The Pesticide Detectives: national assessment of pesticides in waters

The Pesticide Detectives is an extensive national Citizen Science project investigating the occurrence and concentrations of pesticides used in homes and gardens as well as agricultural and urban settings in Australia’s waterways. This program has now concluded, see below for results.

Funded by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Pesticide Detectives is a collaborative project combining the scientific expertise of RMIT University’s Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group (AQUEST) scientists and Citizen Science volunteers in the collection of sediment samples from waterways across Australia.

We wish to thank all those individuals and organisations who participated in the Pesticide Detectives Program. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Partners:

Australia wide household survey of pesticide use

Thank you to all our participants who filled out our online survey.

The results have been tallied and are available here.

Review the results here

Australia’s waterways have intrinsic ecological, economic and social value. Information on the quality of Australia’s water resources is of critical interest to local, state and federal agencies as water quality is integrally linked to the long-term availability of clean water. Of primary concern is the ever-increasing use of chemicals in our everyday life, and the risks they pose to the health and beneficial uses of waterways.

Pesticides are one group of contaminants increasingly being detected in waterways across Australia and worldwide. There are thousands of different pesticides in use today in and around houses, shops, offices, storerooms, sheds gardens, farms, pastoral stations and many other places. Pesticides are designed to be toxic to the pests they target - whether they be insect, weed or other unwanted home, garden or agricultural invader.

When used properly, pesticides can protect your plants, home, or animals. However, when the label instructions are not followed correctly, plant injury may occur and pests may not be controlled. Furthermore, human health may be impaired, and pesticides may contribute to the pollution of aquatic environments.

National Assessment of Pesticides in Waters is now complete

Results

Across Australia, volunteers sampled waterway mud (sediment) in their local creeks and estuaries between September 2019 and July 2020. These samples were processed at RMIT University and sent to a commercial lab to be screened for 110 pesticides.

Results are available here:

Summary of sampling rounds

Fact sheets on pesticides detected

Further information for Pesticide Detectives

Contact us

Need additional information or have a question or comment?

Please email us at aquest.citizenscience@rmit.edu.au.

AQUEST Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group

AQUEST The Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group at RMIT (formerly the research team at CAPIM - Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification & Management) is Victoria's premier aquatic research group, which aims to identify and address the ecological impacts of pollution in aquatic environments.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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Acknowledgement of Country

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The Pesticide Detectives: national assessment of pesticides in waters