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Environmental Fate and Effects of Dichloroacetamide Herbicide Safeners: "Inert" yet Biologically Active Agrochemical Ingredients
Journal article   Open access

Environmental Fate and Effects of Dichloroacetamide Herbicide Safeners: "Inert" yet Biologically Active Agrochemical Ingredients

John D Sivey, Hans Joachim Lehmler, Christopher J Salice, Allison N Ricko and David M Cwiertny
Environmental science & technology letters, Vol.2(10), pp.260-269
2015
DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.5b00220
url
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.5b00220View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Safeners are included in many commercial herbicide formulations to selectively protect crops from injury induced by active ingredients. Despite their bioactivity, safeners are classified as inert from a regulatory perspective, and as such, safeners have received minimal attention in the peer-reviewed literature regarding their environmental fate and effects. Herein, we review what is known about the uses, physicochemical properties, environmental transformations, and (eco)toxicological effects of dichloroacetamide safeners, which represent one of the most commonly used safener classes (estimated use of >2 × 10 kg/year in the United States). We particularly highlight transformation pathways that may enhance biological activity and/or persistence; for example, limited studies suggest dichloroacetamides can transform via dechlorination into products with increased bioactivity. We also identify several research needs to improve our understanding of the environmental fate and potential risks of this overlooked agrochemical class, which in turn will enhance the efficacy and safety of future herbicide safener formulations.

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