Database Limitations: Other Information Needs

Abstract

It must be said that the “screening” procedures that are being used with these data are trustworthy only if they determine that the pollution potential for a specific pesticide site use situation is extremely high or extremely low. More accurate predictions can be made using computer simulation modeling to integrate a much more detailed process description, which includes more information about the properties of the chemical and the use and site situation of concern. Considerable progress is being made in this area [49,61], and it is clear that the adequate characterization of a pesticide’s behavior in the environment (not to mention its toxicology) requires more than six parameters. The Beltsville ARS database [116], which contains the six parameters compiled here plus heats of vaporization, phase transition temperatures, hydrolysis and photolysis rate constants, and specific soil sorption coefficients, is a step in the right direction. Although many of those data are missing, much of that will become available as part of the reregistration process, and the quality and completeness of reporting of that data should be improved as a result of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliance.