N E W S & V I E W S • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 19 to drinking water standards and lethal values derived for standard aquatic and soil ecotoxicity test species. The most significant result that came out from this study was that glyphosate, which equates to 97% of herbicide use within SA forest plantations, posed a low risk to human health and non-target soil and aquatic organisms. This was attributed to the rapid dissipation of glyphosate in soil and water and/or the low concentrations recorded at the trial site relative to concentrations known to cause adverse or toxic effects. The reader is encouraged to use these results with caution as they were derived from a single study, in one site, and over one growing season. Additional studies, similar to this work but with more comprehensive sampling strategies, covering all environmental components (like insects and bees, avian species and terrestrial species) should be implemented to confirm the findings this study. Figure 1 – Sampling points at the Ingwe trial site Moreover, the results from this work are encouraging as they showed that apart from cypermethrin and metazachlor, all other pesticides applied, when used according to product label recommendations and standard operating procedures, pose a low risk to human health and non-target soil and aquatic organisms. These pesticides can be safely used as a part of an integrated pest and disease management programme. No x o l o Nd l o v u
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyNjA0