Environmental risk analysis induced by the use of pesticides in the production of vegetables of the San Joaquín parish, Canton Cuenca

The general objective is to identify the risk induced by the use and management of pesticides on the different environmental compartments (human, animal, vegetable, physical) in an area dedicated to the production of vegetables within the rural parish San Joaquín del Cantón Cuenca. The specific objectives are as follows: (i) Identify agricultural practices regarding the use and management of pesticides, (ii) Identify and characterize the pesticides used in the area under study, (iii) establish the concentration of pesticide residues in soil and vegetable Induced on the environment (human, animal, vegetable, physical) as a product of its use and management in agricultural work. The expected methodology and results are as follows: 1. Selection and prior characterization of the area under study. The main factors considering for the selection of the San Joaquín parish were their agricultural activity, use of pesticides and soil and feasibility to obtain field information. Expected result: Selection of a representative area of the production of vegetables of the Cuenca canton. 2. Dissemination of the project in the area under study. Expected result: capture the confidence and interest of farmers. 3. Collection of the necessary information and data. 3.1 Cartography and digital information. Expected result: Structure the geographical basis for the different activities of the project. 3.2 Field surveys. Expected result: Know the technical, socio-economic and environmental aspects related to agricultural practices on pesticide use and management. 3.3 Research in the pesticide marketers of the area under study and the Cuenca canton. Expected result: Obtain marketing volumes at the canton level of pesticides identified in the area under study. 3.4 Identification and characterization of the pesticides used in the areas under study. Expected result: database of physical-chemical characteristics and (echo) toxicological of the identified pesticides. 3.5 Water pollution monitoring. Expected result: Know the concentrations of pesticides in the water of the irrigation channels. 3.6 Soil pollution monitoring. Expected result: Know the concentrations of pesticides present in the agricultural soil. 3.7 Vegetable pollution monitoring. Expected result: Know the concentrations of pesticides present in human consumption vegetables produced in the area under study. 4. Diagnosis of the current use and management of pesticides. It includes the detailed characterization of all the information obtained (cartography, surveys, monitoring, etc.). Expected result: Know the current conditions of use and management of agrochemicals. 5. Environmental risk analysis. By applying the PoCer indicator. Expected result: Know the risk induced by each pesticide identified on the different environmental compartments. 6. Validation of the POER risk indicator. Expected result: Verify the validity of the pesticide concentrations calculated by the PICER indicator.

8th RESEARCH PROJECT COMPETITION AND 3rd RESEARCH PROGRAM COMPETITION