2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Pesticide behavior and monitoring system in the environment around the suburban agricultural fields of Bangkok

Research Project

Project/Area Number	17405026
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	海外学術
Research Field	Bioproduction chemistry/Bioorganic chemistry
Research Institution	Kyoto University
Principal Investigator	AKAMATSU Miki Kyoto University, Agriculture, Associate Professor (70183134)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	TORII Kiyoshi Kyoto University, Agriculture, Associate Professor (40026563) MORI Yoshiaki Kyoto University, Academic Center for Computing and Media Studies, Associate Professor (60026474) MATOH Toru Kyoto University, Agriculture, Professor (50157393) TANAKA Ueru Kyoto University, Global Environmental Studies, Associate Professor (10231408) MORITA Katsuko Kyoto University, Agriculture, Assistant Professor (20293912)
Project Period (FY)	2005 – 2007
Keywords	pesticide residue / chemical fertilizer / Bangkok suburban area / environment / degradation / Thailand / tropical agriculture
Research Abstract	In the suburban agricultural fields of Bangkok, the farmers might apply a lot of pesticides that can be harmful not only to the environment but also human's health. We visited Thailand-Japan cooperative pesticide company, TJC Chemical Co. Ltd. in Bangkok several times and obtained information about what kind of agricultural products are cultured and what kind of pesticides are used for the products at agricultural fields around Bangkok. We also had an interview with farmers in Nakhonpathom, the west side of Bangkok, about pesticides which they use. We measured pesticide residues in soils around the area. As a result, some pesticides were found at a significant amount in one agricultural field where pesticides were sprayed at 4 days before the pesticide analysis. However, other areas were quite safe. We tried to measure pesticide residues in river waters, but it was difficult because of rapid degradation of recent pesticides in water. Since abamectin which has high toxicity against mammals and is used a lot in Thailand, the degradation test of abamectin using Thailand soils was done in our laboratory. The half-life time of abamectin was 3-4 days at 25℃ and 35℃ and the concentration of abamectin was less than 10% after 10 days. Therefore, if pesticides are used appropriately, there will be no problem about pesticide residues in soils. We are planning to continue the pesticide survey around Bangkok suburban area, especially at the agricultural field where significant pesticide residues were found.