Further Limitations of Synthetic Fungicide Use and Expansion of Organic Agriculture in Europe Will Increase the Environmental and Health Risks of Chemical Crop Protection Caused by Copper-Containing Fungicides

Quentin C. Burandt; Holger B. Deising; Andreas von Tiedemann

doi:10.1002/etc.5766

journal article Open Access Oct 18, 2023

Further Limitations of Synthetic Fungicide Use and Expansion of Organic Agriculture in Europe Will Increase the Environmental and Health Risks of Chemical Crop Protection Caused by Copper-Containing Fungicides

Quentin C. Burandt

Holger B. Deising

Andreas von Tiedemann

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Vol. 43 No. 1 pp. 19-30 · Oxford University Press (OUP)

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Abstract

Abstract
Copper-containing fungicides have been used in agriculture since 1885. The divalent copper ion is a nonbiodegradable multisite inhibitor that has a strictly protective, nonsystemic effect on plants. Copper-containing plant protection products currently approved in Germany contain copper oxychloride, copper hydroxide, and tribasic copper sulfate. Copper is primarily used to control oomycete pathogens in grapevine, hop, potato, and fungal diseases in fruit production. In the environment, copper is highly persistent and toxic to nontarget organisms. The latter applies for terrestric and aquatic organisms such as earthworms, insects, birds, fish, Daphnia, and algae. Hence, copper fungicides are currently classified in the European Union as candidates for substitution. Pertinently, copper also exhibits significant mammalian toxicity (median lethal dose oral = 300–2500 mg/kg body wt in rats). To date, organic production still profoundly relies on the use of copper fungicides. Attempts to reduce doses of copper applications and the search for copper substitutes have not been successful. Copper compounds compared with modern synthetic fungicides with similar areas of use display significantly higher risks for honey bees (3- to 20-fold), beneficial insects (6- to 2000-fold), birds (2- to 13-fold), and mammals (up to 17-fold). These data contradict current views that crop protection in organic farming is associated with lower environmental or health risks. Further limitations in the range and use of modern single-site fungicides may force conventional production to fill the gaps with copper fungicides to counteract fungicide resistance. In contrast to the European Union Green Deal goals, the intended expansion of organic farming in Europe would further enhance the use of copper fungicides and hence increase the overall risks of chemical crop protection in Europe. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:19–30. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

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Details

Published: Oct 18, 2023
Vol/Issue: 43(1)
Pages: 19-30
License: View

Authors

Q

Quentin C. Burandt

Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, Division of Crop Biodiversity and Breeding Informatics University of Hohenheim Stuttgart Germany; Department of Crop Sciences, Division of Plant Pathology and Plant Protection Georg-August-University Göttingen Göttingen Germany

H

Holger B. Deising

Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences Division of Phytopathology and Crop Protection; Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Halle Germany

A

Andreas von Tiedemann

Department of Crop Sciences, Division of Plant Pathology and Plant Protection Georg-August-University Göttingen Göttingen Germany

Cite This Article

Quentin C. Burandt, Holger B. Deising, Andreas von Tiedemann (2023). Further Limitations of Synthetic Fungicide Use and Expansion of Organic Agriculture in Europe Will Increase the Environmental and Health Risks of Chemical Crop Protection Caused by Copper-Containing Fungicides. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 43(1), 19-30. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5766

Further Limitations of Synthetic Fungicide Use and Expansion of Organic Agriculture in Europe Will Increase the Environmental and Health Risks of Chemical Crop Protection Caused by Copper-Containing Fungicides

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