Effects of the benzoxazolinone BOA, selected degradation products and structure related pesticides on soil organisms.

The benzoxazolinone BOA and the degradation products APO, AAPO and HPAA, as well as four structure related compounds to BOA, were tested for their lethal and sublethal effects on the collembola Folsomia candida and on the carabid beetle Poecilus cupreus applying validated standard laboratory methods. According to the results of the recommended risk assessment for plant protection products (EPPO, 2003), BOA and its structure related compounds carbendazim, benoxacor and benazolin (and additionally the formulated product Cresopur) were classified as low risk compounds for both test organisms. Phosalone was of high risk for F. candida. APO, AAPO and HPAA were of medium risk for F. candida, but were rated as low risk compounds for P. cupreus at the tested rates of about 2 mg/kg substrate. However, as the BOA degradation products have been found to occur at field rates below 0.2 mg/kg substrate or are often even not detectable, it is assumed that their potential risk for both non-target soil organisms in the field will be acceptable.