Evaluating the Safety of Imidacloprid FS Seed Treatment Use in Potato Production: A Case Study from China

TL;DR

This study assesses the safety of using imidacloprid seed treatment in potato farming in China, finding minimal risk to humans but some concern for earthworms.

Contribution

The study provides new residue and dissipation data for imidacloprid FS seed treatment in potato cultivation systems in China.

Findings

Imidacloprid dissipation followed a first-order kinetic model with half-lives of 6.9–28.9 days in plants and soil.

Chronic dietary risk for adults was 39.73%, indicating minimal human health risk.

Ecological risk to earthworms was low to moderate, suggesting caution in application.

Abstract

This study evaluated the residue behavior and dissipation dynamics of a new imidacloprid FS 600 seed treatment in potato cultivation systems in Shandong and Jilin, China. Sensitive and accurate UPLC-MS/MS methods were established to quantify imidacloprid residues in potatoes, potato plants, and soil. Results showed that imidacloprid dissipation followed a first-order kinetic model, with half-lives ranging from 6.9 to 26.7 days in plants and 19.8 to 28.9 days in soil. At harvest, the highest average residues in potatoes and soil were 0.778 mg/kg and 0.149 mg/kg, respectively. The dietary risk assessment indicated a chronic risk quotient (CRQ) of 39.73% for adults, indicating minimal risk to human consumers, while the ecological risk quotient (ERQ) and ecotoxicity exposure ratio (TER) revealed low to moderate toxicity to earthworms, warranting caution in the use of this formulation. This research provides valuable data for assessing the safety of imidacloprid FS seed treatment in potato cultivation.

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