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BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 432

CHEMICAL PESTICIDES AND THE ENVIRONMENT (2006-3)

PROFESSOR: Dr. R.A. Nicholson                   OFFICE: B 8278   E-MAIL: nicholso@sfu.ca

PREREQUISITES: BISC 305 or BISC 366.

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE

      INTRODUCTION Pesticides: classification, historical aspects, economic aspects, benefits/adverse effects, toxicological considerations.

      PESTICIDE FORMULATION AND APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY

      ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSING OF PESTICIDES I: Pesticide biotransformation and its significance.

      INSECTICIDES Organochlorines, Organophosphorus compounds, Carbamates, Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids, Neonicotinoids & others will be examined in the context of chemistry, uses, interactions with living systems (including cellular & molecular mechanisms), toxicity, selectivity & resistance.

         FUNGICIDES Inorganic fungicides and organic fungicides (systemic & non-systemic)  - chemistry, uses, modes of action selectivity & resistance.

         HERBICIDES Foliar applied herbicides, translocated vs. contact herbicides &  soil acting herbicides - chemistry, uses, modes of action, selectivity & resistance.

         PESTICIDE RESIDUES Profiles in some environmental compartments.

         ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSING OF PESTICIDES II:Physicochemical properties of pesticides, movement, fate, and persistence in the environment; pesticides and groundwater.

      IMPACT OF PESTICIDES ON AQUATIC ORGANISMS

FINAL GRADING: letter grades will be assigned from marks achieved in the

following exams:          MIDTERM EXAM I                          20% total

                                               MIDTERM EXAM II                         20% total

                                               FINAL EXAM                                     60% total

EACH EXAM WILL BE BASED ON LECTURES, TUTORIAL TOPICS & ASSIGNED READINGS.

NOTE:            1)     No textbook adequately covers the full spectrum of  topics so there is no required or recommended text.

                       2)     As many of the topics are closely related, it is possible that they will not be covered in the order given above.