Pesticides can harm small benthic animals such as earthworms and springtails, but how bad the damage is appears to depend on the soil they live in.
Toxicologist Bart van Hall found that some soils retain pesticides better, making them less toxic to animals. In contrast, other soils release pesticides faster, making them more harmful.
Better tests needed
Van Hall warns that standard tests in laboratories often only use one type of soil. This does not give a complete picture of how pesticides behave in nature. "If we know that a certain pesticide is more dangerous in sandy soil than in clay soil, farmers can take that into account," he explains.
More sustainable use of pesticides
Van Hall's research helps make pesticides safer to use and tighten the rules for use. This can contribute to healthier soil, more sustainable land use and a better balance between food production and nature.
Bart van Hall will receive his PhD at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on 25 April
Photo: Bart van Hall: difference between a natural and fake soil