Airborne pesticide drift poses a substantial environmental threat in agriculture, affecting ecosystems far from the application sites. This process, in which up to 25% of applied pesticides are carried by air currents, can transport chemicals over hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. Drift rates peak during the summer months, reaching as high as 60%, and are influenced by various factors, including wind speed, temperature, humidity, and soil type. Pesticide volatilization is a significant concern, occurring 25 times more frequently than surface runoff. Under certain conditions, it can result in chemical losses of compounds like metolachlor and atrazine that are up to 150 times higher. These drifting pesticides have profound impacts on biodiversity, harming non-target plants, insects, fungi, and other organisms both near application sites and in distant ecosystems. Pesticide drift has been linked to over 50% reductions in wild plant diversity within 500 m of fields, reducing floral resources for pollinators. Despite growing evidence of these effects, the long-term consequences of airborne pesticides on biodiversity remain poorly understood, especially in complex field conditions with multiple pesticide applications. Addressing this requires urgent measures, such as improved meteorological tracking during applications, adoption of biopesticides, and integrated pest management strategies. This review highlights the pressing need for research to quantify airborne pesticides' ecological impacts, advocating for sustainable practices to mitigate environmental damage.

中文翻译：

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田间之外：农药漂移如何危害生物多样性


空气中的农药漂移对农业构成重大环境威胁，影响远离施药地点的生态系统。在这个过程中，高达 25% 的施用农药由气流携带，可以将化学品运输数百甚至数千公里。漂移率在夏季达到峰值，高达 60%，并受各种因素的影响，包括风速、温度、湿度和土壤类型。农药挥发是一个重大问题，发生频率是地表径流的 25 倍。在某些情况下，它可能导致异丙甲草胺和阿特拉津等化合物的化学损失高达 150 倍。这些漂浮的杀虫剂对生物多样性产生深远影响，伤害施用地点附近和遥远生态系统中的非目标植物、昆虫、真菌和其他生物。农药漂移与田地 500 m 范围内的野生植物多样性减少 50% 以上有关，从而减少了传粉媒介的花卉资源。尽管有越来越多的证据表明这些影响，但人们对空气中农药对生物多样性的长期影响仍然知之甚少，尤其是在多种农药施用的复杂田间条件下。解决这个问题需要采取紧急措施，例如改进施用过程中的气象跟踪、采用生物杀虫剂和综合害虫管理策略。本综述强调了量化空气传播农药生态影响的研究迫切需求，倡导可持续实践以减轻环境破坏。