Inhibition of cholinesterase activity by soil extracts and predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) to select relevant pesticides in polluted soils.

The correlation of predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) with cholinesterase activity inhibition detected in soil extracts was determined. PEC was derived from organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CA) compounds applied to a flower crop area. Samples of surface soil (0 - 30 cm in depth) and subsurface soil (30 to 60 cm in depth) were taken from a flower crop area in which OP pesticides such as acephate ((RS)-N-[methoxy(methylthio)phosphinoyl]acetamide), dimethoate (2-dimethoxyphosphinothioylthio-N-methylacetamide) and methyl parathion (O,O-dimethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate), and CA pesticides such as carbendazim (methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate), carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethylbenzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate) and methomyl (S-methyl (EZ)-N-(methylcarbamoyloxy) thioacetimidate) were applied for two years.