Contamination of surface waters by pesticides: effects on the aquatic environment

Abstract

The intensive use of pesticides in the environment is a source of contamination of water catchment areas and can have adverse affects on biological organisms. This paper reviews the problems caused by this type of contamination in water by examining the various types of effects - lethal, sublethal, bio-concentration and bio-accumulation - that can be measured in a laboratory or in the natural environment when exposed to various types of crop treatment chemicals.