Analytical Study of Obsolete Pesticides Stockpiles in the Republic of Moldova into Nato Science for Peace Project “Clean-Up Chemicals – Moldova”

Abstract

In order to assist in the environmental risk assessment, ultimate obsolete pesticides disposal, and eventual restoration of the dump sites into ongoing projects in the Republic of Moldova, NATO awarded a Science for Peace and Security Project (Top-Down EAP SfPS 981186 “Clean-up chemicals – Moldova”) with basic aims focused on the establishment of a laboratory infrastructure with sophisticated equipment for analysis and characterization of obsolete pesticides, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the various waste dumps, training of personnel for the characterization, and elaboration of a comprehensive database of the composition of the waste dumps and their toxicological evaluation. The results showed that from more than 70 types of detected pesticides, 49 of them have been prohibited or restricted for use in agriculture, in Moldova since 1970, while the use of 24 substances was prohibited in the European Union countries. In all sampling sites were detected DDT and its isomers/metabolites (DDE and DDD), alpha-, beta-, gamma-HCH, which are defined as POPs in the Stockholm Convention due their persistence and accumulation in the fatty tissues of most living organisms. They are also prone to long rang trans-boundary transport and are likely to cause significant adverse human health or environmental effects.