Construction of TEMPEST - Stage 4
Classification of pesticides used in the tasks identified
To identify the pesticides used in Scotland over the seven decades a comprehensive literature search was conducted. Where literature gaps were identified, knowledge was supplemented by interviewing 26 (current or retired) experts in agriculture, pesticides and related fields in Scotland. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to systematically prompt for and record pertinent information.
Insecticides: Insecticides were grouped into organochlorines (OC), organophosphates (OP), carbamates and “other”. The “other” insecticide grouping consisted primarily of botanicals and pyrethroids.
Herbicides: Herbicides presented a greater challenge as there are over 1000 herbicides in existence. Herbicides were classified by their mode of action, into 24 groups using the HRAC (Herbicide Resistance Action Committee, 2005) system. We identified the three most commonly used HRAC herbicide groups: C1 which includes atrazine; D which includes diquat and paraquat; O which includes 2,4-D and mecoprop. The remaining 21 groups were collapsed into a fourth ‘Other’ herbicides group.
Fungicides: Fungicides were categorised into carbamates (which includes dithiocarbamates - the largest group of fungicides by quantity sold) and ‘other’ fungicides.
The pesticide types that were considered for inclusion in TEMPEST are shown in the table 4a below.
Table 4a: Pesticide types considered for inclusion
Pesticide application group | Pesticide class | Examples in this class |
Avicides | Assorted pesticides used | Assorted |
Fungicides | Carbamate fungicides | Mancozeb and maneb |
Fungicides | Other fungicides | Copper sulphate, benzimidazole |
Herbicides | C1 | Simazine, bromacil, atrazine, lenacil, terbacil |
Herbicides | D | Diquat, paraquat |
Herbicides | O |
2,4-D, dichlorprop, MCPA, mecoprop, fluroxypyr, clopyralid |
Herbicides | Other herbicides | Glyphosate, linuron, diuron, dinoseb |
Insecticides | Carbamates | Carbaryl, carbofuran, methylcarbamate |
Insecticides | Organochlorines (OC) | Aldrin, DDT, dieldrin, chlordane |
Insecticides | Organophosphates (OP) | Malathion, parathion, diazinon, methylparathion |
Insecticides | Other insecticides | Permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, rotenone, nicotine |
Rabbiticides | Assorted pesticides used | Assorted |
Rodenticides | Assorted pesticides used | Assorted |
Ultimately from all of the possible candidate pesticides a set of 17 pesticide/application combinations was selected as the most appropriate to have been used in the range of application tasks over the seven decades. These are shown in table 4b below, arranged by pesticide application group.
Table 4b: Selected representative pesticides
Pesticide application group | Pesticide class | Pesticide name |
Avicide | Carbamates | Propoxur |
Avicide | OC | Endosulfan |
Fungicide | Carbamates | Propoxur |
Fungicide | OC | Endosulfan |
Fungicide | Other | Captan |
Herbicide | C1 | Bromacil |
Herbicide | D | Diquat dibromide |
Herbicide | O | 2,4-D |
Herbicide | Other | Diuron |
Insecticide | Carbamates | Propoxur |
Insecticide | OC | Endosulfan |
Insecticide | OP | Chlorpyrifos |
Insecticide | Other | Pyrethrins |
Rabbiticide | OC | Endosulfan |
Rabbiticide | Other | Pyrethrins |
Rodenticide | OC | Endosulfan |
Rodenticide | Other | Pyrethrins |
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