Articles | Volume 29, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4179-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4179-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
09 Sep 2025
Research article |
| 09 Sep 2025
| 09 Sep 2025
Constraining topsoil pesticide degradation in a conceptual distributed catchment model with compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA)
Sylvain Payraudeau
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institut Terre et Environnement de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS/ENGEES, ITES UMR 7063, Strasbourg 67084, France
Pablo Alvarez-Zaldivar
Institut Terre et Environnement de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS/ENGEES, ITES UMR 7063, Strasbourg 67084, France
Paul van Dijk
Chambre Régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est, Espace Européen de l'Entreprise, 2 rue de Rome CS 30022, Schiltigheim 67013, France
Gwenaël Imfeld
Institut Terre et Environnement de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS/ENGEES, ITES UMR 7063, Strasbourg 67084, France
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Short summary
Short summary
How to evaluate pesticide persistence and degradation across an agricultural catchment to improve strategies for preserving aquatic ecosystems? By using a tracing method based on stable isotope signatures of pesticides at the catchment scale, degradation of the herbicide S-metolachlor could be distinguished from other dissipation processes. A limited number of isotopic measurements can provide critical insights for designing efficient strategies to protect aquatic ecosystems.
Boris Droz, Guillaume Drouin, Jenna Lohmann, Benoit Guyot, Gwenaël Imfeld, and Sylvain Payraudeau
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 1291–1307, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1291-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1291-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
How to evaluate pesticide persistence and degradation across an agricultural catchment to improve strategies for preserving aquatic ecosystems? By using a tracing method based on stable isotope signatures of pesticides at the catchment scale, degradation of the herbicide S-metolachlor could be distinguished from other dissipation processes. A limited number of isotopic measurements can provide critical insights for designing efficient strategies to protect aquatic ecosystems.
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Short summary
Our study focuses on the rising concern of pesticides damaging aquatic ecosystems, which puts drinking water, the environment, and human health at risk. We provided more accurate estimates of how pesticides break down and spread in small water systems, helping to improve pesticide management practices. Using unique chemical markers in our analysis, we enhanced the accuracy of our predictions, offering important insights for better protection of water sources and natural ecosystems.
Our study focuses on the rising concern of pesticides damaging aquatic ecosystems, which puts...
