Johann G. Zaller

Terrestrial ecotoxicity of glyphosate, its formulations, and co-formulants: evidence from 2010–2023

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By Szandra Klátyik, Gergely Simon, Marianna Oláh, Robin Mesnage, Michael N. Antoniou, Johann G. Zaller & András Székács Environmental Sciences Europe volume 35, Article number: 51 (2023) https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-023-00758-9   Abstract Glyphosate (GLY), the most widely used herbicide in the world, is frequently detected in various environmental matrices, including soil, the foundation of agriculture. In practice, … Read more

Reducing overall herbicide use may reduce risks to humans but increase toxic loads to honeybees, earthworms and birds

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Abstract Background Pesticide use has been associated with risks for human health and an overall decline in biodiversity. Although herbicides are the most commonly used pesticides worldwide, they have received less attention in this debate. We investigated the extent to which long-term trends in herbicide use in Austria influence potential toxic exposures to non-target organisms … Read more

Pesticide Use and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sugar Beet, Apples, and Viticulture in Austria from 2000 to 2019

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Abstract The production of synthetic pesticides is energy intensive and can emit even more greenhouse gases (GHG) per kg than the production of synthetic fertilizers. However, this aspect is largely neglected when it comes to agriculture’s contribution to GHG emissions. Using official pesticide sales data from Austria from 2000 to 2019, we analyzed (i) trends … Read more

Pesticide drift mitigation measures appear to reduce contamination of non-agricultural areas, but hazards to humans and the environment remain

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Abstract Pesticide drift onto non-agricultural land is a common problem in intensively farmed regions, and national action plans have been established across Europe to prevent it. Here, we analyzed official data on pesticide residues in grass samples collected over six years to determine whether implemented measures to reduce pesticide drift were effective. We used 306 … Read more

Unexpected air pollutants with potential human health hazards: Nitrification inhibitors, biocides, and persistent organic substances

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Abstract To better understand the influence of land use and meteorological parameters on air pollutants, we deployed passive air samplers in 15 regions with different land use in eastern Austria. The samplers consisted of polyurethane PUF and polyester PEF filter matrices, which were analyzed for 566 substances by gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry. In a previous article, we highlighted … Read more

Glyphosate Effects on Earthworms: Active Ingredients vs. Commercial Herbicides at Different Temperature and Soil Organic Matter Levels

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Abstract Little is known about the non-target effects of glyphosate active ingredients (GLY) versus glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) formulations on soil organisms, and whether effects are influenced by environmental conditions. We investigated the avoidance behavior, biomass growth, and reproduction of earthworms (Eisenia fetida, E. andrei) in response to two GLYs (glyphosate ammonium and potassium salt), the … Read more

Toxicological Comparison of Pesticide Active Substances Approved for Conventional vs. Organic Agriculture in Europe

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By Helmut Burtscher-Schaden, Thomas Durstberger, Johann G. Zaller Published in Toxics 2022, 10(12), 753; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10120753 Published: 2 December 2022 (This article belongs to the Section Agrochemicals and Food Toxicology) Abstract There is much debate about whether the (mostly synthetic) pesticide active substances (AS) in conventional agriculture have different non-target effects than the natural AS in … Read more