4
Pesticides, Organic Contaminants, and Pathogens in Air
FIGURE 1.2
Pesticide cycling in the environment. (Reproduced from Author Unknown (1974) Scientists
probe pesticide dynamics. Chem. Eng. News Archive 52, 32–33. Copyright (1974) American
Chemical Society).
premature deaths caused by pollution, 6.5 million are estimated to be from
airborne pollution.
Pesticides have been intentionally released to the environment for economic reasons at higher rates than any other class of chemicals (Woodrow
et al., 2018). There is much we do not know about the biological consequences of low levels of pesticides and other toxics in ambient air. Our
research, plus the research of others, over the past 30 years has made it clear
that the atmosphere is not an “infnite reservoir” and that pesticides and
other toxics released to air do not simply go away (Woodrow et al., 2018).
As described in depth in Chapter 10, long-range transport, as measured
by transect studies, occurs with pesticides. While stable and nonpolar pesticides might be found in low levels in air and water in remote locations,
they have a tendency to bioaccumulate to high levels, especially in higher
trophic level organisms. Until about that time (30 years ago), the fate of pesticides released to the environment was not considered for their impact on
human and ecosystem health. The tipping point was the public awareness
Pesticides, Organic Contaminants, and Pathogens in Air
FIGURE 1.2
Pesticide cycling in the environment. (Reproduced from Author Unknown (1974) Scientists
probe pesticide dynamics. Chem. Eng. News Archive 52, 32–33. Copyright (1974) American
Chemical Society).
premature deaths caused by pollution, 6.5 million are estimated to be from
airborne pollution.
Pesticides have been intentionally released to the environment for economic reasons at higher rates than any other class of chemicals (Woodrow
et al., 2018). There is much we do not know about the biological consequences of low levels of pesticides and other toxics in ambient air. Our
research, plus the research of others, over the past 30 years has made it clear
that the atmosphere is not an “infnite reservoir” and that pesticides and
other toxics released to air do not simply go away (Woodrow et al., 2018).
As described in depth in Chapter 10, long-range transport, as measured
by transect studies, occurs with pesticides. While stable and nonpolar pesticides might be found in low levels in air and water in remote locations,
they have a tendency to bioaccumulate to high levels, especially in higher
trophic level organisms. Until about that time (30 years ago), the fate of pesticides released to the environment was not considered for their impact on
human and ecosystem health. The tipping point was the public awareness