE.A.D Mitchell - Laboratory of Soil BiologyC.A Morrissey - University of SaskatchewanD.A Noome - KijaniL Pisa - Utrecht University [Utrecht]J Settele - Department of Community EcologyJ. D Stark - Washington State UniversityA Tapparo - Universita di PadovaH Van Dyck - Université Catholique de LouvainJ.P Van Praagh - Scientific AdvisorJ. P Van der Sluijs - University of BergenP.R Whitehorn - School of Natural SciencesM Wiemers - Department of Community Ecology
- Publication Details
- Environmental science and pollution research international, Vol.22(1), pp.5-34
- Academic Unit
- Entomology, Department of
- Publisher
- Springer Verlag
- Identifiers
- 99900547317301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article