{"id":39035,"date":"2025-07-17T00:01:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T04:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=39035"},"modified":"2025-07-16T13:38:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T17:38:21","slug":"fungicides-nontarget-harm-to-insect-confirms-deficiency-in-epas-ecological-risk-assessment-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2025\/07\/fungicides-nontarget-harm-to-insect-confirms-deficiency-in-epas-ecological-risk-assessment-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Fungicide\u2019s Nontarget Harm to Insect Confirms Deficiency in EPA\u2019s Ecological Risk Assessment, Study Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, July 17, 2025) The widespread use of pesticides year-after-year, decade-after-decade, has been found to lead to unintended consequences not only for public health but also for broader ecosystem stability and biodiversity. These impacts include potential nontarget harm through adverse developmental and reproductive effects on the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster<\/em>, the subject of a peer-reviewed study in Royal Society Open Science<\/em><\/a>. The authors, who studied the organochlorine fungicide chlorothalonil<\/a>, conclude, \u201cChlorothalonil exposure decreases larval survival, extends developmental duration and reduces fecundity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven at the lowest tested concentration, chlorothalonil exposure resulted in reduced body weight, ovariole count and egg production compared with non-exposed individuals,\u201d the researchers find. This study builds upon years of scientific research findings and critiques of existing federal pesticide law, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) failure to fully assess the adverse impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem stability during the pesticide registration review process.<\/p>\n

Methodology and Background<\/h2>\n

The goal of this study is to evaluate the health impacts on a nontarget insect species (Drosophila melanogaster<\/em>) from chronic exposure to chlorothalonil. This specific fungicide was chosen for various reasons, including its wide use across cereals, vegetables, and fruits; evidence linked to adverse health effects on vertebrate and invertebrate species; and the fungicide\u2019s \u201cfrequent detection in soil and water bodies near agricultural areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The researchers simulated chronic exposure to reflect residue levels otherwise found on produce available in the market. The experimental design to evaluate adverse developmental and reproductive health impacts includes assays for larval survival, body weight, ovariole count, egg production (fecundity), iron content (ferrozine assay serving as a proxy for male fertility), and feeding. The control group of fruit flies was provided a diet without the fungicide, while the experimental group had the fungicide product (Surefire Chlortan 720 SC) dissolved in water and mixed into the standard diet.<\/p>\n

The authors of this study include researchers at Australia-based Macquarie University and France-based PURPAN Engineering School. There are no competing interests declared by the authors. The only funding source for this study is linked to one of the author\u2019s Master of Research scholarships through the International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (iMQRES MRES).<\/p>\n

Results & Analysis<\/h2>\n

The authors identify numerous adverse health effects that chlorothalonil imposes on fruit fly developmental and reproductive health, including:<\/p>\n